Everything you need to know before you step into the Content Writing world.
If you are planning to embark on your journey as a content writer but not sure how and where to start, read this till the end to get a little insight into the content writing world.
Is content writing dead?
No, in fact, it is one of the highest paying jobs today.
If you’re interested in starting your writing career, you’ve come to the right place.
Content is the foundation of every business and everything online today.
In this post let me guide you through what content writing is all about.
What is content writing?
Content writing can be defined as any form of writing that has a specific goal in mind. The goal could be to inform, market, educate, promote or inspire the audience to take action.
It is the art of conveying your thoughts, opinions, or message in words that are well researched and well-formatted. Content writing has evolved over the years. Earlier writing content did not have any end goal behind it, and it was not even competitive.
But today, content writing is all about having a strong end goal behind it.
This is the reason, why content writing is in high demand and is also backed by high research skills.
What skills are needed as a content writer?
You do not need a degree to become a content writer.
The two most important skills of an English content writer are basic writing skills and research skills. As a content writer, you may be challenged to write on a variety of topics.
Researching well and presenting your content backed by facts are crucial for every content writer.
The foundation of every good writer is their reading and researching skills. You can’t be a good writer if you don’t enjoy reading. You have to conduct solid research and back up your content with facts.
However, with time as a professional content writer, it will become crucial for you to know about S.E.O content writing.
How to be a content writer?
Writing regularly, adapting to reading regularly to become a good writer, is the key to becoming a content writer. You need to start writing and only by writing will you improve your writing skills.
There are free websites where you can write, hit the publish button, and your content will be available to a mass audience. The best example of such a site is Medium. You just need to ensure that your writing is engaging, well-structured, and informative.
Is it necessary to have a specific niche as a content writer to start out?
A niche is a subject you are passionate about.
My answer to this question is, it depends on you. If you are comfortable writing on many topics, you can simply start writing on many topics.
Alternatively, start writing on just one topic if that is your interest. As a beginner, you don’t need to have a specific niche. It depends on you. Over time, you’ll realize which niche or topic suits you the best.
Can anyone become a content writer?
Yes, anyone can be a content writer.
From college students to housemakers, to women who left their careers midway for personal reasons and wanted to start their own company, to young people who were tired of their 9 to 5 jobs and wanted to start their side hustle, to many freelancers are content writers.
As long as you are willing to put in the work, you can become a content writer. There is no age limit.
How much can you earn as a content writer?
Experience, negotiation, and word count all play a role.
Currently, a beginner can easily earn approximately 10k to 15k a month. Provided they produce quality content as well.
Professionals charge high according to their experience, backed by a well-equipped portfolio and testimonials. Professional content writers earn quite well, once they are well versed in the market.
Types of Content Writing:
Content writing comes in many different types that can help you focus on a niche and become an expert in it.
Blogging:
My writing journey began in 2013 with blogging. I started blogging on a free website, and that’s how I got noticed by an editor who published my articles in his e-magazine as well.
As soon as you are ready and have certain topics in mind you may start blogging on any free blog available on the Internet. Alternatively, you may use the Medium platform to publish your articles.
Copy Writing:
Copywriting is your thing if you have the ability to influence people and motivate them to take action through your words. The goal of copywriting is to make a sale.
In today’s market, copywriters are highly sought after if you have a knack for convincing people of anything or to buy anything.
Creative Writing:
You should choose this field if you are skilled at telling stories, rhyming words and creating poetry.
Within this, you will be required to write about plays, speeches, essays, novels, short stories, and scripts.
If you are interested in becoming an author, creative writing is a viable choice. Your creative skills could even be used to coach aspiring authors or writers on how to succeed as future best-selling authors/writers.
Social Media Content Writing:
Social media has become an integral part of every business today. Social media experts are in high demand, and you can be someone who can assist them with everything from planning social media content to writing captions.
You should consider this if you’re passionate about social media and want to make a career out of it.
Academic Writing and many more…
There are many types of content writing and you can niche down according to your interests.
I hope this was enough to give you insights into the content writing world. If you still wish to know more or have anything to add on, do drop your thoughts down in the comment box and let’s explore more about content writing.
