Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Almost anyone can become a website content writer. However, it takes quite a bit of effort if you really want to drive home the success. Over the past six and a half years, I’ve learned a great deal regarding my time as a freelancer. Here are some of my content writing tips that help me succeed.
Of course, this really depends on what your view of success is. In my case, it’s all about keeping the bills paid and a few extra bucks in my pocket.
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Content Writing Tips I Live By
I cannot guarantee these content writing tips will work for you as well as they have for me. However, I can tell you that they will increase your chances of making more money. For me, they have been pivotal in changing my life for the better.
1. Get Enough Sleep
The first thing I can suggest is making sure you get enough sleep. Being tired directly affects the brain in more ways than one. In fact, sleep deprivation makes it more difficult to process information and be creative. [note]https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2016/12/09/7-ways-sleep-affects-the-brain-and-what-happens-if-it-doesnt-get-enough/#20d938a6753c[/note]
Both of these are vital when performing content writing jobs.
I stopped writing on Textbroker late at night after a long day, and the revision requests dropped significantly. This means clients were happier with the work I delivered while being well rested.
2. Read…A Lot
I read an incredibly amount of text everyday. This is because I believe in giving clients the most updated and accurate information possible. So, I read facts and articles related to the client’s industry.
Reading also helps give insight for writing your own content. How does the other person write? Is the language too difficult to understand? How does he or she put together sentences and paragraphs?
Plus, reading new content from others keeps you well versed in the topic. This makes writing content so much easier as it takes less time to put your own words to something you know a lot about.
3. Be Flexible in Topics
A lot of beginning online content writers will focus on one single topic. For example, I centered all my effort in Computers and Technology for the first few months of using Textbroker.
However, I found far more success by being more flexible. Today, I’ll write just about anything for anyone…and I’ve had to complete some very questionable materials.
The point is you should step out of your comfort zone and try new things. You never know; you may find you’re cup of tea is in a subject you had never covered before.
Besides, being flexible opens the doors to make more money and connect with a wider range of clients.
4. Don’t Assume You Know Everything
Always continue to learn. The world is ever-changing and evolving, and it’s a good idea you keep up if you want to be relevant to clients six months from now.
This includes learning more about:
- Grammar
- Sentence and paragraph structure
- Content optimization
- Even SEO practices
Anything that increases your knowledge is reflected in your work, which impresses the client.
Don’t be afraid of taking online courses, even if they’re from a non-accredited school. If the material is good, it’ll show through your work. In fact, many online clients prefer practical use over a degree.
5. Blog Regularly
One of my favorite content writing tips is that of blogging. Why is this important? Because it keeps you practiced and gives you a platform where you can apply what you learn.
Blogging also gives you a kind of online portfolio you can share with clients. That is, as long as you’re writing about something that isn’t offensive to potential employers.
This is aside from the capacity to monetize your website to make a few extra dollars on the side.
6. Share Posts on Social Media
I’m a proponent of using social media to engage possible clients. One of my biggest retainers right now actually came from LinkedIn. Whether you’re sharing a blog post or just flexing some literary muscles, share it.
It doesn’t really take much effort to share on social sites, either. In fact, this website is set to share new posts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as soon as I hit the publish button.
Just make sure that you set up a page or separate account for your social profiles. It looks more professional and keeps the writer apart from the person.
7. Diversify What Sites You Use
When I first started as a freelancer, I focused most of my effort on Textbroker. I increased my income by nearly double by signing up with other services such as WriterAccess.
There’s nothing wrong with having several brokerage accounts. If the workload is low in one, check the other. Today, I have so much work available that I simply cannot do it all.
This is another one of those important content writing tips that will vastly increase your income. It’s all about keeping yourself busy and not wasting time waiting.
Sure, I prefer Textbroker. But I also have WriterAccess and Fiverr to fall back on when there is no work.
8. Make Content Easy to Read
Whether it’s blogging for yourself or creating content for clients, you need to make it easy to read. In reality, the majority of people in the United States read at an 8th grade level and lower. [note]https://contently.com/strategist/2015/01/28/this-surprising-reading-level-analysis-will-change-the-way-you-write/[/note]
Most clients I’ve come across relish in making things easy to absorb. And the easier it is for people to read articles or product descriptions, the more engaging the content becomes.
Personally, I try to keep things around the 8th and 9th grade reading levels. I do this by using tools like Yoast SEO which analyzes the content as I type it.
Even if I am working on an external order for a client, I’ll still use my WordPress installation to optimize the readability of content.
9. Cite Your Work
Citing sources makes your material appear more professional while giving visitors confidence you know what you’re talking about. In a world of “alternative facts” and “fake news,” you need to deliver quantifiable truths.
Many clients understand this, and many of them are delighted when you include links to sources. Just make sure you’re citing relevant content. You don’t want to link out to a website that is either questionable or doesn’t support your piece.
Think of citing as a way to offer visitors additional information regarding your article.
10. Use Wattpad and Vocal to Practice
Blogging isn’t the only way to exercise your writing abilities. And you don’t always have to be paid to get a bit of practice in for drawing an audience. That’s why my content writing tips include platforms like Wattpad and Vocal Media.
Wattpad is a place where you can stretch your creativity. Let loose with the fiction and see what draws readers. You can also create pieces that are more based in facts, such as an extended tutorial or other form of eBook.
Vocal.Media is a good place to go if you want to see if you can retain an audience in a blogging atmosphere. Apparently the company pays authors for readership, but I have yet to see any money. Then again, I’ve only published two articles in the past year.
11. Adhere to a Schedule
Another of my favorite content writing tips is keeping a workable schedule. I know a lot of you probably love the idea of working when you want and in your pajamas sitting at a desk. In reality, it’s not a very effective method of freelancing.
When you don’t have anyone but yourself to answer to, it’s very easy to get sidetracked. For you procrastinators, it’s a costly problem.
Keeping a schedule has helped me maintain productivity. I found it much easier to complete projects in a timely fashion when I set aside a block of time for that specific purpose.
12. Don’t Forget Health and Fitness
As a writer, your primary organ is the brain. It’s how you process information and create the words you put into the Internet. It only makes sense you would want to keep it as healthy as possible.
Increasing physical activity goes a long way to improve brain functionality. Through physical fitness, you enhance your capacity for cognitive thought, which affects how you write content. [note]https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201404/physical-activity-improves-cognitive-function[/note]
For those like myself who don’t like aerobic routines or workout DVDs, any physical activity will do. As long as you can work up a sweat and get the heart rate up, congratulations! You’re exercising.
13. Always Treat Clients with Respect
I’ve come across many authors who have a narcissistic approach to creating content for clients. Many of them treat clients poorly, which does not bode well for future jobs. In fact, I know a lot of authors who lost out on $60 per hour opportunities because they were douches.
It doesn’t take much to be respectful to those who are willing to pay you. If a client wants something done a certain way that you believe is wrong, make a suggestion to change it. If they still want it done their way, then do it. Don’t try to force the issue…they are paying you to write their content.
Treat the right client well, and he or she will send you enough work to make a living. And that’s not including any other clients you may collect.
These Content Writing Tips Are Only the Beginning
Content writing tips only show you what can be done. It’s up to you to put them into practice. Like I said, these are the things that have kept money coming in for more than six years.
It’s not difficult to be a success. It just takes time and effort.
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