Content is perhaps the most widespread phenomenon across the globe today. No matter which industry or sector you look at, there is a never-ending need for content, thanks to the booming growth of social media platforms and the internet in general. And when it comes to the consumption of written content, there is hardly anything needed to be said in terms of its scale and expanse. Every company, be it a breakout escape room, a skincare brand, a manufacturer, or a delivery service, heavily relies on written content for its digital marketing strategy. As a result, no matter what type of topic you are looking for, there is always an article, a blog post, or a case study out there that just fits the bill.
However varied the content may be, there are some common things that constitute a great piece of writing. Here are 10 tips and some additional tricks that can up your content game. If you’re a budding writer or even if you’re experienced, these tips can be helpful to elevate your writing. By following these basic steps, you can be on the path to becoming a successful content writer.
1. Provide Solution and Information
Content has many forms and purposes. But entertainment and information are two of the main reasons for people to consume your content. You have to provide something that the audience will want to know and benefit from it. At the beginning of your article, you can start by addressing a problem. It could be a complex or simple problem, but the solution has to be practical. Let’s say the article is about moisturizers, and then you’ll need to address the issue of dry skin first and provide the moisturizer as a solution. This is one of the most effective methods to gain a consistent audience. The article needs to be informative and as detailed as possible without being too long. Understanding the reader’s needs and necessities is important for a writer.2. Keep It Simple and Comprehensive
An article is to be read in a few minutes and at the convenience of any place. Some might read a bunch of articles in their free time, but in most cases, they’re here for an immediate solution or a quick read. A person could be reading it in their break or while they’re transporting. The article has to be easy on the eyes and mind. If the article is lengthy and clustered with complex sentences, they’re less likely to read it till the end. So keep the length in mind and avoid using big words which will be hard to understand for most readers. The paragraphs and sentences have to be short. Break down paragraphs if they are too big. Phrases can be used to make the article more interesting. The information has to be packed tight within simple words.3. Refer and Research
Before you start writing an article, the first and most important step is to know more about your topic. The content you create needs to be packed with information. The readers should benefit from reading your article, and hence it’s essential to research well before writing. You could be writing a topic that you’re well used to, or it could be something new to you. In either case, take some time to go through articles, statistics, or even research papers. As you gather information, create notes with it or mark the important aspects which you’ll need to cover in your article. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you’re providing the best information available on that topic.4. Create An Outline
The outline is the foundation of an article. An outline is to help you guide through your writing process. It’ll be the skeleton of your article, and you can develop the body of your article from that. After doing proper research, write down the headings and subheadings. You can decide the flow and format of the content with an outline. This process makes it easier to deliver information in an efficient way. You can also choose the images or any additional inserts during this step. Create a mind map of how your article is going to be constructed. This initial arrangement of words will lead to a smooth process of content writing.5. Captivating Headline
A headline is the first thing to be noticed by a reader. You never get a second chance to make the first impression. Whether they’ll click on your article depends on how interesting and relevant the title is. The title needs to be concise and not too long. It has to be specific, portraying exactly what the reader will be gaining from the article. Choosing the right heading is twice as important as the body of an article. Take your time and pick a title that intrigues the reader. For example, running a marathon could be more specific as 20 tips to run a marathon in Summer. The second title is more likely to reach people who’d benefit more from the article. The title has to be descriptive and attractive. You have to be careful while using superlatives and adjectives in a title.6. Lead Them With A Good Introduction
After the title, the introduction is important to draw the reader into the article. Introduction can make or break the interest of the readers. The introduction leads the article and contains a gist of the content of the article. It’s like the head-start of an article that boosts the interest of the readers. This is the part where we assess a problem or give a brief idea about the following content. Getting the readers hooked to the article right from the start is important. A good introduction ensures a great article. Take great care in creating a captivating lead.7. Keywords and Hyperlinking
Use words that are relevant to your content. If you’re a content writer, you must’ve heard of the term ‘Keyword.’ A search engine brings up articles based on the keywords relevant to the reader’s search. For example: ‘How to’ is one of the most searched topics. Using the right keywords for your article will ensure that it’ll come upon the pages of the search engine. Hyperlinking is another way to get on the search engine’s page. Add links to other relevant articles of your own. If you’re writing about baking a cake, then you can hyperlink an article on how to decorate a cake. If one article gets many readers, then it’s possible for some of them to click on the link to read you’re another article too. Hence, Hyperlinking and Keywords play an essential role in coming up on a search engine’s page.8. Fact-Check
You have to double-check everything you convey in an article full of information. We would’ve seen many articles floating around with misinformation. They’re a waste of time for the readers and also can mislead them. The depth of your research will depend upon the topic. So it’s best to check any important research papers, statistics or data if necessary. Although our research may not be as extensive as that of actual journalists, we still need to ensure that we’re putting out truthful information. For simple articles, collect and verify information from multiple sources. Cross-checking will allow you to find out any fake information. It’s best to check for plagiarism during this stage.9. Stick To The Topic
Every article has a bottom line that the writer tries to convey to the readers. The content has to revolve around the basic point. The article can get lengthy and vague if the writer strays away from the point too much. Even if you’re trying to relate the article with a personal experience, it has to be relevant to your topic. Each phrase, example, or quote has to be connected to the point. Everything you write has to be directed to the subject. Keep on track with the topic, and don’t stray away from it. The article has to remain relevant in each and every sentence. If you want to divert a little from the topic to touch a related point, use sub-headings to mark that division. That way, the article still will be dealing with the same or similar subject.10. Review and Edit
Editing is an essential part when it comes to writing. Editing is a more difficult task than writing. Take twice the time of your writing to edit. Reread your article multiple times to ensure that you notice as many mistakes as possible. The initial draft and the final article can look unidentical after going through immense editing. Even after self-editing, it’s better for someone else to edit your work as we can miss out on some errors. Check if you’ve used correct grammar and spelling. Punctuation is another common mistake made by writers. Put your best efforts into editing, and it’ll turn out to be as perfect as possible.Apart from these, here are some general tips to help you make the best content.
- Active Voice – Avoid the usage of passive voice and write the whole article in active voice. Put the subject first, followed by the action or object. The passive voice puts the object first, which doesn’t impact the active voice. E.g., She wrote the letter – Active voice The letter was written by her – Passive voice
- Credits and Citations – If you’re using images in your article, you’ve to give credit under the image. In the case of research papers, statistics, or books, you have to cite the source. This adds credibility to your work.
- Conclusion – Every piece of writing need to be given a proper conclusion. It can be short and give a gist of the article. Some writers also conclude by asking questions to the readers.
- Plagiarism – Ideas can be gathered from different sources, but when they are put together as an article, you have to write them in your own words to avoid plagiarism.
- Valid Data – Credibility is important when we share information. Add statistics and data when it seems necessary.
- Easy To Skim – Many readers open articles for a quick read. And if they want to gain information in a few minutes, then we have to make it easy for them. The content should be simply structured with highlighted or bulleted points that make the important information stand out.
- Tone – When you are addressing the readers, try not to come off too strong with the advice. Words like ‘must ’ or ‘should’ can be kept to a minimum.
- Repetition – Try to avoid using the same words in nearby sentences. Repeating the same phrases can make the article seem vague.
- Consistency – Write the whole article in the same tense and tone. The sentences need to flow smoothly, intertwined with the topic.
These are some of the general tips that can help you elevate the quality of your content to a great extent. But remember, you don’t have to incorporate everything at once into your writing right away. The key is to be conscious while creating the content and slowly incorporate these mindsets to build a solid foundation, and eventually, it will come to you naturally as a writer.