5 Tips Every Content Writer Should Know

Writing articles is a constant process of improving your content delivery style. Over the last 7 years of doing content writing article marketing, my content writing has improved tremendously as I've experimented and set my standards higher and higher.

I'd like to share the 5 content writing and article marketing tips that have helped my content writing improve the most:

1 - Create a word count limit for your web content or article. When you set a word count goal, it forces you to keep your focus. You'll find that your content is much more efficient.

2 - Say what you need to say as simply as possible. For those of us who like to elaborate and go off on tangents, this guideline can be a challenge, but definitely something to work towards!



3 - State the point of your content or article from the first sentence/paragraph. Your reader will look at your title and the first sentence to decide whether he wants to read your content or article. You greatly increase the likelihood that the reader will peruse reading content or article if you can rope him in right at the beginning. Resist the urge to write a lengthy and complicated introduction. Get to the point quickly.

4 - Teach your readers. Your main purpose in writing content and articles is to provide helpful information to your target readers. If your content fails to do this, it will not be successful on any other level. Focus on teaching in your articles - forget about promoting your business, getting backlinks, and hyping products. Think of common questions that your readers have, and then write your articles as solutions to those questions.

5 - Do not ignore the concluding paragraph of your content - experiment with different strategies that will subtly draw your reader from your article body into your resource box.

Here are a few ideas:

• Give your readers a homework assignment, something that they should do as a result of reading your article. Ideally, every article you write should bring about some sort of action from the reader. If the article is helpful, it will aid the reader in doing something that he needs to do.

• Ask the reader a question at the end of your article. This helps engage the reader; it is an invitation to further dialogue with you. If you do not create some sort of enticement to take another step towards you after reading your article, the reader may just read the article and move on to the next.

Your conclusion is a wrap-up of what you have said in your article, and it can also be a bridge between your article and your resource box. Asking a question at the end of your article is a very subtle way of saying to the reader, "Let's continue this conversation outside of this article." The next thing the reader sees is your resource box which offers a method of contacting you - your website.

These are the 5 things that I've learned over the years that have helped me write more effectively and more efficiently. If you are a beginner and are struggling to produce articles, it is encouraging to know that it gets easier the more you do it. You don't have to write for years and years before getting better. Just apply a few of the article marketing tips I've listed here, and you will immediately improve.

Your homework:

Pick one of these 5 tips to focus on in your next article. Which one will you start with?

Web Content Writing Tips

OK, so you’ve designed everything else than web content for your website, you are ready to launch your business on web, and maybe have a fair idea of generating few leads from search engines. Or maybe you’ve reserved your domain name but you’re thinking, “What the heck do I want to say?!” Let’s take a look at some very useful web content writing tips on how to improve the website content and increase the number of people reading content on your website dramatically:



Web Content Writing Tip #1 - Start by asking yourself, “How am I different?”

It’s best to think of an inverted pyramid when you begin web content writing or website content writing. Ask, “why is my product or service different than others?” While writing the website content, do not use too many words. Get to the point straightway. Make the first paragraph a gist of what you want to say and then expand the web content further in the text.




Web Content Writing Tip #2 – Relevance!

Sure, it may seem appealing to write about the latest gizmo from Apple, but unless it directly relates to your page or your site, don’t include it. Web users want valid, relevant information about your product or service. So even though they may have already bought the gadget, they won’t care if it doesn’t relate to your message.



Web Content Writing Tip #3 – Limit 1 idea per paragraph

If you want a higher conversion rate, your web pages need to be concise and to-the-point. Users tend to scan websites, instead of reading them. Having short, meat-and-potatoes paragraphs is better than long rambling ones.



Web Content Writing Tip #4 – Action!

Your readers are on your page for one single reason: because you have something they want. Show them. Tell your readers what to do by avoiding the passive voice. Keep the flow of your pages moving so you don’t lose their attention!



Web Content Writing Tip #5 – Use lists instead of paragraphs

Remember: people don’t read your site; they scan it. And lists are easier to scan than paragraphs, especially if you keep them short and bulleted.

 

Web Content Writing Tip #6 – Keep your list items under 10

Studies have shown that people can only reliably remember 7-10 things at a time. By keeping your list items short, it helps your readers remember them.



Web Content Writing Tip #7 – Short and sweet sentences

Let your sentences be as concise as you can make them. Use only the words you need to get the essential information across.



Web Content Writing Tip #8 – Use sub-headings

Sub-headings will make the text more scannable. Your readers will move to the section of your site that they’re looking for, and internal cues make it easier for them to do this.







Web Content Writing Tip #9 – Call to Action!

People have come to your site looking for information. Don’t expect them to find it on their own. By giving them calls to action - click, sign up, buy now – you’re essentially ordering your readers to “do this!” And this is essential in order to convert them!

There you have it: 9 sure-fire ways to make your content more appealing! Be sure to implement some or all of the tips that work best for you.










_______________________________________________________ Author: Nitima, web content writer, Gurgaon (New Delhi, India) You can click here for her portfolio or Contact her at nitima@writingroutes.com