JUST BEFORE YOU WEAR THE 'CONTENT WRITER TAG'

Have noticed that almost everyone you stumble on Social Media carries a tag, Content Writer. 'Content is Queen' - that's the buzzword on the digital space scene. 

Over the years, I have watched people build careers around writing articles for money, content marketing,  becoming an authorpreneur,  copywriting and starting a niche blog. 

Being a content writer comes with some great perks. Depending on your position, you can have the flexibility to work from home or your favourite coffee shop, decide what topics you want to write about and see your work published and generate real value.

But the job isn’t always an easy one and there a few areas of expertise you need to have to be successful other than just being a great writer. 

So, here are some essential skillsets that any good content writer needs to have and continue to hone over their career:

You need to poke nose 

Good research is key for good content writing – it adds credibility and, most importantly, value. Therefore, it’s vital to find trustworthy and interesting information from reliable sources online. Experts are especially great resources if you can effectively get the right information with good interviewing skills.

Can you be trusted to be original?

It's your reputation. Every post with your name on it should be original. That probably sounds crazy, with all the tens of thousands of people writing about the same subjects, but it's easier than it seems. Every talented writer can bring a unique voice, different perspective or new light to an overworked subject.

You need a gene from Mr and Mrs On-Point 

Keep a calendar and know your deadlines.  Most smartphones even have programs that will help you organize your time. Turning an assignment in late sends a bad message to your customers and often won’t give the editors as much time to proof your article.  Prioritize your jobs, so you get them all done promptly.

Know the Basics of Good SEO

Yes, modern-day SEO experts are a dime a dozen, and it seems like every second content marketing blog post serves to demystify it a little more.

While keyword-focused SEO has never been less useful, it’s still an important tool to use for the modern content writer. Knowing how to choose the right keywords, applying proper headings and subheadings, tagging images correctly, and writing killer meta descriptions will all serve to give your posts that little extra boost when ranking on search engines like Google.

So, there you go. Take the time to continually develop these skills, and you’ll find yourself able to craft the kind of content that’s both easy for readers to find, compelling to read and in demand.