If you’re just starting out in the online content writing world, it can be overwhelming. Many people have gone before you, and it can be daunting to stand out in the online crowd.
You’ll look at other websites and see how much interaction they get. You’ll sit there and think “I couldn’t do this, how are they getting so much traffic?”. Don’t worry, everybody has to start somewhere.
Those websites with their hordes of traffic each month were in exactly the same position you are now. But instead of worrying, they got their heads down and created exceptional content and flawless marketing strategies. Follow our top tips for newbie online content writers, and you’ll be fast on your way to becoming an established expert.
Online Content Tip 1: Don’t expect miracles
Sounds ominous right? Right. You cannot expect to start writing and within months become the next JK Rowling or Stephen King of the online world. You need to work at the blog, and you need to keep the quality coming.
Even some of the most successful content writers had to start somewhere, and taking the time to learn as much as you possibly can is important.
Sometimes it’s a case of learning as you go, and sometimes it’s worth taking time to sit and read what the professionals have to say on the matter. Take your time, find what you enjoy, and write to the best of your ability.
Online Content Tip 2: Format, Format, Format
The way you format your content is extremely important. Think about how you read online, and on what platforms (smartphone, tablet, Mac or PC). There are a few ways you can format the text to make it easier for your audience to consume.
Bold fonts breaks up the whilst it’s eye reading, especially if the font has been set to bold AND italic. Don’t pepper the copy with italic or bold, as this can be really annoying after a while. Read through the paragraph and think about the main keywords that your readers should be focussing on (see our example below)
“When writing content for a new blog, you need to make sure that the paragraphs are 2/3 lines long, making it easier for the reader to skim over their screen”
Keep each paragraph short, and remember that not everyone has the leisure of sitting for long periods of time to read.
Online Content Tip 3: Use Images
Images are important. The same as bold and italics, this breaks up the copy and makes the content more interesting.
Remember being at school, how often would you have to look at a picture/infographic/diagram to fully understand an idea. The same holds true for reading online content.
You need to make sure that the pictures are good quality, and aren’t grainy. There are so many websites around that offer free, high-quality images for content writers, businesses and blogs to use, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that fits your writing.
Online Content Tip 4: Quality over quantity
This old chestnut again. Instead of pumping out lots and lots of smaller posts, you need to take the time to write the quality content that your future readers will come to expect.
Keep in mind that if you come across a badly written, badly formatted piece of content online; you’re more likely to flip away without even reading it. Online readers have a mass of content at their fingertips, so you need to make sure that yours stands out in a crowd.
Audience participation can only happen when you’ve given your readers quality content for them to digest. They’re more likely to share content they have enjoyed, so write accordingly. For more information, take a peak at our “How to Increase Traffic to your Website” post.
So there you have it, our top tips for newbie content writers. We know it’s hard when you start out, but we’ve all been there. If writing is what you’re passionate about, then you can make it work.
