Is this too boring? Will anyone want to read about this topic? Does my post have enough words in it? When writing content many people are always left asking themselves a plethora of questions regarding if their content is good enough or relevant enough to be published and found interesting by prospective readers. The loaded question of “How do I write good content?” is consistently asked by individuals spanning thousands and thousands of different industries and interests.
The simple answer is – there is no simple answer.
However, there are multiple guidelines that, if followed correctly, can greatly improve your chances of writing quality content that readers will find interesting and informative. While it is ultimately up to each individual writer to figure out what works best for them when writing content, having a strong foundation of some key fundamentals can greatly help with the creative process. Let’s dive into the important things you should remember in order to write good content.
Use Your Own Voice
The first guideline that will be covered is the one that I firmly believe is the most important – use your own voice. Far too often people try their hardest to duplicate content they perceive to be “the best” or “how content should be written”. This is a huge mistake.
Do not try to mimic other people’s writing styles. Embrace your own style!
For any writer that aspires to produce content they can truly be proud of it is absolutely vital that they find what we will refer to as command of their writing style. Knowing who you are as a writer, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and what drives you to create content is the very essence of becoming a writer that can create high quality content. Do not be afraid to be unconventional with your writing. Take chances. Finding your writing ‘voice’ will greatly help improve all aspects of your writing and will set you on the right path in your quest to write good content.
Do Not Write Scared
Many writers often experience what is known as “writer’s block” when attempting to write. Writer’s block can occur for many reasons – not knowing where to start or end, being unsure of where they want to take their writing, or oftentimes, worrying that their writing will not be good enough and being afraid of failing.
Do not be afraid to fail!
As a writer you should never be afraid to fail as it will only cause you doubt, constant stress and worrying, and bring on loads of negativity that will hamper your writing further. Write with confidence. Write with a purpose. Remember that failure is not something to be afraid of, but rather something to be embraced and learned from if it does occur.
We are often our own toughest critics, remember this while writing. At the end of the day if you are proud of your finished product, that should weigh heavier than anyone else’s opinion.
Write Something You Would Want to Read
This one seems like a no-brainer but is far too often overlooked. Write content that you yourself would want to read. Unless you are absolutely forced to write on topics that you have zero control over; never write content on topics that you do not personally find interesting. This cannot be stressed enough.
Write on a topic that you find interesting and that you will genuinely enjoy writing about.
As with anything in life, if you have a strong interest in doing something you will generally put fourth your best effort while doing it. This is especially true when it comes to writing good content. If you can write with a genuine interest and strong passion, chances are the quality of your work will reflect this in an immensely positive way. This is a terrific tip to remember and practice if you want to consistently write good content.
Be Creative. Be Precise. Be Informative.
When writing solely for yourself you should feel free to throw out all of the guidelines and “rules” as you see fit. However, when you are writing content for the purpose of sharing it with other readers, you should always aim to accomplish a couple of key directives. Whether your goal is to provide valuable information to your readers, or simply relay specific facts to them, you should always aim to do the following:
- Be Creative. You have undoubtedly heard this one before, but always be creative with your writing. Even if you are writing on a topic that has been written on a million times before, there is always a way to put a creative spin on your own content. This goes back to the very first point that was touched on, using your own voice. If you want to write good content, creativity and uniqueness should always be one of your main goals.
- Be Precise. While creativity should always be a focus, you never want to get into the habit of rambling on for too long. Be precise with your message. Figure out what you want to relay to your readers, how you want to relay it, then do it. If it takes you too long to get to the point your readers will lose interest.
- Be Informative. While many readers do enjoy reading solely for entertainment purposes, a large number of readers (especially online) often read for informative purposes. Make sure that you have the correct facts, and that you are presenting accurate information, when writing content. If you want to write good content, you should never provide false information.
Be Creative. Be Precise. Be Informative. Following these three key guidelines can greatly help improve the quality of your writing. Remember that the most important goal of writing content for other people should always be to produce high quality content that provides useful value to your readers.
Edit, Edit, and Edit Some More
This will probably be considered the most “boring” tip on our list, but it is definitely one of the most important. Always make sure to check your writing for any spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors thoroughly before publishing your content.
Editing your content piece once is not enough.
It is important to review your content multiple times before publishing it for readers. A good pro-tip is to always make sure to review your content with “fresh eyes” as you never know what errors you may have missed the first time around. If you have access to someone else who can accurately review your content as well, a second pair of eyes never hurts. You can write the greatest creative piece ever known and if your spelling and grammar are horrible it will not matter in the slightest. Be thorough, edit diligently.
Turn to the Experts
Oftentimes having a strong blueprint for success is simply not enough. Whether it is a lack of time to dedicate to the process or a lack of desire to do so, you may need help. Hiring professional writers to write your content could be the solution you are looking for. When hiring someone for content writing services you should do your homework. Make sure to thoroughly vet your prospective hire by asking questions such as “How long have you been writing content for?”, “Do you have experience writing within my business’s niche?”, “Do you have any examples of your writing I could review prior to hiring you?”
Do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you desire in order for you to feel comfortable with the writer(s) you hire to produce your website’s content. As we have touched on several times throughout this post, the content you publish on your website is of the utmost importance and should always be of the highest quality. At the end of the day, you should feel comfortable and confident with whomever you choose to write your website’s content.
Finish Strong
While starting out strong with your content is always important, finishing strong is oftentimes the aspect of your writing that readers will remember you for. If you strive to write good content than you should always focus on having a powerful, strong concluding message. Try not to overthink this part too much. Focus on wrapping up your message and delivering some impactful final words. Use this final space within your writing to relay one last bit of impactful knowledge to your audience.
Always aim to leave your readers wanting more.
