5 Tips on Becoming a Better Web Content Writer
When most people search the Internet, they’re looking for information. And when that information is relevant to your business, you want them to read your content.
The content on your website is one of the best tools you have. It drives traffic. It provides your audience with the value and information they seek. It also helps you market your business, products or services. Content is essential for online marketing success.
Here are 5 ways that you can improve your skills as a web content writer.
FREE Checklist: 5 Step Web Content Strategy
How To Become a Better Web Content Writer
1. Read Other People’s Content
You won’t know what your competitors are doing if you don’t read their stuff. As an online content writer you can pick up some handy pointers from Google. It provides a number of search options that can help you scope out the competition.
Firstly, you can find a list of pages that link to a competitor’s website URL. Simply type into Google ‘Link:’ followed by the website URL that you want to investigate and it will list the pages that link to that website. Another useful one is ‘Site:‘ Followed by a URL and keywords, you can find pages on any given website that contain those keywords.
2. Remember Your Keywords
Your keywords are the words and phrases that you use in your content that you want the search engines to pick up when people are searching on the internet. While trying to stuff too many keywords into your content can quickly lead to something that is unreadable keywords are a big part of search engine rankings and they need to be taken into consideration.
Some keywords are going to naturally appear in your writing as you talk about a topic. But it’s ideal to do some basic keyword research when editing your content and seeing where you can sneak in or perhaps swap out some phrases for some high performing keywords instead. Doing so can make a huge difference when it comes to the web page ranking in search engines and even your website overall ranking, so don’t underestimate the power of preliminary research.
Whether you use AdWords or not, the Google Adwords Keyword Tool can really come in handy. You simply enter a keyword, and Google provides a list of related keywords with competition level and search volume. This is useful for finding the best keywords to target for your content.
3. Use Attention Grabbing Headlines
The right headline can draw in even the most disinterested reader, luring them in to read your content. In the same way, a bad headline can totally turn off a reader who might genuinely be interested in what you have to say.
A good headline should inform the reader what they’re going to be reading about, but keep a little mystery in order to keep them reading. There used to be a cardinal rule that a good headline couldn’t be longer than 7 words long. While this rule isn’t always recommended, that doesn’t mean you have to totally throw it out the window. You can have headlines that are longer, but the fewer words you can get your point across in, the better. You can always use your introductory paragraph to elaborate a catchy but short headline.
In fact, the top SEO content writers spend about as much time working on their headlines as they do writing the rest of their content. Yes, it’s THAT important! But remember while the headline is the most important part of any article, blog post, copy, or any written material, it isn’t everything. Every good headline needs to have good material behind it that has a purpose.
4. Give Your Content A Purpose
Content provides authority, credibility and trust – all buying triggers. You may write fantastic content, yet if it’s missing a purpose, it’s missing an opportunity. So what do you want your content to accomplish? Examples of writing content for websites include:
- To drive traffic to a web page
- To increase SEO
- To drive traffic to a sales page
- To generate affiliate income
- To boost credibility and authority
- To motivate a response/comments/links
- Collect opt-ins
Of course, your content may have more than one of these objectives. But, to become a better web content writer, every piece of content you write needs to have some sort of call to action. For example, if you want to motivate comments and feedback at the end of an online article, you have to ask for it. That’s your call to action. If you want to send people to a sales page, you need some sort of “Visit LINK to learn more.” Your purpose will be integrated into your call to action.
5. Find a Writing Style
Basically, find your voice. Are you laid back, witty or serious? Every writer has a voice – they just need to explore and develop it. Some website and blog writers try to copy another’s style but that’s hard work. Your voice will flow naturally and feel comfortable when you write in it. Writing is one of the creative arts. A writer uses words to paint beautiful pictures for others to see. Perfectionism is a writer’s worst enemy. The first time out of the gate you are writing to get your ideas down. Resist the urge to correct misspellings, grammar mistakes and anything else that would look wrong to an editor.
Free Checklist:Â 5 Step Strategy To Becoming Web Content Writer
No matter how much you love your website content writing jobs, some days the words just don’t come. You stare at a blank screen and struggle for ideas to write content for your website. When you have a system in place it takes the guesswork out of every step of the content research, creation and delivery processes. Download my Free Checklist, The 5 Step Content Strategy that provides more tips and strategies to help you become a better web content writer. Remember, the best website content writers are those who never stop learning.