As more businesses explore the digital space, content writing is turning into a lucrative business.

Business owners are becoming aware that high-quality content is a necessity for sales conversion.

So, what’s a content writer? A content writer is someone who plans and creates content for an online audience for purposes such as website content, social media posts, press releases, sales copy, and many more.

If you’re passionate about writing, enjoy reading and researching, and want to turn your passion into a source of income, this article is for you.

What does it take to become a content writer?

As mentioned earlier, you’ve got to have a passion for writing, enjoy reading, and researching.

Proficiency in the language you’re writing in is of utmost importance. No one wants to waste their time reading an article full of grammatical errors.

If you’ve got these 2 qualities, you’re well on your way to becoming a content writer. If not, take a language course to improve your skill.

How to start your journey as a content writer

*Photo by* *Darius Bashar* *of Unsplash*

If by now you’ve decided to embark on this journey, be prepared to learn and practice extensively. Anybody can be a content writer but, it takes skill to create quality content.

1. Start by taking a writing course on platforms such as Udemy or my personal favorite FreelancerKenya.

2. Reading alone won’t yield results; practice will set you apart from other content writers.

3. The internet is the best resource for information. Search for eBooks, blogs, or YouTube videos on content writing by high-ranking content writers. Learn and implement.

4. Create a LinkedIn and Medium profile. These 2 platforms are a great place to start writing and publishing your work to build your portfolio.

Connect and build networks with content writers and editors.

The objective of a content writer

After obtaining a client’s brief, a content writer creates content in the client’s voice and SEO guidelines to grow brand awareness by educating readers about the brand.

Note: SEO (search engine optimization) writing helps content rank on google thereby increasing your client’s visibility online.

As a content writer, your job is to produce quality content to grow your client’s brand awareness. Whatever the format may be, you convey messages through text.

Should a content writer be skilled in everything?

As a beginner, pick topics you’re knowledgeable and comfortable writing about and create engaging content for your audience.

Choosing a niche can be frustrating at first but will help you narrow down on what content you produce.

Make a list of your passions. It could be writing, traveling, food and beverage, or health. Search for eBooks, blog articles, or videos from top-ranking content writers on these topics, and learn from them.

Content writing gigs- Where to land jobs that pay

The best part of being a content writer is you get to work from anywhere- part-time or full-time and set your hours.

Where do you find writing gigs? Well, as a beginner, it can be hard to find well-paying content writing gigs (but that’s not to say it’s impossible).

As more businesses take on digital marketing for their products and services, more writing gigs open up every day.

Medium and LinkedIn are some of the best platforms to network and publish your work to land writing gigs.

You may find work on other job board sites here.

Cold pitching is another way to land clients. Write proposals to companies in your niche which aren’t actively looking for content writers in a bid to create content for their websites, social media, email lists, blogs, and so on.

Is a content writer the same as a copywriter?

Both use text to convey messages to an online audience but, at the core, they differ when it comes to the content they produce and its purpose.

A content writer creates SEO-friendly articles to grow brand awareness, market, and educate readers about the brand.

Content writing is in long format and educational for example blog articles, eBooks, or white paper.

A copywriter creates short, alluring text for advertising purposes. The objective of a copywriter is to increase sales by targeting a specific audience.

Copywriting involves writing copy for TV commercials, billboards, newspapers, and magazines.

Getting paid — How to price your services

*Photo by* *Konstantin Evdokimov* *of Unsplash*

As a freelance content writer, you get to set your prices based on your level of experience and the content you produce-(always bear in mind your work deserves to be paid.)

The question on your mind right now might be “how do you set prices for your services?” You can offer different rates based on the organization you’re writing for, topics you’re writing on and time invested in producing content.

Ways to get paid

Payment policies depend on the agreement you have with the client.

If you work monthly for a reputable organization, you may agree on monthly payments.

For private, small-scale clients it’s best to request a percentage of your agreed amount paid upfront and the rest paid at the end of the month. This is to protect your interests as a writer.

In closing

Are you ready to turn your passion into a source of income? To be a successful content writer, have a passion for reading, writing and researching.

Identify your target audience and find out what they need.

Choose a niche you’re knowledgeable and comfortable writing on. Learn from high-ranking content writers how to create engaging content.

Create an online profile on LinkedIn and Medium. Connect with other content writers and start publishing your work.

Use job board sites to apply for writing gigs, and pitch your ideas to businesses in your niche- focusing on how your service will help grow their brand.

When you land a writing gig, produce high-quality content that will grow your client’s brand awareness. The quality of work you produce will determine how well you retain clients and grow your business as a content writer.

A Writers Business is a community of over 18,400 poets and authors, all working together to share tips, critiques, and advice. Join our community today!

Need a content writer to help increase your brand visibility? Connect with Nkosi via LinkedIn, or send an email to copywritingbizportal@gmail.com

How to Become a Content Writer

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