So you want to write content, eh? Lucky for you, we believe you can do it!
Content writing for your website (or marketing collateral) isn’t easy – we won’t lie to you. But it’s a challenge that can be successfully tackled by dedicated individuals. It’s a bit like getting into shape: you’ll need to plan smart from the get-go, commit yourself to the darn thing and then, do it. Alright, let’s not waste any time and get started.
Let it all out, soak it all in
Any writer will tell you that there are two fundamental components of writing. The first is planning. (The second is editing, which we’ll get to shortly.) Before you can let your fingers become a blur on a keyboard, you’ll need to ask yourself a few guiding questions and allow your answers to direct your preliminary research.
Probably the most important question is, what’s the point of the piece? If you’re writing content for a website, break down the project into the separate pages of the site and figure out the point of each web page. Are you trying to inform the reader of a special sale coming up? A new product? Or are you trying to make a sale happen? Keep this in mind as you continue to trudge the road of happy content writing.
Other questions you may want to consider are…
- What do I want the reader to do? (What’s the call-to-action I want to embed?)
- What makes the action worthwhile? What benefits can be had from doing X?
- How can I make the piece interesting and engaging?
On a separate piece of paper, write down all the information you have. Don’t be worried if you’re furiously scribbling down a lot – cutting things out is a lot easier than having to scramble to add stuff later. You can also compile a list of keywords for your industry so that you have a handy reference page for when you’re composing your draft.
Organize & Prioritize
Take a good long look at all the information you’ve gathered (and give yourself a pat on the back). Does it make sense? Probably only to you, at this point. Your next step is organise the information into an (imaginary) upside down funnel. Put the most important items at the top and the more extraneous details at the bottom. This way, you can guarantee that the main message you want to get across to your readers will get across to your reader. If you’re having trouble wrapping your mind around this, read a couple of newspaper articles; they’re written to follow this format. The first 2-3 sentences gives away the whole story. The following sentences are details of interest and the last few provide minor details.
Want to make your content stand out? Think of a fun or creative twist you can add to your piece. It might not always be possible but we recommend giving it a go. Even a bit of humour or a witty pun adds a bit of zest.
The finishing touch? A schedule
Break down the work load into manageable chunks and ‘book’ them a time in your schedule. Writers have varying preferences but, in general, it’s best to write for 50 minutes and break for 10 (it keeps the creative juices flowing). And the real secret? STICK TO THE SCHEDULE. RESPECT THE SCHEDULE. LIVE BY THE SCHEDULE.
Write the Darn Thing
Self-explanatory after that last line there but heck, we’ll repeat it for emphasis. When it’s time to write, you must do what’s right: write.
Edit. Repeat.
Told you, didn’t we? This is the other half of good writing. Once you’ve produced a draft, don’t peak it at for at least a day. Then, come back, read it, and edit. Again and again. Try reading it out loud and your brain will catch any awkward phrasing. Read it sentence by sentence, backwards from the end. Ask friends and family to read it.
Don’t be afraid to drop a word or a sentence; you worked hard to write it but that doesn’t mean it will always end up being useful.
Congratulations!
You did it! We knew you could. Content writing is hard work but, in the end, it comes down to
Writing = planning + editing
(And if you couldn’t do it… Catherine and Janet – two of Jelly Triangle writers – will probably take you on as a client if you talk to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
