Tips for Great Content Writing

Trying to write a blog or content for a website can be challenging. There are many factors to consider: writing for your audience, adding keywords to help with SEO, and keeping your content engaging for the reader. Some writers find it easier to take small steps by taking hours or days apart, while others like to do it all in one sitting. Below are some tips, based on our experience, on how to write great website content.

Create Topic Lists & Working Titles

Instead of trying to think about writing content as a whole, it is usually easier to break it up into smaller, more manageable tasks. If you are writing content for a page, you will already have your main topic. If you are creating topics for a blog, brainstorm some ideas on your own or in a group. It is always best to write about things you are familiar with. Keep a list handy and write down topics when you think of them throughout the day.

Once you have your list, select one and begin to think of some working titles. Do not feel pressured that this has to be your final title, but your title should be the overall idea of what you are writing about. Create titles that will make the reader want to continue reading. It has been proven that creating titles with numbers creates more interest, such as “10 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension”. A little creativity can go a long ways when it comes to titles.

Research Your Topic

It does not matter if you are writing a content page for your own website, or creating an article that you think your readers will enjoy; you should always do your homework first. If you are writing a content page, check out what your competitor’s are doing. Are they displaying their content in an engaging way? Do they have Call-To-Actions within their content to direct their customers to a goal? Does their style of writing build trust for their customers? Do they sound like an expert in their field? These are all good questions to answer before you start writing.

If you are writing a blog article, make sure to research all of the facts and stats you will be talking about. If you have prepared a list of topics prior, always be on the lookout for resources to bookmark and easily return to later.

Create an Outline

Now that you have created one or more working titles and are ready to write for a content page, generate ideas or keywords you want to discuss. The main points you have chosen should flow nicely with each other, while still fitting well under your working title. Keep in mind, you may need to adjust your working title as you go through this process to keep it relevant. Use your ideas or keywords to create a content outline. This can either be done through bullet points, or using key ideas that you will write about. Revise as needed until you feel you have a strong structured outline to work with.

Opening Paragraph

Just like the title, you want your opening sentence to capture your reader’s attention so they will want to read on. Depending on the type of content you are writing, this can be done through interesting facts, telling a story, or using visuals to keep a reader engaged. Write an opening statement that will cover all the main points of your article. The opening paragraph should be engaging and should also transition nicely to your next paragraph.

Writing Your Content

Now that you are well prepared for the article and have your first paragraph completed, it is time to finish writing the content. Keep your target audience in mind and use language that will be easily understood. When relevant, link to other areas of your website or external links that will support your content. Using subheadings and pictures will also help to visually break up your content and make it easier to read and digest. Make sure to do any additional research needed to keep the content accurate and up-to-date. If you are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, take a break and work on another task. Return to writing when you can set aside time to focus on what you are writing.

Adding Call-To-Actions (CTAs)

A mistake a lot of people make when creating content is not giving the user something to do by the end of the article. What is the purpose of the content you are writing? Is it to contact your company, signup for a newsletter, or learn more on another page? If so, then these actions should be clearly linked within the content. There are times that your articles may just be informative, and there is not a need for an action and that is just fine.

Check for Consistency and Proof Read

Once you have completed your content, do a preview of the visual appearance of the article. Is the imagery fitting with your topic? Did you use links subtly as to not overwhelm your readers? Is there a good use of subheadings to break up your content into easily digestible sections? Did you create an actionable item? If you answer yes to all, the next step is to have someone else read the content.

Having a proof reader review your content or article is extremely important. Many times, another person can help develop your topic to the fullest, find problem areas in your flow, and be on the lookout for any errors in your grammar that a word processing program could have missed (like: there, their, they’re).

Tip: Use Microsoft Word's ”Track Changes” (found under the Review tab) so you will be able to see the original and the proof reader's suggested changes, which you can either accept or reject upon your review.

Everything that we write, including blog articles, proposals, and even sensitive emails, go through numerous proof readers and revisions to ensure accuracy.

Search Engine Optimization

Not only are search engines looking for great content, but they also use other clues within your content that it will use to display to users. These can be headers, images, and keywords it finds on the page. Make sure to optimize your pages for one to three keywords that are unique across your site. Make sure your images have alt, or alternative text added to them to explain what the image is about. Write and add meta titles and descriptions that use your keywords and give users information and a great marketing message that will make them want to click through to your page.

Read More: Get more tips and information about SEO in our article "Learn the Basics of SEO"

Final Review

After making any updates from your proof reader, do a final review of your post or page using a preview, if available. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does your title still fit with your ideas presented in the content?
• Does the first paragraph grab your reader’s attention?
• Does the article make you sound like an authority on the topic?

Creating small, manageable tasks can make writing content blog articles an enjoyable task with great, measurable results. Find what works best for you and write on!