If you’re new to a content writing agency, there are probably a lot of things you don’t know. In such a diverse and growing industry, there’s so much to learn. We’ve put together a guide to share our top 11 secrets from inside a content writing agency.
Our first secret from a content writing agency is the importance of research. A successful content writer is able to research effectively. Often content writers will write about topics they know nothing or very little about. Content creators must learn how to research for the topic they are writing about. In order to produce high quality content, you must put a lot of background work into it. Keyword research is also vital for creating digital copy to bolster SEO strategies.
Your first sentence or paragraph should be the best it can possibly be. You need to hook your readers in from the very beginning. The last thing you want is for your readers to lose interest after the first paragraph. It’s worth spending time writing a good first paragraph if you want your readers to engage with you.
Whilst your intro is important, you should keep them brief as you want the reader to continue reading. You should keep your sentences short too, as readers digest short sentences better. We recommend 20 words or less per sentence. This will also benefit your SEO score.
A content writing agency will always say simplicity is best when it comes to content writing. Sometimes less is more. Focus on simple, easy words that your audience can understand. Using complex terminology or phrases will only confuse your readers, as it will make your content harder to understand.
Another secret from a content writing agency is to establish the brand’s unique tone of voice. Don’t copy and paste someone else’s work. Be creative and individual and write something original. Let your voice flow through your words and show the world what you’re capable of.
Each piece of content you write should have one main point you want to get across to the reader. Don’t start talking about multiple things that aren’t relevant as it will confuse the reader and they will switch off. For example, if your blog is ‘5 ways to increase your social media presence’, don’t start talking about email marketing. Your point should be clear and relevant to the reader.
Your headline is the first thing your reader will see so it needs to be good. Spend as much time writing your headline as you do the main body. Your content may be ignored if your headline isn’t engaging. It’s worth spending time constructing a good headline. Types of headlines that perform well include:
The 3 U’s to consider when writing a headline are:
If you bear these points in mind, it will make the headline writing process a lot easier each time.
Another secret from inside a content writing agency is to accept that the first draft won’t be your last. A good quality piece of content will take a few edits along the way. As you write your content, you’ll develop new ideas or decide against old ones. This is just the general process of being a writer. It’s worth asking other people for ideas as they may think of important or relevant things you forgot.
Not only should your content be engaging but it should be shared across social media. Your content should have an impact on your readers that, encouraging them to share it across social media platforms. The more shares your content gets, the more engagement it will receive which makes those all-important algorithms kick in.
A good piece of copy should always end on an effective call-to-action. You want your reader to act upon something once they’ve read your content. A call-to-action is a great way to get your audience to engage further with your brand. Whether you want them to subscribe to a mailing list or buy a product. You could add an easy use button such as ‘subscribe’ or ‘buy now’.
Another secret form inside a content writing agency is the power of visuals. Sometimes visuals can say more than words. If a visual can convey a message better than words alone, then use visuals. Visuals are a great way of getting a message across. They are also good for breaking up large chunks of text. Examples of visuals you could use include:
This may seem obvious, but we can’t stress enough why you should be proofreading. As a content writer, it’s a given that you should be an excellent written communicator. However, we are all capable of making mistakes now and again. The last thing you want to do is post content that is full of spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. You should always check your content multiple times to make sure it is free from mistakes. We recommend asking a second person to review the content as they may spot mistakes you missed.
We hope you’ve learnt some valuables secrets about how writers in a content writing agency operate. We have some great blogs you may find helpful when it comes to content writing.
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