what is an online content writer

What is Content Writing? (Beginners Guide)

Content writing is an excellent career opportunity with plenty of opportunities to be creative, work with new people, and earn a good salary.

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What Is Content Writing?

What does a content writer do, how to become a content writer, content writing tips, content writing examples, how much do content writers get paid, should you become a content writer.

Content writing is the process of planning, writing, and publishing web content to satisfy the needs of a specific audience. The aim is to share valuable information to earn customer trust, improve engagement, and establish credibility in your niche.

A content writer creates written material for websites, blogs, and other digital media. They engage and inform audiences through well-researched and compelling content.

The fundamental role of a content writer starts with understanding the target audience of the company they’re writing for. The best content writers know how to adjust their tone of voice and marketing efforts to suit the expectations of their target audience.

Some of the tasks a content writer may be responsible for include:

Keyword research: While some companies have separate SEO experts responsible for keyword research, good content writers should have the skills to perform keyword research and identify terms and phrases to use in the content.

Content strategy: Content writers can work solo or with content marketing specialists and assist in developing an end-to-end content strategy. This could involve determining what kind of content to create for each channel.

Content writing: Perhaps the most important role of a content writer is actually creating content. Content writers create everything from blog posts to web pages on behalf of a client.

Proofreading and editing: Some content writers do all of their proofreading and editing themselves.

Publishing: Content writers will usually be able to upload their content to various platforms. This could mean adding posts to a WordPress site and scheduling them.

The key to successfully starting a job in content writing is developing your skills and gaining as much experience as possible. Here are some steps for beginners to start with content writing with no experience:

• Enroll in a course
• Practice your writing skills
• Develop complementary skills
• Find your niche
• Build your experience

1. Enroll in a course

While you don’t need a specific content writing degree to get into this industry, a content marketing certification or a digital marketing certification can be useful.

Enrolling in an online course is an excellent way to develop some of the necessary skills you’ll need to impress and attract potential clients. You can even get a copywriting certificate to add to your resume.

When looking for suitable courses, focus on the aspects of content writing you’re most interested in. For instance, if you want to get involved with content writing from an SEO perspective, look at courses covering digital marketing , SEO Courses , and writing.

You may decide to take a selection of different courses to build out the appropriate skillset.

2. Practice your writing skills

Many people aspire to be writers, particularly when they have a creative mind and a talent for language. However, only a handful of hobbyists turn their skills into a profession.

The only way to actively pursue your career in content writing is to begin practicing. It takes many hours to become the kind of writer a professional team or business would want to hire.

Begin by writing blogs for your own website, where you can advertise your skill, collect testimonials, and build a portfolio over time.

You can also get involved with online writing forums and groups to gain inspiration. You could even volunteer your writing services to publications you like. This will help to build your skills while getting your name out there.

Our Content Marketing Course will teach you everything you need to know about content writing.

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3. Develop complementary skills

Writing is the most important talent you’ll need to become a professional content writer.

However, there are other skills that can come in handy and improve your chances of getting the attention of potential clients. For instance, you’ll need fantastic communication skills to interact with clients and companies you work with.

Learning how to convey your ideas effectively to a wide audience will be essential as a content writer.

You’ll also need good research skills. Ensure you know how to track down credible sources of information when developing your career as a content writer.

Other complementary skills may include:

• SEO : Most companies want their content writers to have some basic search engine optimization .
• Problem-solving : Problem-solving skills will help you to come up with unique ways of using content to address the needs of your clients.
• Adaptability : The ability to adapt, constantly grow, and develop new skills is essential to a content writer. The tools you use to convert customers for your audience will likely change over time, so be ready to evolve frequently in your career.

4. Find your niche

While some content writers and copywriters will work on a broad range of topics across a wide variety of companies and industries, a general approach can make it difficult to stand out.

You may find you can reach a wider audience and spend more time on work you actually enjoy with a niche.

Focusing on a specific area of specialization could mean you work best for companies in the healthcare or technology industry. The more you focus on this space, the more you develop your reputation and attract potential future clients.

Alternatively, your niche could involve looking at a specific aspect of content writing. You might be particularly good at writing engaging blog posts, creating social media content, or producing whitepapers for technical companies.

5. Build your experience

Finally, the most important thing that matters to people planning on hiring a content writer is usually experience. Your future employers want to see evidence you have skills in your space.

The best way to begin building experience as a content writer is to create a portfolio of work you can share with your employers. These are basically examples of your content in the form of ad mock-ups, blog posts, and social media campaign ideas.

Once you have your portfolio and you’re posting regularly on your own website blog, look for opportunities to branch out and gain more experience.

Contributing to reputable sites, even if you don’t get paid for it, will help to demonstrate your writing skills. You can also consider offering clients a discount price in exchange for a review when you finish their project.

Follow these tips to become better a content writing.

1. Write content for all the stages of the marketing funnel

Content marketers use content to direct prospects through the different stages of the digital marketing sales funnel . Each stage of the customer journey requires a different approach to content.

For example, during the awareness stage ( top of the funnel ), your content would aim to inform and attract customers.

During the consideration stage, you highlight the benefits of your products or services against competitors.

At the bottom of the funnel, you write content to convince customers to purchase a product or perform a desired action.

2. Always do your research

Research is vital for content for a variety of reasons. First, you need to conduct research to determine who you’re writing for.

The best content writers cultivate a specific voice to speak to a certain audience. The more you understand your customer, the more you can connect with that person on an emotional level – generating conversions.

It’s also important to research any information you will be writing about. Factual, credible information is key in content production, even if your writing is primarily for entertainment purposes.

Studies show if a brand generates fake content about products or services, around 59% of customers will stop buying from this company immediately.

To make your content as compelling as possible, research:

• Your subject matter: Learn as much as possible about the topic and use references to reputable sources to give your work credibility.
• Customers: Know your audience. Building buyer personas and understanding how customers respond to different content at various stages in the consumer journey will improve conversions on a significant scale.
• Competitors: Understanding what your competitors produce in terms of content will give you some valuable inspiration. It also helps when you’re trying to make your content unique from what’s already available on the market.

3. Master the critical components of content

Every piece of content is constructed with a series of different elements. For written content, specific components are more important to capturing and converting customers than others. For instance, you’ll need:

Head-turning headlines: Headlines determine whether your audience will bother reading the rest of the article, eBook, or any other content you produce.

If your headline isn’t engaging, readers will just hit the back button. Engaging headlines are thought-provoking and interesting.

Try techniques like using numbers to demonstrate authority, such as “98% of marketers say…” or asking questions: “Do you know these email marketing tricks?”

A compelling hook: You only have a matter of seconds to keep readers engaged after they’ve read your headline. The first sentence or two is crucial in keeping your audience’s attention. Make sure you get this first section right.

Stay clear and focused: Don’t confuse your audience with a hundred different ideas in one piece of content. Focus on a specific topic and concentrate on giving your customers plenty of actionable advice to walk away with.

Remember, use a tone of voice specific to your target audience and the persona you’re writing for. This will help to make your content more compelling to the right people.

4. Edit and optimize everything you write

Finally, great content takes work. Most content writers don’t publish the first version of the piece they write. Taking the time to read through the content is crucial.

Remember, any grammatical error or unusual sentence can confuse your audience and send them running in the opposite direction.

Often, it’s helpful to have a separate proofreader on hand when creating content because they can examine your work objectively and spot things you’ve missed. Other ways to enhance your work include:

Checking for content SEO : Have you used keywords naturally and organically throughout the post? Are there internal links for page connections on your site and external links for credibility? Have you optimized your H1 tag , meta tags, headlines, and title tags?

Examining readability: Is your content divided into logical segments? Have you got subheadings to guide your reader, short paragraphs, and plenty of bullet points? Keep everything as clean as possible to improve readability.

Looking at relevancy: Is every part of your content as relevant as it should be? Can you remove anything that isn’t useful to your audience?

The most common forms of content a content writer may be asked to create are:

Blogging: Blogs are a central part of building a strong content strategy . They can convey ideas about products and your brand while highlighting your thought leadership. Blogs can also be useful for SEO purposes, building organic traffic , and raising brand awareness.

Email: Writing content for emails can help to convert customers, as well as generate better engagement for your business. Email marketing also helps to build loyalty and strengthen your opportunities for repeat purchases.

Social media: Social channels require content writers to communicate various ideas and campaigns as effectively as possible.

Product content: Selling products and services requires a unique set of writing skills. You’ll have to balance sales copy with storytelling and SEO strategies.

Brand journalism: PR news releases, customer and brand stories, and internal communications can all require the support and guidance of a content writer.

Whitepapers and eBooks: Content writers can help to produce highly technical and professional content that requires a focus on a specific subject. This helps to strengthen the authority of the brand.

Video scripts: If scripts are required to create videos or even podcasts for a company’s branding purposes, a content writer can assist with this.

The average salary for a content writer (1-4 years of experience) is around $52,000 per year in the US. Experienced content writers (10-19 years of experience) may earn around $60,000 annually.

Indeed.com says content writers earn around $20.76 per hour. Your exact earnings will depend on your area of specialization and the kind of companies you work with regularly.

Content writing can be a highly engaging and satisfying job role for many people. It’s an exciting career with plenty of opportunities to be creative, work with new people, and develop your skills. However, it also requires significant dedication and hard work.

If you have a way with words and you know how to produce content that speaks to people, a content writing position could be ideal for you.

Alex Chris is a digital marketing consultant, author, and instructor. He has more than 18 years of practical experience with SEO and digital marketing. Alex holds an MSc Degree in eCommerce and has consulted with Fortune 500 companies in different industries. He blogs regularly about SEO and Digital marketing, and his work has been referenced by leading marketing websites. Connect with Alex on Twitter and LinkedIn .

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November 25, 2023 at 8:21 pm

I learned a lot more about Content writing in this short article than I have learned about it in the past four years after completing my Digital Marketing Certificate course in 2019. The article is rich, lucid, and engaging to the last sentence. Wonderful work and honest help to people who need to get started on content writing as a career.

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What does a content writer do?

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What is a Content Writer?

A content writer specializes in creating written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, social media, and marketing materials. The role of content writers is to produce high-quality content that effectively communicates a message or information to a target audience. They must be able to research, write, and edit content that is engaging, informative, and relevant to the target audience.

Content writers may work in-house for a company, or they may work as freelancers, providing their services to clients on a project basis. They must have excellent writing skills, a strong understanding of grammar and syntax, and the ability to tailor their writing style to fit the tone and voice of the brand they are writing for. Additionally, content writers must be able to work efficiently and meet tight deadlines, as they are often responsible for producing a high volume of content in a short amount of time.

What does a Content Writer do?

In a world where information is constantly being consumed and shared online, content writers provide a valuable service by creating content that is not only informative and entertaining but also contributes to the overall success of a business or individual's online presence.

Duties and Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of a content writer may vary depending on the organization they work for, but generally include:

• Research: A content writer needs to be able to conduct thorough research on the topic assigned to them. This means they should be able to identify reliable sources of information and gather information that is relevant to the topic they are writing about. They need to understand the target audience and tailor their content to meet their needs and interests.
• Writing: Once the research is done, the content writer needs to create engaging and informative content. This includes using appropriate writing style, tone, and format for the platform and audience. The content should be well-structured and easy to read, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The writer should also be able to use persuasive language to encourage the reader to take action, if that is the goal of the content.
• Editing and Proofreading: After writing the content, the writer needs to review and revise it for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity. They need to ensure that the content is error-free, and that it meets any specific guidelines or requirements set by the organization.
• Content Management: Once the content is ready, the writer needs to publish it on various platforms such as websites, blogs, social media, or email newsletters. They need to ensure that the content is properly formatted, optimized for search engines, and easily accessible to the target audience. They may also need to update or archive the content as needed.
• Collaboration: A content writer needs to work closely with other team members such as designers, marketers, and project managers to ensure that the content aligns with the overall marketing strategy and meets the organization's goals. This may involve brainstorming ideas, coordinating deadlines, and sharing feedback and suggestions.
• SEO: A content writer needs to understand search engine optimization (SEO) principles and incorporate them into the content to improve its visibility and ranking on search engines. This may involve using relevant keywords, meta tags, and descriptions, as well as optimizing images and videos.
• Content Promotion: Once the content is published, the writer needs to develop promotional strategies to increase its reach and engagement. This may involve sharing the content on social media, creating email campaigns, or using paid advertising to promote it.
• Continuous Learning: A content writer needs to stay up-to-date with industry trends, best practices, and new technologies to improve the quality and effectiveness of their content. This may involve attending conferences, reading industry publications, and participating in online communities and forums.

Types of Content Writers There are several types of content writers, each with their own unique skills and specialties. Here are some of the most common types:

• Blog Writers : Blog writers create content for blogs, either on their own websites or for other publications. They may specialize in a particular niche or topic, and their content is typically written in an informal, conversational style.
• Content Marketers: Content marketers create content with the goal of driving traffic, engagement, and conversions. They need to be able to understand the buyer's journey and create content that meets the needs of the target audience at each stage of the funnel.
• Content Strategists: Content strategists are responsible for developing a content strategy that aligns with the organization's goals and meets the needs of the target audience. They may work with a team of writers to create a content calendar, identify content gaps, and measure the effectiveness of the content.
• Copywriters : Copywriters create content that is designed to persuade the reader to take a specific action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service. They may specialize in writing sales copy, email marketing campaigns, or advertising copy.
• Educational Content Writers: Educational content writers specialize in writing educational content, including textbooks, lesson plans, articles, and online courses. They research educational topics, organize information, and write clear and engaging content that is accessible to learners.
• SEO Writers: SEO writers create content that is optimized for search engines, with the goal of improving the website's ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). They need to be able to incorporate keywords, meta tags, and descriptions into their content without sacrificing readability or quality.
• Technical Writers : Technical writers create content that explains complex technical concepts in a way that is easy for non-technical readers to understand. They may create documentation, manuals, user guides, or help articles for software or hardware products.

What is the workplace of a Content Writer like?

The workplace of a content writer can vary depending on their employment situation. Content writers may work as full-time employees for a company or work on a freelance basis, which could mean working from home or from a coworking space.

For those who work in an office environment, their workplace may look similar to that of a traditional office. They may work in a cubicle or share a workspace with other writers. However, content writers often require more creativity and inspiration than other types of office workers, so their workspaces may be designed to encourage this. They may have personalized decorations, plants, or other elements to help them stay inspired and focused.

Freelance content writers have the flexibility to work from anywhere they choose. This could mean working from home or a coffee shop, or even while traveling. Many freelance writers prefer to work from home, where they can create their own personalized workspace that suits their needs. However, working from home can also be challenging as it can be difficult to separate work and personal life. Freelancers must also be self-disciplined and able to manage their time effectively to ensure that they meet their deadlines.

Regardless of where they work, content writers must have access to a computer, internet connection, and necessary software, such as a word processor or content management system. They may also use tools like plagiarism checkers, grammar checkers, and keyword research software to help them produce high-quality content. Collaboration tools like Google Docs, Slack, or Asana may also be used to work with editors, clients, or other writers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Writing and journalism related careers and degrees.

Writing Careers

• Academic Writer
• Content Writer
• Fiction Writer
• Food Critic
• Ghostwriter
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• Nonfiction Writer
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• Television Writer
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• Correspondent
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• Content Production

Content Writing 101

Written by Brian Dean

What Is Content Writing?

Content writing is the process of planning, writing, and publishing written material, such as articles, blog posts, product descriptions, and marketing copy, that is intended for online consumption. The goal of content writing is to inform, educate, or persuade readers, and it can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Building brand awareness
• Increasing website traffic
• Generating leads
• Improving search engine rankings
• Establishing credibility

Why Is Proper Content Writing Important?

When most people hear “content writing”, they think “writing articles”.

However, writing content isn’t just important for blog posts.

In fact, content writing is important for all types of different content formats, including:

• Video scripts
• Email newsletters
• Keynote speeches
• Social media posts
• Podcast titles
• White papers
• Web page copy
• Landing pages
• YouTube video descriptions

Or put another way:

Writing is the foundation for pretty much any content that you publish.

Best Practices

Create an outline.

Creating an outline is a GREAT first step in the content writing process.

Outlines help your content come out better for two main reasons:

First , outlines force you to put all your thoughts down in an organized way (rather than writing everything off the top of your head). Which really speeds up the writing process.

Second , outlines usually lead to a much better structure for your content. That’s because an outline lets you see your content from a “high level” that’s impossible to see as you’re writing.

Plus, because you have an outline, your final content will hit all of the major points that you set out to before you started writing.

So: how do you actually go about creating an effective outline?

Here are three main strategies that work well:

So when we start working on a new guide, we use a lot of the structure from our existing guides as a base.

• Use a template: Most professional content writers work off of proven templates. Here are 5 content templates you can use to create outlines .

For example, let’s say you’re about to write a guest post about the keto diet.

Well, you’d want to type “keto diet” into BuzzSumo to see what’s already done well.

Then, read some of the best posts to see exactly what you should cover in your article.

Make It Easy to Consume and Share

Content that’s super easy to read and share is of the keys to great content .

You can have a post written by the world’s top copywriter. But if that post is hard for people to consume, no one will read it.

Here are a few tips to help make your content easier to consume, skim and share.

Keep it Snappy, Rich and Entertaining

Whether you’re writing about content creation or cars, your writing needs to grab (and keep) people’s attention .

Otherwise, they’ll click over to something else.

How you grab someone’s attention depends on the format you’re working with.

When I create videos, I use “Family Guy moments” throughout the video. These are little asides that add some humor to and spice to my video content.

And when I write videos, I focus a lot on formatting and layout.

Specifically, I try to keep my paragraphs short:

I also sprinkle in visuals and screenshots to mix things up.

And if you’re about to sit down and record some audio, you want your lines to be short and snappy. You also want to avoid parenthetical statements. Content in parenthesis is easy to follow when you’re reading it. But you can easily “lose the thread” if you’re listening to your audio as a podcast.

In short: your final content needs to be super engaging to work. And no matter what format you’re working with, that starts with the content writing process.

Quotable On Social Media

According to a study that we conducted, very few blog posts get shared or linked to .

And to increase the odds that your content ranks in search engines and gets shared on social media, add shareable quotes.

For text-based content, this can be a statement that you highlight in your post.

And if you’re making a YouTube video, you can pull out a short snippet from that video to share on LinkedIn.

The important thing here is to have these quotes ready before you publish the post. Then, highlight them in your content.

Choose Interesting Angles

With 2.3 million blog posts going live every day , you can’t just publish something generic and expect a wave of visitors.

Instead, to get traffic to your content, it needs a compelling angle.

An angle is simply the hook that makes your content stand out from all the others on that topic.

Your angle can be a personal story. A bit of controversy. Or something that simply looks better than what’s out there.

The angle you go with depends on your target audience.

For example, when we published our guide to becoming an SEO expert , our 8-bit design helped it stand out.

Make It Actionable

For most niches, your content can’t just be entertaining.

And it’s not even enough for it to simply be informative.

For your content marketing to work, your content needs to be super useful .

Here’s how:

Our SEO audit post is a great example of this.

It’s not a collection of random tips. This content is a step-by-step action plan that anyone can follow.

• Keep it up-to-date: A single outdated step or example can derail an otherwise great piece. I recommend going back and updating your old content at least once a year.

Make it Trustworthy

For people to share and link to your content, they need to trust it first.

And while design factors in to how much people trust your content , your writing plays a big role too.

Here are a few tips to make your content more trustworthy.

• Use proper grammar: If you want to improve your writing skills, a tool like Hemingway Editor or Grammarly can be a huge help.

For example, whenever we write a guide, we add lots of stats and references.

Here’s an example from our blog.

Give it a Magnetic Headline and Introduction

Most visitors only spend 15 seconds reading an article before leaving.

With such a short window of time, your headline and introduction are incredibly important.

Here’s how to create headlines and intros that work:

Note how these bullet points aren’t topics . They’re benefits that someone will get out of reading and implementing what’s in the guide.

How can I become a content writer?

If you’re looking to dive into the world of content writing, you’re in for an exciting journey. Let me walk you through the steps that have worked wonders for me and many others.

1. Learn SEO Fundamentals

First off, get cozy with SEO basics . It’s the backbone of content writing.

Start with keyword research – it’s like picking the right tools before you start building. Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Semrush to find what your audience is searching for.

Then, dive into on-page SEO . Think of your titles and meta descriptions as your first handshake with your readers – make it count.

2. Niche Specialization

Now, pick a niche.

This isn’t just about what you love; it’s about where you can add real value.

Ask yourself, “What unique perspective or solutions can I bring to my readers?” This focus will make your content more engaging and valuable.

3. Develop a Unique Writing Style

It’s your signature. Keep it clear, engaging, and packed with actionable tips.

I always aim to write as if I’m talking to a friend – straightforward and helpful.

Use tools like Grammarly to keep your grammar in check and Hemingway Editor to make your content crisp and readable.

4. Create a Portfolio

It’s your playground for trying out new ideas and a portfolio to showcase your skills.

Make sure it’s SEO-friendly; after all, you want to walk the talk.

5. Learn from the Best

Learning never stops. Keep an eye on the top content writers and digital marketing resources.

What are they doing right? How are they engaging their audience? How are they using new AI tools in their workflows?

Don’t just consume content; dissect it.

6. Feedback and Improvement

Lastly, the power of feedback can’t be overstressed. Use it to refine your writing.

Remember, the best content writers are those who listen, learn, and adapt.

That’s my blueprint for becoming a content writer. I

t’s about blending SEO savvy with a unique voice, continually learning, and always striving to provide value to your readers.

Stay curious, stay committed, and you’ll find your path to success in content writing.

The Definitive Guide to Writing Blog Posts : I recommend sending this to any content writer that you work with.

The Complete Guide to SEO Content : How to write quality content that’s specifically engineered to rank in Google.

Evergreen Content : How to plan and write content that continues to bring in traffic for years after you publish it.

The Definitive Guide to Copywriting : Learn how to write SUPER compelling copy for blog posts, sales letters, videos and more based on tips from the world’s top copywriters.

Discover top guides, trends, tips and expertise from AIO Writers

What Is Content Writing? The Key to Digital Success

Julia McCoy

Picture this: You’ve just aced every paper in college, and now you’re ready to conquer the online world with your words. But after publishing that first piece on your site — crickets. What gives? Well, let me break it down for you.

What is content writing ? It’s not just stringing fancy words together; it’s crafting stories that stick, sharing info that resonates, and building connections across screens worldwide. This isn’t college essays 2.0 — it’s about grabbing attention in a sea of digital noise.

In this guide we’ll dive into all things content writing — from nailing blog posts to creating social media magic — and why businesses can’t get enough of good writers like you.

We’ll define what is content writing, share tips on how to make sure your content reaches the right audiences through SEO smarts, and give you the lowdown on turning readers into raving fans (and customers).

Table Of Contents:

Why content writers are important to businesses, content writing vs. copywriting, content writing formats, 1. set goals, 2. create user personas, 3. conduct research, 4. create a content plan, find your unique angle, engage readers effectively, add keywords strategically, create an outline to organize your thoughts, make shareable quote-friendly pieces, spice up your content with videos, overcoming writer’s block, dealing with fatigue, handling feedback, balancing creativity with seo, essential software for content creation and optimization, educational resources for skill improvement, generative ai in content writing, what do you mean by content writing, what is an example of content writing, how do i start content writing, is content writing easy, what is content writing.

Content writing is the art and science of crafting words that resonate with readers online.

A content writer has to wear many hats, juggling roles like a digital marketer, SEO specialist, and creative artist all at once.

Content writers do not just put pen to paper; they are strategists building brand authority through carefully chosen words.

A good content writer digs deep into topics that matter, finding interesting angles that speak directly to readers’ needs and interests. They create original content ranging from social media posts to long-form blog articles — each piece tailored for its specific platform and purpose.

In today’s fast-paced world, businesses can’t afford to ignore the power of well-crafted written material. According to the Content Marketing Institute, 73% of B2B marketers and 70% of B2C marketers are already using content as part of their overall marketing strategy.

This surge isn’t surprising given how essential quality content is for connecting with customers online — it educates them about products or services while simultaneously improving visibility across search engines through strategic SEO writing techniques.

A skilled content writer thus becomes pivotal in driving organic traffic which can convert browsers into buyers.

Source:  Oberlo

While content writing and copywriting may seem similar at first glance, their purpose and techniques are quite different.

Content writing primarily focuses on providing valuable information to readers. Its goal is not necessarily to sell but rather to build a relationship with the audience through education and engagement.

In contrast, copywriting has one main objective: persuade the reader to take action — whether that’s purchasing a product/service or signing up for an email list. It’s often used in direct marketing materials like landing pages.

Sometimes these two forms of writing do overlap, especially when we talk about promotional materials such as emails or ads where both educational value and persuasive tactics are needed.

Content writing comes in various formats, each serving specific purposes and catering to different audiences.

Here are 15 of the most common types of digital content you’ll see today:

• Blog Posts: Informal and conversational articles typically published on a blog. They can range from short-form (300-600 words) to long-form (1,000+ words) and cover a wide range of topics.
• Articles: More formal and structured pieces of writing that are often found in magazines, newspapers, or online publications. They can be news articles, features, or opinion pieces.
• Social Media Posts: Short, concise content crafted for social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It may include text, images, or a combination of both.
• White Papers: In-depth, authoritative reports that explore a specific issue, provide solutions, or present research findings. Commonly used in business and academia.
• Case Studies: Detailed examinations of a particular situation or project, often used to showcase success stories, challenges, and solutions.
• Product Descriptions: Concise and persuasive writing that highlights the features and benefits of a product or service. Commonly used in e-commerce.
• Email Newsletters: Regular updates or marketing messages sent via email to a targeted audience. They often include a mix of informative and promotional content.
• Press Releases: Formal announcements written for the media to share news about a company, product launch, event, or other significant developments.
• Ebooks: Longer, more comprehensive pieces of content, often used for in-depth exploration of a topic. Ebooks are usually offered as downloadable PDFs.
• Infographics: Visual representations of information, combining text and graphics to convey complex concepts or data in a simple and engaging manner.
• Video Scripts: Text written for video content, including dialogues, narration, and other relevant information. It guides the visual and auditory elements of the video.
• Landing Page Copy: Text specifically crafted for a webpage where visitors land after clicking on an online ad or link. It aims to persuade visitors to take a specific action.
• Reviews: Opinion-based content that evaluates and critiques a product, service, book, movie, etc. Reviews can be found on blogs, websites, or dedicated review platforms.
• How-to Guides/Tutorials: Step-by-step instructions or guides that help users learn how to perform a task or use a product.
• Interviews/Q&A: Conversational content presenting a dialogue between the writer and another person, sharing insights, opinions, or expertise.

Which content format performs best? Here’s what the Semrush State of Content Marketing Report says:

These are just a few examples, and in many cases, content may combine elements from multiple formats to create a more engaging and comprehensive piece. The choice of format depends on your goals, target audience, and the nature of the information you are writing about.

Before You Start Writing

Content writing is more than just typing words on a page. It involves extensive research, planning, and development of ideas tailored to your audience’s interests.

Here are four things you should do before you start writing digital content.

An important aspect at the outset of any content campaign is setting clear goals. Are you looking to gather more qualified leads or reengage former clients? Defining these objectives can guide the direction of each piece of content.

A user persona represents an ideal customer profile based on both qualitative and quantitative data from previous campaigns, market studies, competitor analysis, and existing customer profiles.

These personas tell you who you are writing for — keep them in mind throughout your writing process.

Buyer personas help create targeted content by identifying what types resonate best with different segments within your audience.

The cornerstone of any successful content writing endeavor is thorough research. Ensuring that your information is factual, current, and vetted not only provides value to your readers but also increases their trust in your business.

Planning prepares your content for writing, editing, and publishing. A well-laid plan helps you seize opportunities to target relevant keywords and aligns with search intent as well as audience interests.

Following these steps will help streamline the overwhelming task of creating engaging content while improving its effectiveness in reaching your target audience.

Tips for Crafting High-Quality Digital Content

Good content does more than just fill up your web page; it builds bridges to your audience, turning casual readers into loyal customers.

Digging deep can reveal interesting angles others have overlooked, giving life to topics even within saturated niches. A unique perspective will not only help your content rank but also keep readers coming back for more.

A good starting point? Think about questions people often ask but find hard answers for — then address these queries head-on through thorough research and original analysis.

This strategy elevates both brand authority and reader trust, making sure they turn to you when they need reliable information or solutions.

Creating high-quality content starts with engaging the reader’s attention from the very first line.

The key is to create something that people not only want to consume but also share.

Your words should spark curiosity and offer value so that every scroll brings them closer to action or another piece of helpful information on your site.

The best content writers can keep things relatable. They write in the active voice because this approach feels like you’re talking directly to someone.

To really draw in readers, consider blending storytelling with informative insights — giving them both context and facts they can use.

Keywords help search engines find your content whenever a user searches for those terms.

Start by finding terms that resonate with your audience. A keyword research tool like Semrush, Ahrefs, or even the in-app keyword generator of Content at Scale can help you identify which phrases people type into Google when they need to find something.

Sprinkle these all-important phrases throughout your content without detracting from readability.

To craft a masterpiece, start by sketching the outline. This practice helps ensure your piece is structured and flows smoothly.

An outline acts like a map guiding you through the terrain of ideas. By creating an outline, content writers can establish a clear path from introduction to conclusion, making sure each point flows logically into the next.

This approach not only organizes thoughts but also saves time during editing by laying out where key information will go into your blog post.

Pro Tip: If you’re using An AI writer like Content at Scale , you can skip this process as the app automatically creates a blog outline for you based on top-ranking content.

Incorporating memorable lines into your work can turn readers into sharers. Imagine crafting phrases so impactful they’re echoed across social networks — this is how you boost sharing potential.

Create quotable snippets that stand strong on their own and watch as they make easy rounds on social media. It’s all about packaging wisdom in bite-sized pieces others feel compelled to spread around.

Digging deeper reveals that adding shareable quotes and choosing interesting angles can significantly increase your content’s chances of being shared or linked back to — a fact any savvy content writer keeps top of mind when aiming for wider reach online.

Integrating videos into written content provides a dynamic and multi-sensory experience for the audience, significantly enhancing engagement and comprehension.

While textual content can be informative, it may not capture the audience’s attention as effectively as a combination of text and visuals. Videos have the power to convey complex ideas in a more accessible manner, appealing to both auditory and visual learners. This dual engagement fosters better understanding and retention of information, making the content more memorable.

Furthermore, videos contribute to a richer storytelling experience. They allow for the inclusion of visual elements such as animations, demonstrations, interviews, and real-life scenarios, which can evoke emotions and create a stronger connection with the audience.

A well-crafted video can breathe life into written content, making it more relatable and compelling. In a digital landscape where attention spans are getting shorter, videos provide an opportunity to grab and hold the viewer’s interest, ensuring that key messages are absorbed and remembered.

Source:  FinancesOnline

Common Challenges That Content Writers Face

Every content writer hits a wall sometimes.

You’re typing away, and suddenly you’re stuck.

Writer’s block feels like your brain is running on empty, but the cure might be simpler than you think.

A change of scenery can do wonders for a stale mind.

If that doesn’t cut it, try freewriting to get those creative juices flowing again. Just let the words pour out without worrying about typos or grammar which you can edit later.

Your eyes are glazing over after hours in front of the screen?

It happens to the best of us.

Take regular breaks. Stand up, stretch out, or take a quick walk outside.

You’ll come back refreshed and ready to tackle that blog post head-on.

Getting feedback is part of growing as a content writer.

Don’t take critiques personally; use them to make your work stronger.

Remember, revisions are not setbacks — they’re steps forward.

Creative freedom rocks, but we also need to meet specific requirements for our target audience or SEO goals.

Find harmony by weaving keywords naturally into your writing while keeping true to your voice. A little creativity goes a long way in engaging readers and search engines alike.

Leverage Tools and Resources to Enhance Skills and Efficiency

Staying ahead in content writing isn’t just about talent; it’s also about the tools you wield.

The right software can turn a daunting task into a streamlined process, making research feel like less of a deep dive into the abyss.

Idea generation becomes simpler with platforms designed to spark creativity at your fingertips.

To write pieces that rank well on search engines, content writers use SEO tools that help include relevant keywords without compromising readability.

Management systems come in handy when organizing these terms along with other essential data.

A robust toolkit enhances not only your writing but also your strategy from start to finish.

No matter how skilled you are as a content writer, there’s always room for improvement. Courses and certifications keep you updated on industry standards while forums provide real-world insights from peers.

Blogs serve as both inspiration and education by offering tips specific to various facets of digital marketing.

The arrival of generative AI has revolutionized the landscape of content writing. This powerful tool, when used effectively, can generate blog posts, headlines, social media captions, product descriptions, marketing emails, ad copies, and other content ideas at your command.

To maximize the benefits of generative AI in your content writing strategy, you need to provide it with a clear context. Be explicit about what your content is about, who your target audience is and what are your goals for the post.

You should also specify certain keywords that you want to include in the output as well as the length of the post and structural information (like bullet points instead of paragraphs).

If you are not satisfied with the first output — fret not! Just like humans learn through trial and error, so does our friendly AI chatbot. Reiterate, rewrite, or adjust your prompts until the AI yields great results.

Generative AI not only helps you create original pieces from scratch but also significantly reduces research time. It’s quite useful while summarizing lengthy articles or reports. All you need to do is paste your source text and instruct the AI to summarize it as a bulleted list.

Generative AI, when used properly, can be an invaluable tool for any content writer. It’s not about replacing human creativity but enhancing it with the power of artificial intelligence.

FAQs – What is Content Writing

Content writing involves crafting material for the web, aimed to inform, engage or convert readers.

An article detailing ’10 Ways to Improve Your Sleep’ showcases what typical content writing looks like.

Dive in with research, nail your audience’s needs, and just begin typing. Practice makes perfect.

Mastery takes time. You’ll need dedication and skill to make complex topics digestible and engaging.

So now you know what is content writing. It’s the heartbeat of digital marketing, a blend of art and strategy that hooks your reader from the get-go.

It’s storytelling with a purpose.

Every word counts in creating high-quality content that engages and converts. Whether it’s blog articles or press releases, each piece has its role in building brand authority.

And SEO? It’s not just an afterthought. It’s your golden ticket to making sure your work reaches the right audience at the right time.

Deadline looming? Suffering from writer’s block? AIMEE is here to help. Content at Scale ‘s resident AI chatbot can generate any type of content on just about any topic — written in your own voice.

Written by Julia McCoy

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How to Become a Content Writer

Learn what it takes to become a Content Writer in 2024, and how to start your journey.

• What is a Content Writer
• How to Become
• Certifications
• Tools & Software
• LinkedIn Guide
• Interview Questions
• Work-Life Balance
• Professional Goals
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter Examples

Land a Content Writer role with Teal

How do I become a Content Writer?

Acquire a strong educational foundation, develop essential writing and editing skills, build a professional portfolio, gain practical experience, network with other professionals, stay current with industry trends and tools, typical requirements to become a content writer, educational requirements and academic pathways, building experience in content writing, key skills for aspiring content writers, additional qualifications for a competitive edge, alternative ways to start a content writer career, building a portfolio through blogging and social media, transitioning from other creative disciplines, utilizing industry-specific expertise, self-education and online learning, volunteering and internships, how to break into the industry as a content writer - next steps, faqs about becoming a content writer, how long does it take to become a content writer, do you need a degree to become a content writer, can i become a content writer with no experience.

Content Writer Skills

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Shaping narratives and engaging audiences through compelling, creative content

Crafting compelling narratives to drive brand engagement and consumer action

Shaping narratives, refining content to captivate audiences and uphold brand voice

Shaping compelling narratives, driving engagement through strategic content creation

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Crafting compelling narratives, engaging audiences with powerful words and ideas

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MARKETING INSIGHTS

What is content writing? (An explainer with tips and examples)

• Jenna Romano
• Aug 23, 2022

Content writing plays an integral role in a brand’s success. When you create a website , for instance, you choose your words for everything from the home page to the individual blog posts you publish.

Your copy can affect how well your website ranks on search engine results pages, as well as how valuable visitors find your site’s content. Without high-quality writing, your marketing efforts may flounder and, with them, your website.

In this post, we’ll define content writing, explore the benefits of good content writing and share tips for success as well as unique examples.

What is content writing?

Content writing refers to creating digital content for a brand’s marketing strategy . This includes content for:

Sales landing pages

Social media posts

Newsletters

White papers

Press releases

Content writing is just one content marketing tool in a brand’s arsenal. Pair it with robust research, diligent planning and high-quality visuals to optimize your strategy.

Your content marketing strategy will depend on your product, services and audience. For example, a restaurant’s clientele might not want to follow a blog, but they will likely want to see tantalizing food photos and reels on Instagram.

A recent Semrush survey of content marketers found certain content types are more effective and successful than others:

Video (37%)

Blog posts (36%)

Success stories (22%)

Case studies (16%)

Webinars (16%)

Every piece of content in your marketing strategy likely has a written component to it. Take marketing videos, for example. Someone needs to write the video script as well as the title, description and show notes to help with SEO and accessibility.

The benefits of good content writing

97% of the content marketers in the 2021 Semrush study said that content was a critical part of their overall marketing strategy. There’s a reason for that—well-written content provides brands with many benefits:

By creating content for different channels, a brand can attract a much larger audience.

You can tailor content to different segments of a brand’s audience, making it easier to connect.

Writing great content will help strengthen a brand. This will make it easier to recognize and more relatable.

Content offers value to customers and non-customers alike and asks for nothing in return—just their time and attention.

Google rewards websites that consistently create quality content with better rankings.

Content writing helps existing customers get more from their purchases, which can increase loyalty.

Get your ethos, pathos and logos right and you'll be well on your way to building a loyal customer base from your content.

5 examples of great content writing

Before we check out how you can optimize your content writing strategy, let’s first look at these content writing examples:

In early 2022, social media users saw posts and ads from a brand called Perpetual Pup . Users noticed the social media and video script writing before the branding. “It’s a good ad,” said Twitter user @GideonNeptune .“It made me look and find out about the show it’s promoting.”

The content campaign promoted “Bad Vegan,” a Netflix documentary . People discussed this content marketing strategy on many social media platforms, including on Reddit .

McCormick's YouTube channel is entirely devoted to cooking with the company’s spices. A lengthy description accompanies each video—like this one on how to marinate and grill pork chops —and includes:

A simple yet descriptive title

A quick summary of what the viewer will learn

A list of ingredients needed to reproduce the recipe

Information on prep and cooking time

A link to the recipe on the McCormick website

These YouTube descriptions give the viewer more context and value from the video, while also helping optimize the video for search.

An email newsletter gives brands a regular chance to re-engage with website visitors and blog readers. The Wix Blog newsletter, for instance, goes out once a week and provides readers with short and easy-to-read summaries of recent posts. Subscribers can skim the newsletter’s concise, conversational writing and get just enough details for each post that they’re eager to read more.

Instacart ’s grocery delivery service provides a great value to its customers. However, the Ideas & Guides section of the brand’s website offers an opportunity to maximize the brand’s service. It covers DIY topics like cooking tips, holiday and event planning and recipes.

This content is useful to Instacart’s marketing strategy for several reasons. For one, it adds values for existing customers using the service. Instacart can use customers’ shopping histories to send them relevant guides. It also can bring in new leads as visitors discover timely and trending topics.

Customer testimonials work great for people to sign up for a service. The only problem with testimonials, though, is the short length and faceless nature. Therefore, success stories can be a more effective form of content marketing. You’ll see why on SCORE’s Success Story page. Real people share actual stories about their businesses and how SCORE’s mentors have helped them. The Success Story pages aren’t long—maybe only 400 to 600 words—and yet they pack enough of a punch to touch visitors’ emotions.

Tips for content writing success

Here are 10 best practices to help you write high-quality content for your marketing campaigns:

01. Reference your content style guide

Just as you’d document your visual branding with a style guide, do the same for your content writing. It should include information related to:

Business objectives

Brand voice and personality

User personas

Guidelines on key company terms and industry jargon

Other preferences or rules relating to your brand’s written style

Not only will this help you consistently handle your writing, but you’ll get better quality results from contributors, too.

02. Create a content marketing strategy

According to Semrush’s survey, 78% of those who’ve been very successful in their content marketing had a documented strategy. You can create an effective strategy for copywriting by choosing 5 to 10 top-level topics you want your brand to be associated with. Then center all of your content around those major hubs, ensuring that you tackle each subtopic one by one.

03. Keep your eyes and ears open for inspiration

There are many places to find content ideas:

Subscribe to your competitors’ blogs and newsletters and follow them on social media

Follow the top publications in your industry

Listen to podcasts and subscribe to YouTube channels that tackle similar subjects

You never know when inspiration might strike with content writing. Staying tuned to what others talk about can help you avoid feeling uninspired or stuck.

04. Come up with an interesting angle

It’s common to take inspiration from other people’s content, but be careful about rewriting what others have already said on a topic. Tune into a variety of sources such as blogs, vlogs, newsletters, social media platforms, podcasts and even print journalism to help fuel your creativity.

05. Write as concisely as possible

You want to unpack the topic fully when you write a white paper or blog post. However, that doesn’t mean you need to hit some magical word count to make it a worthwhile read. Cover the topic fully, without being too wordy.

06. Focus on the user foremost

Although content writing is a marketing tactic, it usually takes a less product-forward tone than advertising.

Joe Stolte of The Tractionology Group suggests the following to Forbes :

“Make the content about the customer. Specifically, make it about what your customer wants and how they can get it. What works really well is to use your marketing to educate your target customer and help them solve real problems in advance of trying to sell to them. This naturally generates goodwill and trust in your marketplace and makes selling much easier.”

07. Format your content for readability

Content design is an important part of content writing. With consumers’ attention spans growing shorter with each passing year, ensure that the content you’ve written first gets noticed, then read. Hopefully, it’ll convert a good portion of users, too.

Even short social media posts can get more views with line breaks, attached images and strategic hashtags. Just make sure that the post’s design doesn’t distract from its overall readability.

08. Give readers a reason to engage

You can add certain assets to your content writing that encourage engagement:

More people will open a post if the headline has powerful words

Supportive imagery can help people understand the content

Actionable how-to steps can make the piece more useful

Statistics, quotes from thought leaders and real-world examples can make content more convincing

09. Proofread your work

A piece of content with an error is like a broken link on a website. While it might just seem like a minor inconvenience, frequent errors can reflect poorly on your brand. Tools like Grammarly can help you proofread your writing before publishing.

10. Use keywords organically

The point of writing website content is to create high-quality, valuable content for your audience. While you should optimize your website’s content with best practices for search engines like light keyword research, alt text for images and internal linking, you should prioritize comprehensively covering the topic.

Related Posts

What is digital marketing? The complete guide

What is brand voice and how should you use it? (+ Examples)

Copywriting 101: The ultimate guide to writing copy that sells

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How to become an awesome content writer (beginner’s guide)

Discover key insights on content writing in the digital age, balancing AI innovation and human touch. Essential guide for those aspiring to professional writing.

Stella Estee Samantha

In 2023, content writers remain crucial in creating engaging content that builds audience relationships and drives revenue, standing out even amidst AI's content creation capabilities. Their unique human touch adds value that AI alone cannot replicate.

This role is especially important considering reading trends. A survey indicates that while the average person reads for only about 20 minutes daily, top articles are often lengthy, exceeding 5,700 words. This highlights the need for engaging, well-crafted content. In the digital age, where publications are key to attracting traffic and establishing business credibility, the skill of a content writer becomes indispensable in improving a brand’s image and standing out in the competitive digital marketplace.

How to become a content writer?

What is a content writer, what does a content writer do, what skills does a content writer need, how much money do content writers make, how to become a content writer with no experien, dive in learning, identify your niche, maximize online presence, build a portfolio, start pitching.

Being a content writer involves more than just decent writing skills. Content writers must have the ability to turn any piece of information into something digestible and engaging for audiences.

With AI tools, writers can enhance their efficiency in research, generate ideas, and even refine grammar and style. AI assists in creating drafts faster, allowing writers to focus more on adding unique insights and creativity.

Furthermore, a content writer is accountable for creating well-written copy for your blog, social media account, newsletter, whitepaper, e-book, or even brochure. Anything that involves the written word for marketing purposes is likely to fall into the realm of content writing. The role is a part of a marketing team, but is specifically in charge of coming up with creative and compelling stories for the audience.

A content writer’s goal is to get audiences to take a chance on a specific product by creating purpose and value around the product or brand. They are crucial in turning curious visitors into loyal customers by pushing out first-rate content. Oftentimes, the best outcome is to have search engines rank your content as among the top results when an internet user searches for a keyword.

In essence, content writers create, manage, and distribute content and ensure that this content is optimized for search engines in order to drive traffic to the site. Most importantly, a content writer must identify a customer's problem and resolve it with a solution.

Many say that there is no secret formula to be a great content writer. However, there are certain skill sets that will no doubt make you a valuable asset to any marketing team. If you can master these skills and apply them to your work, you will be ready to kick off your career as a content writer.

1. Hook readers from the very first sentence

The average person’s attention span is only eight seconds . If your potential audience sees something that doesn’t grab their immediate attention, your content will be pointless. That’s why it’s essential to create an eye-catching headline and a strong hook at the start of any content.

2. Apply guided brand tone and voice

Every brand has its own way of conveying a message to its audience. Some skew more casual and personal, whereas others have a house style that demands technicality and objectivity. A good content writer has to be able to adapt to any writing style. Furthermore, they must be able to transform data into different formats, while still matching the brand’s voice.

3. Pay attention to details

What if you read an article and found a typo? Right off the bat, you would feel that the credibility of the content has dipped at least slightly. Trust us, you do not want your audience to feel that way. Therefore, it’s crucial to proofread and polish any words or sentences that might sound vague or questionable, so as to present your company as a credible, legitimate one.

4. Understand search engine optimization (SEO)

In this internet era, much of how well your content performs is reliant on how well it performs in search engines. To get people to read your article, one of the best ways is to have it rank highly on the search engine. A basic understanding of SEO, WordPress, and coding languages will also help you to gain plus points from any recruiter.

5. Understanding AI in Writing

Content writers can also use free AI tools like ChatGPT. These tools assist in research, proofreading for tone, style, and grammar, and suggesting creative ideas. Using AI like ChatGPT is not only cost-effective but also enhances the quality of writing.

Mastering AI tools in writing can make a content writer's work stand out. It speeds up the writing process, ensuring quick delivery of high-quality content. This skill can differentiate a writer from others, making them more attractive to employers and clients.

6. Be creative

There are billions of articles on the internet, and many of them are just reproductions of other articles. Hence, a content writer must possess the skill to turn ordinary information into brand new interpretations that capture a reader’s attention and keep them engaged and interested. It takes a lot of creativity to create valuable content that stands out.

How to become a content writer with no experience?

For someone who has no experience, it is common to wonder, where to start. Luckily, nowadays, there are accessible resources to learn how to write professionally and earn a living.

Start with writing daily for at least one hour to build a habit. Take time to do research, craft a story, and proofread it. The more you practice, the more you learn, and your chances to get a paid assignment grow.

To get your foot in the door, you may enroll in one of the free courses and tutorials in Hubspot Academy , LinkedIn Learning , or Skillshare . They will make you familiar with content writing basics, and you will receive a certificate at the end.

Do you struggle with finding the right words? The good news is there are plenty of free writing tools that can help you create great copy, avoid errors, and work more productively. For instance, if you're looking for an alternative word or phrase, Thesaurus.com will offer you synonyms to choose from.

Checking grammar is crucial and tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT are great for this. Grammarly, available as a free browser extension or online editor, offers basic corrections. Its premium version gives advanced suggestions and checks for plagiarism.

ChatGPT can help with grammar and also refine style and tone. You can use prompts like 'Can you check this text for grammar errors?' or 'Please make this text sound more professional.' These tools ensure your writing is error-free and cater to a wide range of needs, suitable for writers of all levels.

Do you want to stand out from other writers? To do so, choose a niche and focus on it. For example, if your main topic is marketing, you should write about it as soon as possible. It will help you to stay up-to-date with trends and become an expert in your field.

You can start with any topic you are passionate about. But if you are in doubt, here is our overview of the best-paying freelance writing niches. You can also focus on specific content types, such as writing case studies, blog posts, or whitepapers.

Joining writer communities is another great way to dive into the writer's market and make connections. It can help you explore job opportunities, meet like-minded people to exchange experience, and grow as a professional. Keep your eyes open for opportunities that match your interests. It will make content writing truly exciting!

Once you have your area of expertise, it’s time to publish your work. It is easier than may seem at first glance. Platforms like Medium or LinkedIn are great starting points. They simplify the process by taking care of technical aspects, allowing you to focus solely on writing. Medium is an open platform for sharing on any topic, while LinkedIn lets you build an audience and connect with industry experts.

For those seeking more control, starting a self-hosted blog is a good strategy. It showcases your work and demonstrates your SEO skills by managing your site's visibility in search engines. However, this comes with the responsibility of handling technical issues.

Remember, whether on a self-hosted blog or platforms like Medium and LinkedIn, it's crucial to actively share your work. Write at least one article per week to maintain engagement with your audience. Your blog or online presence is not just a portfolio; it's a tool to market yourself as a writer and improve your visibility in Google searches for related keywords.

A strong portfolio is another ticket to getting paid gigs.

This portfolio may include articles, social media captions, and so on — anything that demonstrates how well you can create copy and content. An additional tip: most employers seek content writers who don’t just write well, but can also create compelling stories, so that their business is seen as a solution provider and not just a business.

Starting a career as a content writer creates many further opportunities. Within this career progression, you could become an editor, or work in a more specific field such as user experience (UX) as a UX writer, SEO content writer, or even a copywriter.

Once you are done with the training and building a portfolio, it’s time to look for assignments. Start with making a list of websites that may be potentially interested in a topic you cover. Contact the editor and pitch your idea, explaining why the audience would be interested.

Don’t worry if you don’t earn a fortune straight away. Focus on building connections and receiving positive reviews. If clients are happy with your work, they are likely to come back and recommend you to others. With time, you will decide on what rates are reasonable.

Guest posting on blogs and websites with an established audience is another way to get exposure and build trust with potential clients. Popular bloggers often do not have enough time to write posts regularly or look for fresh ideas. For a beginner, this is a chance to show your skills and learn from someone more experienced.

Content writers can earn enough income to make this profession their full-time work. According to Indeed , the average content writer in the US earns US$3,719.

There are largely four factors that influence a content writer’s earning: years of experience, industry expertise, language, and content output. Naturally, writers with extensive knowledge about a particular industry will be able to produce more insightful stories, and they’ll be able to command a higher price tag.

Producing content in English language to cater to the international audience would more likely fetch you better rates as well, as compared to serving the local audience with native language. When it comes to content output, you can check some of the high-paying rates here .

As this guide reveals, while pursuing content goals, it's crucial to focus on producing human-centric content. This approach not only fulfills objectives but also creates meaningful connections with the audience.

Remember, the essence of content writing lies in its ability to touch lives and engage readers on a personal level. Balancing strategic goals with the human element ensures your content remains relevant, impactful, and genuinely resonant.

ContentGrow is a freelance writer's secret weapon for landing vetted inbound clients. The platform matches each client with niche-appropriate writers at preferred rates. Sign up to get your invite and free portfolio here .

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Content Writing 101 | A Beginner’s Guide for Content Writer

Information flows very easily and the attention spans are getting really short in this revolutionary digital world which makes the ability to create content that grabs attention very valuable. But what is content writing and how can you master this skill to engage your audience and achieve the outcome that you desire? Here, we will discuss all the key aspects of content writing including types, skills required, and even career opportunities. So, let’s quickly get into the topic.

What is Content Writing and Who is a Content Writer?

Content writing is a skill that requires creating written information that is informative, interesting, and helpful to specific audiences in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Blog posts, articles, website copy, social media posts, and email newsletters are some of its examples.

The one who possesses the above skill is known as a content writer. A content writer is a professional who creates written material for a variety of purposes online. They’re like the storytellers, educators, and brand voices of the digital world.

Not only writing but they are involved in multiple things like 

• Proofreading and Editing the content piece, 
• Analyzing the performance of their published content, 
• Understanding the client’s requirements, managing the deadlines, and
• Taking care of SEO to rank their content.

Table of Content

Skills Required for Content Writing

Types of content.

• Types of Content Writers
• Creating Ideal Content
• How to be a Content Writer?

Final Thoughts

There are many types of content writers but all content writers need to inculcate the following basic skills to be excellent at their job.

1. Adaptability

The content writing world is constantly evolving, with new trends, platforms, and audience emerging preferences. Content writers should have the ability to adjust their style, voice, and approach to different formats, audiences, and platforms.

2. Grammar and Vocabulary

A solid grasp of grammar and vocabulary is non-negotiable because an understanding of sentence structure, tenses, punctuation, vocabulary, and other grammatical elements ensures that your writing is polished and professional.

3. Research Skills

Research is a content writer’s best friend as it enables a writer to gather information from various sources and present it in an organized and coherent manner adding depth and credibility to the writing. The writer should have an eye for credible sources while doing research. That makes their research skills stand out from the rest.

4. Creative Writing Skills

The foundation of content writing lies in the ability to express ideas clearly and engagingly. A good content writer has expertise in choosing the right words, constructing sentences, and telling stories that capture the reader’s attention.

5. Understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

In the digital age, knowing the basics of SEO is crucial for a content writer to incorporate relevant keywords, understand meta descriptions, and structure the content in a way that search engines can easily recognize and index.

Now that you have an overview of skills, it is the best time to know the types of content. Yes, there are types because what you read everywhere is not in the same tone or conveys the same message, right? So let’s read about them. 

There are several pieces of content that writers have to prepare. Below we have listed some of the top types of content that you should be aware of while embarking on a journey of becoming a successful content writer.

1. Copywriting

Copywriting refers to the art of writing persuasive and compelling content to promote a product, service, or brand. To increase conversions and sales, it is necessary to create attractive headlines, appealing sales content, and effective calls to action.

2. 10x Content

10x content is a term invented by Rand Fishkin that refers to exceptionally high-quality content that provides ten times the value compared to other similar pieces. It goes beyond just providing information and aims to be comprehensive, unique, visually appealing, and highly shareable.

3. Listicles

Listicles are articles presented in a list format, typically featuring a catchy title like “Top 10 Tips” or “5 Ways to Improve.” They are popular because they concisely provide easily digestible information. Listicles often attract readers’ attention due to their organized structure and promise of quick takeaways.

4. Lead Magnets

Lead magnets as the name itself suggests, a piece of content that acts as a magnet for leads are valuable pieces of content that businesses offer to their audience in exchange for their contact information and are designed to attract potential customers and generate leads such as e-books, whitepapers, or webinars. 

5. Evergreen Content

Evergreen content refers to timeless and enduring pieces of content that remain relevant and valuable over a long period and are not tied to specific trends or events, making it consistently useful for readers. Comprehensive guides, tutorials, or FAQs are good examples that continue to generate traffic.

6. Social Media

Social media content involves creating and sharing various forms of media, such as text, images, videos, or links, on social networking platforms. It aims to engage and interact with the target audience, build brand awareness, drive website traffic, and foster customer relationships.

After you have gained information on the types of content, we have prepared a list of types of content writers that top-notch companies hire today.

Types of Content Writers that Companies Hire

1. technical writer.

A writer who communicates complex technical information in a clear, concise, and user-friendly manner, often for specialized audiences is called a technical writers. They write

• User manuals
• Online help systems
• Training materials
• Technical specifications
• White papers and research reports

2. Ghostwriter

A writer who produces content for someone else who then takes credit as the author is considered a ghostwriter. Basically, you get paid for your write-ups but cannot take the credits. Ghostwriters are usually responsible for writing

• Books (fiction and nonfiction)
• Articles and blog posts
• Speeches and presentations
• Memoirs and biographies
• Social media content

3. Copywriter

A writer who creates persuasive text to promote products, services, or ideas, often to drive sales or engagement are the Copywriters. They create

• Advertisements (print, digital, social media)
• Website content
• Email marketing campaigns
• Product descriptions
• Sales letters and brochures

4. Brand Journalist

Brand journalists are those who create content that aligns with a company’s brand identity and values, often with a storytelling approach. They write:

• Brand stories and feature articles
• Case studies and customer testimonials
• Thought leadership pieces
• Blog posts and social media content
• Internal communications materials

5. Social Media Writer

These types of writers create engaging content specifically for social media platforms, tailored to each platform’s unique format and audience. They are offered to write the following content.

• Social media posts (text, images, videos)
• Engaging captions and text-based content
• Community management responses
• Social media ad copy

6. Email Writer

These writers craft effective emails that capture attention, drive action, and build relationships with subscribers. They write:

• Newsletters and email campaigns
• Welcome emails and onboarding sequences
• Promotional emails and sales offers
• Transactional emails (order confirmations, receipts)
• Customer service emails

7. Scriptwriter

A writer who creates scripts for various forms of media, including film, television, radio, podcasts, and video games. They write:

• Screenplays for movies and TV shows
• Radio and podcast scripts
• Video game narratives and dialogue
• Corporate videos and training scripts
• Commercials and advertising scripts

Best Practices for Creating Ideal Content

Now, here is your guide to writing compelling content along with the essential tools and strategies that will help you along.

1. Develop a Reader’s Persona

Imagine your ideal reader and understand their demographics, interests, needs, and challenges to understand your audience better and tailor your content to their specific preferences. This ensures that it connects with them, fostering a deeper connection.

Tools: HubSpot’s Make My Persona, Xtensio, UserForge

2. Craft an Effective Outline

A well-organized outline is like a roadmap ensuring your readers navigate smoothly through your content. That’s why, you should structure your content logically for clarity and flow and develop a strong outline that guides your writing and keeps you on track. This increases user interaction and enhances the readability of your content.

Tools: MindMeister, Coggle, Evernote

3. Include relevant Facts & Statistics

Back up your claims with accurate and reliable information from trustworthy sources to add credibility and authority to your writing. The incorporation of relevant facts and statistics strengthens your argument and builds trust with your audience.

Tools: Google Scholar, Statista, Pew Research Center

4. Let Visuals Tell Your Story

Visual elements are not just decoration but they are powerful storytellers that enrich your content. So integrate relevant and high-quality images, videos, and infographics to enhance your message, capture attention, and make your content visually impactful.

Tools: Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, Unsplash

5. Clear Call to Action, Without Being Salesy

Guide your readers towards taking the desired action after reading your content. However, avoid sounding pushy or overly promotional. A clear call to action is like extending an invitation rather than making a sales pitch, encouraging a genuine response from your audience.

Tools: CoSchedule Headline Analyzer, Hemingway Editor, Grammarly

6. Make SEO-friendly Content

SEO refers to Search Engine Optimization, which means creating and improving content using techniques to increase its visibility on search engines. If you want to learn more about SEO, read the article: Search Engine Optimization | SEO: A Complete Tutorial . Remember, mastering SEO is like giving your content a passport to be discovered in the vast digital landscape.

Tools: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Search Console

7. Proofread, Edit, and Edit Again

Before publishing your content, carefully proofread and edit it to ensure clarity, conciseness, and error-free writing because the final editing stage is like adding the finishing touches to your masterpiece.

Tools: Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Hemingway Editor

What Courses or Qualifications are required to be a Content Writer?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all path to content writing. However, aspiring writers can explore options like renowned online courses on platforms like  Udemy or Coursera . These online courses help you learn the basics of writing and enable you to kick-start your career.

In case, you are inclined towards taking the official degree road, bachelor programs can help you with that. You can opt for  a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication or B.A. honors in English/literature.  These programs help you get a grasp of the language and gain insights into the plethora of writing career options available in the market. 

By that time, here’s a quick guide on how you can become a demanding content writer easily.

• Identify your niche:  Identify a specific industry or field where your knowledge and passion intersect. This will let you establish yourself as a valued authority.
• Read digital content:  Continuously consuming high-quality online content across various platforms will give you an idea of how to write different content for different audiences. 
• Build a portfolio:  Actively develop a diverse portfolio showcasing your writing skillset and adaptability by creating samples for different content types and target audiences. You can use various free portfolio builder websites like WIX.

Content writing lets you to reach out to a wide range of people to spread knowledge and achieve your goals. To do all this effectively, you would require in-depth knowledge of skills and best practices, and this article contains it all. Remember that the path to content writing excellence is a never-ending cycle of learning, experimentation, and improvement but with commitment and passion, you can create meaningful content that leaves a lasting impression. So grab a pen or now a laptop as we are going digital, let your imagination run wild, and start writing! The world is ready to be enchanted by your distinct voice.

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How to Start Content Writing (For Beginners)

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: September 26, 2021  - Last updated: December 6, 2021

Categories Writing

Are you ready to make content writing your full-time job? To become a professional writer? If so, there are a few steps that will help you succeed. Whether it’s your first time writing content or you want to take your skills to the next level. This article is an insider guide on how to start content writing and become a successful content writer.

What Is Content Writing

Content writing is a profession that requires certain skills. Not just writing skill!

Content writers must be able to research various topics and perhaps even interview several people on a topic to find out the most important points.

Even before they start outlining, drafting, and writing.

If you’re running your own website, you may also need to learn SEO (search engine optimization), topic research, and on-page optimization. Plus some WordPress skills!

Content writing is a fundamental part of digital marketing, therefore acquiring the skill can help foster a career in marketing.

You don’t learn these things overnight! Becoming a web content writer is hard work, but very rewarding!

Types of Content Writing

There are many different types of content writing, such as:

• writing content for websites
• writing content for newspapers and magazines
• writing content for online marketing
• writing content for public relations (PR)
• SEO writing

There are many different subjects that a good content writer could write about.

For example, it could be recipes or travel guides. Or spirituality and philosophy.

Often, though, content writers tend to specialize in areas in which either they have prior experience or ones in which they develop expertise over time.

Writing SEO articles is a special type of content writing because SEO content writers need to know how keywords work so that the articles can be optimized for the search engines.

Examples of Good Content

It’s a good idea to look at excellent examples of website content online first.

For example, you could search Google for successful content writers and then find their work on various websites. That way, you can look at some of the different types of content writing and content marketing, as well as examples of the best content that’s been written.

The Working Time of a Content Writer

Content writers spend their time in different ways.

They may spend time researching a particular topic, interviewing different people to gather information, and then writing the content when they feel they’ve enough information.

Online research plays a huge role.

The content writer can then spend time editing and rewriting the material to make sure it’s as good as it can be.

Creativity and Content Writing

Although content writing is largely about formulating a topic, researching, and creating outlines to structure the content, there’s also a considerable creative component to this work.

While it’s possible to dig into the more technical aspects of content writing, such as research and editing, the content writer must also develop creative ideas and present them clearly and concisely.

A content writer can even be tasked with presenting a new perspective on a topic, showing how it works and how it can be better understood and used.

You also need to be able to write creatively to develop a story or something that’s compelling.

In content writing, you need to be able to look at a topic from a different perspective. The job of a content writer is to put themselves in the reader’s perspective and ask, “What if it were such and such?” This can be a difficult skill to learn, but a content writer must’ve some creative ability to be successful.

Content writing is a profession that depends on putting one’s thoughts and ideas into words in a way that the reader can understand. In this way, content writing can’t only be a lot of fun, but also a good income for those who do it well.

Content Strategy vs Content Writing

Content strategy is the art and craft of planning, organizing and publishing content. Thus, it encompasses both content creation and content marketing.

Content strategies are developed for different purposes. Some content strategies are created to help websites rank better in search engines. This is to attract more customers. Other content strategies aim to attract customers by engaging with them through content. This type of content strategy aims more to involve customers in the content creation process so that they’re engaged with the company.

It’s not limited to websites or social media marketing but is also an important part of advertising.

Content strategy is about understanding what you want your content to achieve and how you can use it to achieve it.

Content writing is part of content strategy.

Effective Content Writing

It’s important to write content in a way that’s effective.

This means that your copy needs to be written in a way that serves the purpose of the content.

For example, if you’re writing an article on your website to help readers in the kitchen, you need to make sure that you focus on teaching them how to make and use things in the kitchen!

When you’re writing about kitchens, you don’t want to write about something that the reader may not have wanted to know about. If you focus, your readers will be more likely to stay on your website to read more articles.

You need to learn to write clearly so that your readers understand what you’re writing about.

You also need to make sure that you use the right writing style for your audience so that they understand what you’re trying to say, and resonate with the content.

If you don’t make your content focused and clear, your audience won’t enjoy reading it and won’t learn anything.

Freelance Writing Niches

As a rule, it’s a good idea to specialize in niches as a freelance content writer. This means that you specialize in areas where you know your stuff or have a lot of experience to share.

By sharing this knowledge, you help others learn more about the things that interest them.

When you have clear niches, it’s usually easy to get more work. People see that you’re an expert in your field and hire you because they assume you know what you’re talking about.

They also find you more easily online, where they can consult your resume, work samples, and other information.

Having niches also makes writing articles much easier and faster!

Remember that certain niches pay more money for content writers than others. For example, writing SEO articles, medical newsletters, or articles for the legal industry, provided you have the necessary qualifications and expertise.

Writing Mindset

It’s a good idea to cultivate a consistent and helpful mindset as a writer.

This is important because it allows you to approach writing assignments with a certain amount of composure.

Writing daily is a helpful way to approach things. This allows the writer to write something every day, even if it’s just a few sentences, and then edit and rewrite it. It helps the writer develop his/her content writing skill.

A good attitude is also important.

No matter what your experience as a writer, it’s important to remember that no one is perfect and that you can always learn.

If you don’t have any experience as a writer, don’t worry. No one knows everything about writing when they start out. Most experienced writers will tell you that they’re still learning something new every day.

If you want to write for a living, you need to realize that writing is a business, and it’s important to approach the work with the right attitude. That doesn’t mean all work and no play!

If you’re working, you’ll probably be sitting at the computer for hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.

Learning to write can be an exciting adventure. It’s fun to see your first articles published, whether it’s on a blog or in an online magazine.

Even if you’ve been writing for a while, it’s fun to see your earnings grow. It’s not easy to get money and work. So when you’re successful, you’ve to appreciate it. That’s part of the business of being a writer.

The benefits of writing every day include the following:

• You can work on a regular schedule, so you can plan your life around your writing.
• You can write a specific workload every day.
• You’ll have a regular number of articles with which to build a portfolio.
• You’ll have a regular number of articles that you can submit to online magazines and other publications. This will help you build a good reputation.

Know What to Write

When you set out to write a text, it’s important that you know what you want to write. In this respect, content writing is very different from writing fiction, for example.

When you’re writing content, you need to know what your message is and how you want to present it.

So before you start writing, you need to do some research and ask yourself some questions.

• What’s the topic?
• How will you approach the topic?
• How will you structure the article?
• Where will you publish the article?
• How exactly do you want to be in the article?
• How will you format the article?

These questions and the decisions you make will help you write high-quality content.

Stick to the Point

You may be tempted to write about something other than the subject of a particular article or content job, but you need to learn to focus on your message and stay on point.

This is a crucial part of being a content writer. You need to find a way to stay focused on the topic you’ve been assigned, and you also need to keep your audience engaged.

You need to keep your content clear and concise. Only talk about what’s relevant to the article!

The best way to do this is to figure out the main topic of the article and use it as a guide throughout the writing process.

• Focus on the main topic of the article.
• What do you want to achieve with the article?
• What’s the main argument of the article?
• What’s the main reason someone wants to read the article (the “search intent”)?

This is easier if you have a clear topic and audience.

If you know what you want to say and who you’re addressing, you can approach the topic from different angles, but you’ll still be able to get to the heart of your text.

Provide Value

Writing valuable content means that

a) the text is valuable to the audience, and b) it’s useful to the company for whom you are writing (which might be your own).

Content writing is a valuable business, and if you learn how to create valuable content, you’ll be able to make a good income from it.

When you think about what you’re sharing with your audience, make sure you’re giving them the information they can use.

For example, if you’re writing about how to bake the perfect apple pie, make sure you provide information about what ingredients are needed, how to mix them together, how to bake the pie, etc.

You need to make sure that your readers can use the information you give them. You’re not doing anyone a favor by giving them the information they can’t use!

Don’t Choose Random Topics

You might think that a website content writer will sit down and pick a topic out of a hat. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Each topic is chosen with a clear goal in mind.

Whether it’s to get more organic search traffic to a website, with SEO writing to get backlinks that improve SEO rankings, to generate leads for a company’s products or services, to promote a company’s products or services, or to drive traffic to a company’s landing page.

It can also be about increasing leads for a business, establishing a new brand name, making people aware of the brand, or selling a product.

It can also be about getting people to sign up for a mailing list or download a free eBook.

You get the point. Each topic is chosen with a specific goal in mind.

It’s important to be aware of this because it’ll help you write more effectively.

Pay Attention to Keywords

Even if as a writer you get an assignment where the keyword research is already done for you, it’s still important to think about the keywords when writing a content piece.

If you don’t include the keywords in the article, the article isn’t technically optimized for the keyword and someone searching for that keyword may not find the article even if your article is the best answer to their question.

Keywords help you structure your article and focus on the main topic.

For example, if you’re writing an article about how to make a perfect organic smoothie, you will need to know what’re the most important keywords for this article.

Don’t Keyword Stuff

You need to avoid the so-called ‘keyword stuffing’ in your work.

Keyword stuffing is when you don’t focus on the topic of the content piece, but try to pack in as many keywords as possible.

Content writing is all about creating the best content possible. If you try to cram keywords into an article without structuring it thematically, you’re doing yourself (and your client and readers) a disservice.

You should only use keywords when they naturally fit the topic. For example, if you’re writing about organic smoothies, make sure you use words like “organic” and “smoothie.”

Match Search Intent

The best way to meet search intent is to really understand what the person searching for the keyword is trying to find. Think about how and why they searched for the keyword.

In other words:

• Why are they searching for the keyword?
• What do they want to accomplish with the information?
• What’ll they do with the information after they read it?

Your goal as a content creator should be to provide the most comprehensive and helpful answer to the search query.

Get to the Point

As a rule, it’s a good idea to avoid long, wordy introductions.

Get straight to the point.

The same advice applies to paragraphs. Keep them short and to the point.

Because your main goal is to give your audience the information they’re looking for, and you don’t want to tell them over much. Whether they match a buyer persona or are simply looking for information.

Your job is to get right to the heart of the matter.

Write only the words that are necessary to get your message across!

Sometimes it can be a really good idea to tell a story in an article.

However, if you do this, you should make sure that you tell the story in a way that serves the purpose you want to achieve.

For example, if you’re writing about the organic smoothie mentioned above, you could also tell a story about how you learned about the health benefits of smoothies.

Efficient Research

Efficient research is at the heart of any good writing. You need to find a way to research in such a way that you don’t get bogged down in details.

Avoid rabbit holes!

Remember, you only have a limited amount of time to write your content, so you need to be able to research quickly and effectively.

The best way to do this is to use a combination of online and offline tools.

• Start with free sources like Wikipedia. Find the best sources of information on the topic.
• Use crowdsourcing websites like Quora to ask experts about the topic.
• Use Google to refine your search for information.
• Use tools like Answer the Public to find out what questions people are really asking.
• Tools like SEMRush can help you find out what keywords people are searching for.

Don’t ignore personal experience and experiments.

Let’s say you’re writing about boomerangs and you want to know how to throw them most effectively and efficiently.

The best way to do your research might be to start throwing boomerangs yourself!

In other words, go out and buy a boomerang and use it for several weeks.

This way you’ll get a good understanding of how the boomerang moves through the air and what’s an effective and what’s an ineffective boomerang throw.

You can develop a much better understanding of what you want to write about, and some fun stories, that will make it much easier to write a quality article.

Avoid Plagiarism

It’s critical to be clear about what plagiarism is.

Plagiarism is when you copy another person’s work and pass it off as your own.

When writing content for clients, you need to make sure that you never plagiarize someone else’s work or ideas.

Back up your work with your own research and opinion.

If you take the example above – the boomerang – you could simply copy and paste the information you find on the Internet about boomerangs into your content.

That would be plagiarism.

It’s important that you build on your research, expand it, and improve it. Never simply copy and paste information from other sources.

Cite your sources properly. Either with direct links in the body text or with a list of sources.

If you use a quote from a book or article, put it in quotation marks.

Understand Fair Use

Fair use means that you use copyrighted material without the author’s permission, but only for a limited and “reasonable” purpose, and that you use only as much of the copyrighted material as is necessary for your purpose, and that you credit the source of the material.

You use a copyrighted work for a limited and “transformative” purpose.

The copyright owner can still sue you if you use content without permission, but if you use it according to the rules of fair use, you aren’t technically in violation of copyright.

Mastering Opening Lines

Opening lines are very important when writing content. Whether it’s the beginning of a text or the beginning of a story, the opening is what draws your audience in.

It’s your way of grabbing the reader’s attention and enticing them to read the whole story.

Opening lines can pique the curiosity and interest of your readers and/or customers.

You make them wonder, “What’s going on here? I want to find out.”

That’s why you should avoid clunky, boring, and tedious opening sentences.

Remember that you want your text to grab the attention of your target audience and captivate them.

For example, if you’re writing a testimonial, you could start with a bold statement like “This product has changed my life”.

You can start with a question or a statistic or fact.

The most important thing is that you grab the reader’s attention. The first words – together with its headline – are the most important part of your article.

You can write captivating content, but if you don’t manage to grab the reader’s attention with the first line, they won’t read to the end of the first paragraph.

Imagine writing an article about how to throw a boomerang.

You could write:

“The best way to throw a boomerang isn’t to throw the boomerang.”

This is a snappy, creative, and interesting opening line. You can use it to grab the reader’s attention and get them excited about the article.

Get Great at Outlining

The more content you write, the better you’ll get at creating an outline quickly.

You’ll reach a point where you’re able to write a full article in a few minutes.

That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to write a great article in a few minutes, but you’ll be able to formulate the outline of an article in a few minutes.

It means that you’ll know all the important points of the article and you’ll be able to write those points down quickly.

The reason why you should write your outline quickly is that you want to make sure that you get to the heart of your ideas and concepts quickly.

In my opinion, there’s nothing better than mind mapping to quickly and easily outline your ideas and concepts and then flesh them out into a full text.

The advantage of a mind map is that you can easily see how all the ideas and concepts relate to each other.

This way you can make sure you cover all the areas and provide the most benefit to your readers.

You should always write the title in the middle of the mind map. Then you should write down the most important points and arrange them around the title.

Once I’ve outlined and restructured the article in the mind map, I export it as markdown and take it into my favorite text editor. With markdown, all the branches and sub-branches of the mind map appear as headings in the text.

Write…a LOT

When you start writing content, guess what? You actually have to write!

A lot of it.

I’d recommend at least a thousand words a day, but that’s only for beginners. If you’re a veteran, I’d recommend at least two thousand words a day.

Part of that’s making a schedule for yourself and committing to putting in the hours.

Personally, I write at least 4,000 words a day. It’s a discipline.

The more you write, the better you get.

It’s not always easy. It’s not always fun.

But it’s necessary.

You’ll get better.

You’ll become faster.

You’ll get better at developing ideas.

You’ll get better at organizing your ideas.

You’ll get better at writing.

You’ll get better at writing complete content.

Over time, your skills will improve.

So don’t give up after one, two, or three posts.

Keep writing.

And keep improving.

Have a Writing Den

Having your own place to write will help you get ready to write. If you get up, go to a specific area, and start writing, it’ll be much more effective than if you write in the same area where you do all your other tasks.

When you get up and go to a specific area, you can concentrate better. It makes you more productive.

It makes you a better professional content writer.

You can create your own space in different ways. You could set up a home office. You could set aside a room in your house for that purpose. You could set up a special room in one part of your house.

The most important thing is that you create a space specifically for writing.

This will help you start writing, get in the writing mood, and get the most done.

Time Management and Tracking

Since I use a Mac, the wonderful Session app is very useful for keeping track of time and remembering to take breaks.

However, there are many ways to track how much time you spend writing and how much time you spend on each article or piece of content.

If you get your time management right, you can become more efficient.

I recommend the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break.

First, try to write for 25 minutes at a time and then take a break.

Then increase the time you write.

Then extend the break time.

Remember that writing is only part of the job. You usually need to allow time for other tasks as well, such as research, editing, and formatting.

Master a Variety of Writing Styles

If you’re freelancing, it’s helpful to develop different writing styles that fit the tone and style of the publication you’re working for.

This will also help you build an impressive writing portfolio.

For example, if you’re writing a business-related blog post, you’ll need to develop a slightly different writing style than if you’re writing an article for a lifestyle magazine.

Each of these publications has a different target market.

Therefore, the tone of the article will be different, as will the way the article is structured.

Freelance writers who work with a variety of publications and learn to develop a unique writing style for each publication are more valuable to a variety of clients.

In my blog, I use a light, modern, and sometimes humorous tone.

In some of my assignments, I use a formal, academic style.

On some other assignments, I use a playful style.

You shouldn’t use the same writing style for all your projects.

You should make sure you use the style that best suits your audience.

Compelling Content Using the Right Words

As you progress with content writing, you’ll start to acquire knowledge about copywriting.

Although content writing is different than copywriting, it can be helpful to incorporate a little copywriting into your content. This way, you’ll create more compelling writing.

For example, you could use a headline that’s identical to the headline of a direct response ad. Or you could use a call to action that would appear in a direct response ad. Or you could create a list that’s in the style of a direct response ad.

You don’t have to do any of that, but you can.

Don’t try to copy a direct response copywriter. Instead, learn from the best and use some of the techniques to create better content.

Get Good at Editing

The ability to quickly hack into a first draft to see the forest for the trees is really valuable.

In most cases, content is better when it’s a little shorter.

Aim to cut 15 to 20 percent of your first draft.

Remember, you shouldn’t edit the first draft while you’re still in the writing flow.

You should set it aside and come back with fresh eyes.

If you’re looking for a really good first revision solution, I recommend taking a look at Instatext . With the ability to correct an entire text with one click and choose the tone and region, it’s a really cool tool. One of the benefits is that it helps keep tone and style consistent.

At a later stage of editing, I use Grammarly Premium to make fine corrections (although I find that it’s often too tedious to make all the suggested changes – I reserve that for particularly valuable content).

Format Like Your Life Depended on It

If you publish your articles in WordPress (and I recommend using the built-in Gutenberg for this), make sure the article is easy to read for users reading it on a mobile device.

The best way to do this is to reduce the size of the window you’re working in to mimic the proportions of the mobile device in portrait mode.

Be Easy to Read

People don’t want to read difficult content. They want to read great content that they can understand quickly.

If you’re writing for the web, you need to make sure you’re able to write quality content in a way that’s accessible, but at the same time educates, informs, and entertains.

Hemingway App is a great tool to make sure you’re writing in a way that’s easy to understand. There’s a readability score based on Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.

I like this app because it provides a clear, clean, and quick assessment of a text’s readability.

The tool tells you if you’re using the passive voice, how many words are in each sentence, and how hard the text is to read.

Quotes Away

A great way to spice up your written content is to use relevant quotes.

Make sure you attribute the quote, of course!

Best tools for Content Writing

For a whole article on content writing tools, check out this article I wrote recently.

Finding Work and Money as a Content Writer

Maybe you want to make money writing content as a freelancer.

In that case, I’d advise you to find online publications in your niche, read them, see what they write about, and then approach those publications about publishing content you want to write for them.

Regardless of your level, you can always approach companies in your niche and offer your services.

You might find employment in a content writing company (or set up a content writing business yourself!), Watch out that it is not a content mill, that might wear you down and degrade your skills.

As a freelancer, start small, take on jobs you’re confident you can do, and build a client base.

There are certain marketplaces that have a good reputation, including WriterAccess, ProBlogger, and some of the gigs on Upwork.

The problem with some of these sites is that you can get lost in the crowd, and it can be difficult to get the attention of the companies you’d like to work with.

Still, you can find a freelance writing job on these sites , and they can help you earn an income.

If you can get copywriting jobs, they generally will pay more than content writing.

Have a Portfolio

One of the best ways to build a portfolio and get freelance writing jobs is to set up a blog and write regularly.

You can use your articles as writing samples. If you have a blog, people can see how well you write.

Remember that not all jobs are right for you, and not all clients are either. You have the absolute right to turn down a job if the client is too demanding or if you suspect that payment won’t be made on time or at all.

A quick Google check on potential employers can work wonders!

For your part, act like a professional. Deliver what you promise, build a reputation for quality work, and for quick revisions (within reason). Make sure you follow content guidelines and client instructions to the letter.

Have and Keep Goals

Keep SMART goals in mind when planning which assignments to accept and which to reject. SMART goals mean that the objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.

When writing, it can be easy to get lost in the words and lose sight of the overall context of the business. This is another good reason to measure the time it takes you to write certain types of content.

Your goal should usually be to increase the number of words per hour.

Dictation can be a great way to achieve this, as can an AI writing assistant like Sudowrite (which I’m using to write this article!).

Keep reviewing your goals throughout your freelance writing career.

How do I get started writing content from home?

The best way to start writing content from home is to create and grow a blog and then do freelance work for online publications. You can also approach certain companies and ask if you can offer your services.

How can I start writing content with no experience?

If you don’t have experience, you can start writing content by writing for your own blog and then using that blog for assignments.

What’re the basics of content writing?

The most important thing when writing content is that the content is relevant to the target audience and that it can be found.

What’s SEO Content Writing?

SEO Content Writing is the art and craft of writing content so that it’s seen by search engines and ranks well in search engines.

What’s the format in content writing?

The format in writing content is to make it as readable, accessible, and exciting as possible. If you can do that, you’ll do well in content writing.

What are types of content writing?

Types of content writing include blog posts, web content, articles, reviews, e-books, magazines, white papers, videos, scripts, technical writing, digital content, and presentations.

What are content writing examples?

You can find good content writing examples at major publishers like Mashable, Forbes, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Inc, Business Insider. Pick a topic that interests you and read through some of the articles. Look at how they’re formatted, how they’re written, and what grabs your attention.

What are good Content Writing courses?

There are a number of good online courses to learn content writing. I’d be crazy not to mention my own: The Content Writing Course on Udemy.

Content Writing Tips for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

Everyone has to start somewhere. With content writing, the place to start is with writing. While many content writers go to school for English or Marketing, or even a Writing-specific degree, it's certainly not necessary. There are plenty of successful content writers out there who have never had a day of writing-focused education, and many whose first language isn't English besides.

It's possible to be a successful content writer without training and certification, but it requires one thing: experience.

I consider myself a fairly proficient content writer, though I don't know that I'm among the best of the best. I'm knowledgable enough to distill some tips for you, though, and I can help you become a better content writer. Here are my tips!

Read, Read, Read

You aren't alone. You aren't writing in a vacuum. Every writer, and indeed virtually every creator of any kind of content, will tell you that the number one thing they do to keep themselves going is consuming media. Authors read. Video producers watch movies, TV, web videos, and streams. Illustrators take the time to consume art.

It's important to read with a critical eye, but also to read for pleasure. Read because you're interested in the topic, and read with an eye for the intricacies of writing. What perspective does the writer use? What tone have they adopted? How long are their sentences, their paragraphs, their sections, and their posts? How natural is their language? You can learn a lot just from reading.

Here are some key reasons why reading other content is essential for writing your blog posts:

• Inspiration: Reading other blog posts can inspire you by providing new ideas or perspectives on a subject; this can spark your creativity and help you think about how to approach your blog in a unique and engaging way. Inspiration doesn't have to originate from the content you read; I've thought of specific questions and topics after reading something that has nothing to do with the article I'm reading, and I wrote a blog post about it!
• Knowledge and expertise: Reading content from other sources helps you stay informed about your niche or industry. This knowledge can be invaluable in developing well-researched and credible blog posts. It also helps you better understand and address your target audience's needs and concerns. Trust me; writing confidently about a topic is challenging when you don't have much expertise. Reading content by other experts can speed up this process.
• Identify trends: By reading content from various sources, you can identify emerging trends and topics gaining traction in your niche; this enables you to write timely and relevant blog posts that cater to your audience's interests.
• Improve writing skills: Reading high-quality content exposes you to various writing styles, techniques, and structures; this can help you improve your writing by adopting effective strategies, refining your voice, and learning new ways to communicate your ideas.
• Understand audience preferences: By analyzing the types of content popular among your target audience, you can tailor your blog posts to meet their preferences; this can help increase engagement, readership, and overall satisfaction with your content.
• Learn from successful bloggers: Observing the practices of successful bloggers can help you identify what works and what doesn't; this can help you avoid common pitfalls .

Reading also gives you useful insights you can use in your own writing later. You accumulate facts, which you can pull out and use as citations later. You learn clever wordplay, new words you can use to spice up your own writing, and terminology common amongst professionals in your industry. You gain insight. So: read!

Know What You Want to Write

Depending on why you want to write, you may already have a goal in mind. I generally see people in a few categories.

• The people who want to start a blog because it's a way to make money, but have no guidance or goal in mind.
• The people who have a passion for a topic, and want to start a blog to turn that passion into something more.
• The people who have the ability or talent for writing (and have been told as much through their schooling years) and figure they might as well make a career out of it.

The first group is difficult because they have to spend time developing a niche, a topic, an interest that interests them. Choosing what to make a site about is very difficult, and it's even more difficult when you have to learn every aspect of the craft along the way.

The second group is people who already know their stuff and just might need help putting their thoughts into writing. This is the kind of group most of my article here is aimed at, but everyone can get some use out of it.

The third group doesn't generally need help with the technical aspects of writing, but transitioning from the stuffy world of academic writing to the free-flowing world of content writing can be a shift that not everyone is equipped to deal with.

In any case, you need to know in a broad sense what you want to write about for your site, and in a narrow sense what you want to write about for a given article. I often start with some keyword research to develop a topic idea , write a killer title for that topic , and then create my outline for the article based on those search phrases and that topic.

It's worked well enough for me so far - writing articles that match real searches and catering to those searches is a great roadmap to getting your articles found.

Write, Write, Write

Believe it or not, I didn't start out writing great content. I spent years writing some pretty mediocre content , and I only stood out because a lot of the people also writing content in the same arena were so, so much worse. Like, you'd be surprised just how bad some of the people out there writing content are. Go to Textbroker and spend a few bucks on some 3-star articles and you'll see what I mean. Content mills are generally a wasteland.

Part of successful content writing is just practice . The more time you spend writing, the more familiar you'll be with the process. The more details you'll be able to stick in your mind as you write. The better you'll be able to formulate posts as you go along. A post that might have taken me two or three hours to write a few years ago, I could write better in less time today.

Writing a lot and writing consistently is often cited as a key factor for blogging success. I'm not sure it's 100% necessary from a marketing standpoint, but I can tell you that it's extremely beneficial from a technical standpoint.

They say that practice makes perfect, and while there's no such thing as perfect, practice is always important.

Keep Tone, Voice, and Perspective Consistent

One thing I often see novice writers struggling with is perspective, tense, tone, voice , and all of those other subtle technical elements of grammar that come naturally with practice.

Here are some examples:

• Shifting between "I", "We", and "The Company" as self-referential signifiers. Know who you're representing when you write. If I write something for a client, I'll use a different voice than when I write something for myself.
• Shifting between the personal and the impersonal, as in going from "we recommend X" to "X is generally recommended." There's a time for different levels of formality; know which one you want to use.
• Referencing industry terms incorrectly. I see this a lot with freelancers who have to write for multiple industries; using terminology incorrectly makes people who know what they're talking about recognizing that you don't.

It doesn't really matter which perspective, which tone, which voice you use. What matters is that you keep it consistent throughout any piece you write.

Care About Keywords

A huge part of successful content writing online is caring about keywords . Keyword research is the core of every good blog post, most paid advertising, and a whole lot else besides. That's just how powerful Google is these days.

I'm not going to go extremely deep into keyword research here. It's a very detailed topic, and there are a lot of great guides out there already written to help people of all skill levels get started.

Suffice it to say that, in my mind and in my experience, keyword research is an essential part of good content writing. Knowing how Google interacts with keywords, how to use keywords appropriately, and how to write around awkward keywords is essential.

Don't Care Too Much About Keywords

Look, I know what I just said, and I know what I'm saying now.

The fact is, keywords are a lot less important than they were five or ten years ago. Back then, you needed to figure out exact, specific keywords and write posts with specific levels of keyword density to make sure your content thrived. Pick the wrong keyword and your content never shows up for high volume web searches . Use the keyword too little and Google doesn't think the post is relevant. Use it too often and you get dinged for keyword stuffing. It's a fine line to walk.

We create blog content that converts - not just for ourselves, but for our clients, too.

We pick blog topics like hedge funds pick stocks. Then, we create articles that are 10x better to earn the top spot.

Content marketing has two ingredients - content and marketing. We've earned our black belts in both.

At least, it was. Then Google introduced a bunch of machine learning and semantic indexing features to their index. These days, Google will show you search results that don't even include a phrase you used when searching but are still relevant. They understand things like synonyms, variations on keywords, and so on.

That's why these days, I don't worry too much about specific keyword usage - at least, not within the context of my articles . I use keyword research to guide the topics I choose to write about, and I might sprinkle in a specific keyword here and there when I find a way to work it in, but I'm not going to double over backward to include specific long-tail keywords in every post I write. Over-optimizing your posts like that can have the opposite effect:

"The idea is basically to try and level the playing ground a little bit. All of those people who have sort of been doing, for lack of a better word, 'over-optimization' or 'overly' doing their SEO, compared to the people who are just making great content and trying to make a fantastic site, we want to sort of make that playing field a little bit more level."

Heck, here's an example. This blog post uses "start content writing online" as its primary keyword. You can tell this because they use the phrase a couple of times throughout the piece when it's awkward to type the whole thing. You can also tell it because it's in a different font than the rest of their content, though I'm not sure that's intentional. Just… don't be that awkward and obvious about it, right?

When In Doubt, Add More Formatting

One key insight that most content writers have at some point is that web readers don't actually read the content. You might notice this behavior in yourself, or you might have it pointed out to you by a marketer, but it's pretty true. People who see posts on social media, half the time they don't even click through, they just read the title and the snippet and make assumptions based on that.

For people who click through and see content, they still skim . They read the first paragraph or two, then they skip through it looking for value. It's up to you as a content writer to provide that value. You just have to know how to do it.

The easiest way, beyond making sure your writing is, you know, valuable, is to add formatting.

Add subheadings as much as possible. This helps break up your content into digestible chunks. Add formatting like bold and italics to emphasize certain points. Add gaps in between paragraphs and sentences to emphasize points. Add bulleted or numbered lists to build up, well, lists.

Formatting enhances the user's ability to skim and extract value from content. Even if there are better resources out there, if yours is the most readable, it's the most useful.

Strive to One-Up the Competition

A lot of content writers, when they first get started, find it very hard to figure out their place in the world. They come up with an idea, then they see that there are 10,000,000 Google search results for that idea already and that the top five results are all that idea done better than they would do. It's easy to get discouraged looking for that one unique piece of content.

I'm here to tell you that you don't need to be unique to be valuable. This article you're reading right now? Dozens of other people have written other articles on the same topic, some of the same points, and some with other tips and hints as well:

Here's what you do. You find something that already exists, and you do it better.

There are three main ways you can out-do existing content .

• Take content that is broad but shallow, and add depth to it. This involves more research, more data sources, and more critical thinking to find conclusions the data leads you to.
• Take content that is narrow but deep, and add breadth to it. A deep dive into one subject in one industry is narrow, but it's an opportunity to tie another related subject or another industry into it.
• Take content that is old and make it up to date . A lot of old content these days is kept up to date by the initial author, but if it's left abandoned, you can try to supersede it by writing the same basic content with newer information.

Keep in mind that when I say "do what they do" and "you don't have to be unique", I absolutely do NOT mean you can just copy their content. You still have to write unique and original content, but you can cover the same topics and similar points.

Don't Be Afraid of Tools

I've known a lot of writers over the years who pride themselves on their precise knowledge of technical grammar, and who end up focusing more on their grammatical accuracy than on the quality of their content.

To me, this is hilarious. You're priding yourself on a skill that is easily replaced by a free online tool.

With the rising popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT , there are tons of content and blog writers that can help generate outlines, blog topics, and provide inspiration for your own writing.

Don't be afraid to use the tools you have at your disposal. Use a spelling and grammar check. Crank up the settings in MS Word. Use keyword research and topic ideation tools.

Here are some of my favorite tools:

• Ahrefs. I wrote a good breakdown of Ahrefs and similar tools .
• Grammarly. Proofreading and grammar checking is super important. If you run a WordPress site, you can even embed Grammarly into your site automatically.
• Clearscope . Clearscope can help you find opportunities to improve your content. I use it to help me discover things that I may have missed, as well as easy opportunities to include relevant keywords. I wrote a guide comparing Clearscope and Marketmuse here .
• WordPress plugins. There are a lot out there; here are some of my favorites , as well as a seperate guide for PageSpeed plugin recommendations .

There are tons of tools out there to help you be a better content writer, and there's absolutely no shame in using them.

Finish With a Proofread

When you finish any given piece of writing, go through it with a fine-toothed comb looking for errors . I know I just told you that tools can do a lot of that for you, and that's true. I make a lot of typos and minor grammatical errors as I type, and you know what? I have a few different autocorrect rules in place to fix them for me. Until you develop your own library or process, make sure you're proofreading everything.

Now and then an error will slip through. That's fine. If you notice it, fix it. If someone else notices it, fix it. If no one notices it, it's not really going to do you any harm. Even still, it's important to get a proofread in on your content before you finalize it and publish it.

Develop a Style

Over time, as you write, you can develop a style . That style will develop naturally, as you find your voice. You find the way you like to express your ideas. The way you like to use lists and formatting. The perspective you use to cover various topics and make analogies. Your style is built up over the years and it comes about from experience.

Your style will also change over time. After you've been writing content for a year or two, if you go back and look at the early content you've written, it will read like something written by someone else entirely. Don't worry; an evolving style is perfectly fine. Developing a style that's unique to you is the important part.

Keep at it. Content writing is a long-term investment, and it's a skill that never stops improving. The more you keep going, the better you'll become.

James Parsons is the founder and CEO of Content Powered, a premier content marketing agency that leverages nearly two decades of his experience in content marketing to drive business growth. Renowned for founding and scaling multi-million dollar eCommerce businesses through strategic content marketing, James has become a trusted voice in the industry, sharing his insights in Search Engine Watch, Search Engine Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, and other leading publications. His background encompasses key roles across various agencies, contributing to the content strategies of major brands like eBay and Expedia. James's expertise spans SEO, conversion rate optimization, and effective content strategies, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.

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August 12, 2020 at 9:38 am

Hi James, this was super helpful! I've read a lot of guides besides yours and yours is the only one that left me with some takeaways that I can actually use. I didn't realize how important (and also un-important!) keywords were, and your Grammarly screenshot inspired me to try it out. I'll also be way more mindful of who has already written about a subject before I start writing, that's something I haven't really done before, at least, not in a detailed way. Thanks again!

August 12, 2020 at 11:20 pm

Hey Faeeza, thank you for the very kind words!

This post was aimed at beginners, if you're interested in reading more, we have a handful of other posts you might find useful/interesting in our "Blogging" category: https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/category/blogging/

Topic ideation and competition research are easily the two biggest overlooked things when it comes to beginners and blogging - master those two things and you'll be far ahead of the curve!

August 30, 2020 at 8:16 am

I have been using the inverted pyramid approach to my writing style as it’s more easier to write long form content with this tactic and I can easily formulate my subheadings.

August 30, 2020 at 5:33 pm

Hi Sonny, thanks for sharing with us! It's good to know what's working for others. I think the fundamentals of the inverted pyramid are sound, if the bulk of your content is legitimately useful and actionable information, then your content is already off to a good start.

October 05, 2020 at 8:32 am

Hi James, This helped me a great deal, just wanted to say thank you. You really know your stuff with blogging. I'll be reading your other articles too.

October 05, 2020 at 7:59 pm

Thanks for stopping by Nur and for the kind words!

January 08, 2021 at 12:04 am

Hi James Your post helped me a lot. Thank you for this amazing work. God bless you more.

January 08, 2021 at 9:08 pm

Hey Adila, you're very kind, thanks for that! Very happy it helped you.

March 07, 2021 at 9:45 pm

Hey,James. This is my first time going through an actual content writing beginner tips article, as I am thinking to start writing online. Thanks for giving me some valuable pointers which I will keep in mind when I find my interest. No, I will no be doing this,initially, for money (but money is required to sustain, right?) but to search where my interest lies. Baby steps!! Wish you good luck 🤞, from India.

March 12, 2021 at 12:44 pm

Hey Ipsa - thanks for hopping on live chat with me, and I'm very happy this helped you out!

Revenue certainly helps. Being able to hire people to help you grow your blog will amplify your results, and it's hard to do that without any cashflow.

That's what's so great about blogging - you can bootstrap it at first until you're up and running. If you can give your readers enough value, customers will usually follow. It's a great way to draw people into your orbit.

March 09, 2021 at 7:36 am

This is never an easy job! Besides putting in the actual work, you need to have passion, patience, and time otherwise you’ll give up. I remember back in the day that I was on the verge of dropping my blog completely, and I did pause for a bit. A few months later my traffic was skyrocketing, all organic traffic to my blog posts. That has made me a believer ever since. It just takes a while to start working, but once it does it goes HARD.

March 12, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Hey Matt, thanks for your comment!

This sounds similar to my story - my first blog was over 10 years ago for a free flash game site. It had ads on it and was making a few hundred bucks a week, so I started reinvesting that into the content. I probably did a dozen or so blog posts, waited a month, then gave up.

A year or so later, they were the highest traffic pages on my site and were generating the lion's share of my AdSense revenue. I sold the site shortly after, but I think that's what made me a believer in blogging as well. It does require a good deal of patience and putting love into your content, not rushing it or skimping out. Man, Google's algorithm has really changed a lot since then, as has WordPress.

What brings you here today, just brushing up on the basics? 🙂

May 19, 2021 at 3:32 am

This is a great post. I appreciate your skills. Thanks for sharing.

May 19, 2021 at 11:35 am

Thanks Frisco! I appreciate it, glad it helped you.

May 24, 2021 at 10:38 am

Hi James! Your article is superb. I love it. It helped me a lot.

May 24, 2021 at 1:28 pm

Hey Fatima, really appreciate it! I'm happy it helped you 🙂

November 28, 2021 at 2:58 am

Hi james, thank you so much. The article has really helped me alot

November 29, 2021 at 1:58 pm

Love to hear it! Thanks, Brenda!

June 04, 2021 at 9:16 am

Hi James, i just started learning how to write articles. But it is not an easy task. Your article is good and gave some nice information.

June 04, 2021 at 2:34 pm

Hey Pankaj!

I really appreciate that, thanks for taking the time to say that. It makes writing these worth it.

Keep it up, if there's anything I can do to help point you in the right direction, please let me know!

June 06, 2021 at 5:18 am

Thank you so much! You've actually encouraged me to give content writing a try. This is really helpful.

June 07, 2021 at 10:32 am

Hey Ginnie! That was my goal, so I'm very happy to hear that. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

July 07, 2021 at 7:58 am

Hi James, Thank you so much. It very helpful. I am very interested in content writing but the area that I have passion in is what I can't figure out, I think will give a try. Thanks

July 08, 2021 at 2:12 pm

Thanks Peter! Good luck 🙂

July 12, 2021 at 8:19 am

Hey Mr James, Nice article especially for beginners like me... Hope to hear more from you.

July 12, 2021 at 4:29 pm

Hey Ezekiel, thanks for the kind words and for stopping by! I hope it convinced you to start a blog of your own 🙂

July 29, 2021 at 7:04 am

Awesome post, simple and informative. I liked this line,

“Keep Tone, Voice, and Perspective Consistent”.

Super important to succeed in this, if articles are boring to read it's hard for anyone to be fulfilled.

But it was nice to read this. Thanks for writing this useful content.

July 31, 2021 at 4:33 pm

Thanks for the comment, Mohammad!

I couldn't agree more. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

January 30, 2022 at 6:48 pm

Super effective, practical, and easy to apply / follow article.

I love your simple yet powerful writing style. It seems you are taking a live class!

I recommended your link to at least 15 people. They are all so grateful! I, too, am fascinated.

You are a trustworthy, excellent content writer and mentor. Thanks from the heart.

January 31, 2022 at 2:02 pm

Thanks Ahmed!

Wow, that means a lot. Thank you for your heartfelt comment on my post, and I'm so happy it's helping to make a positive difference.

This is why I do what I do 🙂

March 13, 2022 at 10:29 am

Thanks, James. Your post was helpful and detailed. It helped to clear a lot of concepts for me.

March 15, 2022 at 6:39 pm

You're welcome, Suhail!

March 28, 2022 at 10:15 am

I'm really impressed and happy with these tips! You are a great mentor!

March 31, 2022 at 8:23 pm

Thanks Oluwasola! That's very kind of you to say.

April 07, 2022 at 7:55 am

waoh, this is very informative, guess I've found what I've been waiting for to become a content writer. Thanks a million James Parsons.

April 07, 2022 at 3:00 pm

Thanks, Ruth! Love to hear it.

August 25, 2022 at 6:34 am

Thanks, James. I'm just about to start content writing and your article was the first I have read. It really feels like I'm in it already, and I hope the tips grabbed would do me much help in my pursuit. Please, if you have more articles for a total beginner like me, I would appreciate it. Thanks many times🙏

September 01, 2022 at 2:08 pm

Thanks Olivia, love to hear it!

Here's are a couple of articles that I recommend next:

https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/blog-optimization-tips-seo/ https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/tips-beat-competitors-seo/

This is a great one too; small changes to your user experience are reflected across all of your pages and will help your site perform better overall: https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/improve-user-experience-website/

Feel free to reach out any time if you need pointing in the right direction 🙂

March 11, 2023 at 9:18 am

Amazing blog article!

March 11, 2023 at 12:13 pm

April 26, 2023 at 10:10 pm

Hey James, I retired from my job a couple of years back. Did try my hand at a couple of things. But always wondered what do I do with some exclusive work experience I gained during my employment. Then it struck me that I should start writing a blog and discuss various aspect of the commodity I worked on during my job. I saw many YouTube videos on how to write blogs and also read many online articles available on the net, as mentioned by you. Honestly, found your article to be very crisp and clear. I will surely follow your guidelines and start reading/researching/writing earnestly.

Thank you very much James.

April 29, 2023 at 11:47 pm

Absolutely. It's incredible what reach blog articles have on the internet, even on subjects that you wouldn't think would get much traction. In some cases, ESPECIALLY on subjects you think wouldn't get much traction.

My best advice is focus on having a great website and try to create content that is 10x better than anybody else. Do that, stick with it for years, and you'll be rewarded!

The reason most people's blogs fail is because they think they are creating great quality content, but aren't. Or, they don't stick with it long enough. Knowing that will help you succeed.

It's hard work, but it's rewarding and well worth it.

April 26, 2023 at 11:54 pm

Hey James! Thanks for the Guide. Which is better for blogs in your opinion?

April 29, 2023 at 11:45 pm

I'm a sucker for WordPress.

It doesn't get much better than WordPress for internal/external link management, optimization, SEO, custom development, automation, etc.

April 27, 2023 at 10:19 pm

Nice Article

April 29, 2023 at 11:43 pm

May 16, 2024 at 6:25 am

Hi James! Your content is top notch. I have learn't a lot through this site

May 23, 2024 at 12:55 pm

Thank you Chris, I appreciate it!

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What Is Content Writing? – Types, Importance, & Examples

Today, content is found in almost every aspect of modern life. People consume content through books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, websites, and even social media. In fact, an average person spends around 7 hours consuming online content, thanks to the internet.

With so much content being consumed daily, it’s no wonder that businesses are increasingly looking for talented writers to create content for their products, services, and websites.

This skill is in high demand, but what exactly is content writing? What all does it constitute? What does a content writer do?

Here’s a guide with a comprehensive overview of content writing, including its types, importance, and examples.

What is Content Writing?

Content writing is the creative process of generating content through careful planning and research, writing, and editing that is then published on online platforms with an aim to attract, engage, and retain readers.

This content writing definition can be simplified by breaking it into three key phrases:

• The creative process of generating content: Content writing involves creative thinking and a flair for writing. It’s not just about regurgitating information but about presenting it in an engaging and interesting manner.
• Careful planning, research, writing and editing: Any good piece of writing, be it an article, blog post, or even a social media update, requires careful planning, research, and editing. Without these elements, the content will likely be uninformative or poorly written.
• Aiming to attract, engage, and retain readers: The ultimate goal of content writing is to reach and resonate with the target audience.

No matter what the form, all content must aim to serve a purpose, be it providing information, educating the reader, or entertaining them.

That’s where a content writer comes in – to create content that is not only compelling but also relevant and targeted to the right audience.

Who Is A Content Writer?

A content writer is a professional writer who specialises in creating content for various online platforms.

This content can take the form of articles, blog posts, social media updates, web page content, product descriptions, or even marketing collateral .

The content writer can wear the hat of a copywriter, ghostwriter, SEO specialist, or even a social media manager – all depending on the type of content they’re creating.

However, their ultimate goal remains the same – to create compelling, relevant, and engaging content.

Types Of Content Writing

While most people think of content writing as one homogenous entity, the reality is that there are different types of content writing, each with its own distinct style, purpose, and audience.

Some of the most popular types of content writing include:

• Article Writing: Articles are usually informative pieces that are longer in length and provide detailed information on a particular topic. They are often published on digital publications or niche-oriented websites like Forbes, Huffington Post, and other such sites. Writing an article requires the content writer to have good SEO knowledge so as to ensure that the article ranks high on SERP.
• Copywriting: Copywriting is a type of content writing that aims to sell an offering or fulfil a marketing goal. It’s usually short, persuasive, and to-the-point. Copywriters use various techniques like powerful headlines, call-to-actions, and even emotional triggers to get the reader to take the desired action. Content pieces that fit into this type include landing pages, social media marketing content, and even ads.
• Press Releases: Press releases are official statements that are sent out to the media with an aim to generate press coverage for a particular product, service, event, or even an individual. Press releases are well-written and newsworthy with an aim to increase the chances of them being picked up by reporters and journalists.
• Technical Writing: Technical writing is a type of content writing that focuses on providing information about technical subjects and products. This type of content is usually lengthy, detailed, and full of industry-specific jargon. It’s aimed at those who already have some knowledge about the subject and are looking for more in-depth information. Technical writing can be in the form of user manuals, installation guides, FAQs, and more.
• Long-Form Content: Ebooks, case studies, whitepapers, and even research reports fall under the category of long-form content. These pieces are usually in-depth and provide detailed information on a particular subject. They are meant to be informative and as such, use formal language. These are usually used by businesses as lead magnets or even gated content to capture leads.
• Content scriptwriting: This type of content writing is used for creating content for videos, podcasts, or even infographics. Such content is usually short, sweet, and to-the-point with an aim to communicate the message as little time as possible.
• Professional writing: Professional writing is a type of content writing that involves interactions through professional communication channels such as business emails, memos, letters, and more. The style of writing is usually formal and covers a wide range of topics such as business proposals , marketing plans , employee communications, and more.

Importance Of Content Writing

With the boom of the internet and other internet-related industries, content has taken tremendous importance. Producing new and relevant content has become necessary to survive and stand out in the competitive market today.

Content writing is considered a necessary skill, as it is vital for a business to build and acquire customers. The following points elaborate on the importance of content writing in today’s business scenario:

• Essential For SEO: In order to rank high on SERP, businesses need to ensure that their website contains quality and relevant content. This is because Google and other such search engines use algorithms that consider various factors like keyword density, content length, and more to determine the ranking of a website.
• Key Lead Generation Tool: Quality content is an essential lead generation tool. By producing helpful and informative content, businesses can attract their target audience to their website and convert them into leads.
• Builds Credibility: In order for customers to trust a business, they need to see that the business is an expert in its field. This can be achieved by producing quality content that is relevant to the business and its products or services.
• Customer Retention: Customer retention is as important as acquiring new customers. Once a customer has been acquired, it is important to keep them engaged with the business. Good content writing skill is essential to produce various forms of content like email newsletters, blogs, etc., which can keep the customers coming back for more.

Content Writing Skills

Content writing is a skill that can be learned and perfected with practice.

However, there are certain inherent qualities that all content writers must possess:

• Writing and communication skills: The ability to communicate clearly and concisely is crucial for a content writer. They must be able to understand the requirements of the project and express their thoughts in a well-written and structured manner that is free from grammatical and spelling errors.
• Creativity: Creative thinking is essential for content writing as it helps to come up with new and interesting ideas that will engage the reader.
• Attention to detail: Good attention to detail ensures that all information is accurately represented in the final piece of content.
• Research skills: Researching and gaining information on the topic is vital to present in an understandable manner to the readers. The writers must also be aware of the latest trends in their area of expertise to produce relevant content.
• Time management: Writers need to be consistent and work within deadlines to publish content on a regular basis. They need to be fluent in prioritisation and time management to complete the project on time.
• Technical skills: Some forms of content writing may require the writer to have basic SEO and algorithm knowledge. They must also possess computer-operating proficiency to use different content management systems and content writing tools .

Content Writing Examples

Content writing can take many different forms. The following are some examples of content writing:

SEO Writing

SEO writing is a type of content writing that focuses on creating content that is optimised for search engines. This involves the use of relevant keywords and phrases that help to improve the visibility of the website on SERP.

The above example is a very basic explanation of how an SEO writer uses targeted keywords to improve the ranking of a website . However, SEO writing is not just about using the right keywords. It also involves creating quality content that is relevant to the business and its products or services.

Copywriting

Copywriting is all about using the right words to persuade the reader to take a particular action. The aim is to create content that is so compelling that it convinces the reader to head in the desired direction that fulfils the brand’s marketing objectives.

The above copywriting example is a marketing campaign launched by the popular dating site OkCupid with an aim to make the readers try the application.

Press Release

Press releases focus on developing newsworthy content that can be used by media outlets to generate publicity . The content must be well-written and structured in a way that is easy for the media to pick up and use.

The following is an example of a press release written to answer all the relevant questions about the new head of the CITI solutions centre.

Product Description

Product descriptions aim to provide the reader with all the necessary information about the product so that they can make an informed purchase decision.

It includes features, benefits, specs, and anything else that would be useful for the customer. The language is used tactically to persuade the reader to buy the product.

The image above is an example of a product description of a toy robot. It provides all the necessary features and information about the robot in a short and concise format and relies on pictures to convey the information.

Go On, Tell Us What You Think!

Did we miss something? Come on! Tell us what you think of this article on   what is content writing  in the comments section.

A lawyer dealing with corporate laws, a voracious reader and a keen writer. Satyaroop has a broad experience in the legal and startup industries and has worked with more than 15 companies, startups and legal publications on research-oriented projects. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction, biking and playing video games.

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Table of Contents

What is content, what is content writing, who is a content writer, what does a content writer do, types of content writers , how to become a content writer, skills required to become a content writer , how to start content writing today, tips for effective content writing, copywriting vs. content writing, content writing tools, content writing platforms, content writing jobs, content writer salary in india, content writer salary in the usa, qualifications to become a content writer, tips to become a successful content writer , challenges of being a content writer, how to become a content writer.

Have you always been the one chosen by friends and family to word anything that necessitates the flawless use of vocabulary, grammar, and expressions? Do you enjoy reading, researching, or wordplay and want to express your thoughts? Content-in-all-forms-textual or visual (including video) rules the industry and social media , and as a result, content writers will always be in high demand. So, if you believe you can explain any topic or notion creatively, effectively, and intelligently, here is a step-by-step guide on how to become a content writer.

Content is any information that educates, informs, entertains, motivates, inspires, convinces, or persuades a particular group of people.

Content writing is the process of creating and publishing written content for a variety of purposes, including marketing, education, and entertainment. Content writers must be able to research topics, write in a clear and concise style, and edit their work for grammar and spelling errors.

Content writers can work in a variety of settings, including in-house at businesses, as freelancers, or as part of a content marketing agency. The job outlook for content writers is expected to grow faster than average in the coming years, as more businesses and organizations recognize the importance of creating high-quality content to reach their target audiences.

A content writer is a professional who creates and manages written content for businesses and organizations. They use their writing skills to communicate ideas, information, and stories in a way that is both informative and engaging. Content writers may work on a variety of projects, including blog posts, articles, website copy, social media posts, and marketing materials. They may also be responsible for editing and proofreading content, as well as developing content strategies.

To be successful as a content writer, you need to have strong writing skills, as well as the ability to research topics, understand target audiences, and write in a clear and concise style. You should also be able to work independently and meet deadlines.

If you're interested in a career in content writing, there are a few things you can do to get started. First, develop your writing skills by taking writing classes or workshops. Second, build your portfolio by writing for online publications or creating your own blog. Finally, network with other content writers and professionals in the industry.

Content writing is a challenging but rewarding career. If you're passionate about writing and have the skills to succeed, a career in content writing could be a great fit for you.

In no order, some of the critical responsibilities of the content writer include:

• Diligently research information
• Create content that is crisp and to the point
• Ensure that the organization's goals are met through your words
• Edit content to make it concise
• Use their skills to write different content like blogs, marketing content, scriptwriting, etc.

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There are ten popular types of content writers:

1. Blog Writer

A blog writer understands how to turn complicated topics into friendly dialogs. Blog writers employ their investigative skills to find and source data pieces that improve blog material. They will spend hours on a single article's draft and contemplate many blog titles. The blog writer will eventually settle on a title with the most click-through potential. Because a published blog post is essentially another page on your website, blog writers typically have SEO knowledge.

A blog writer is responsible for: 

2. Brand Journalist

A brand journalist is a storyteller. They don't stop until they discover their tale. They will portray your brand favorably, whether they produce press releases or customer anecdotes. They recognize the value of a brand's reputation; therefore, it's in their nature to double-check facts and quotes before they're released. They also have a talent for creating headlines that entice people to click and share.

A brand journalist is great for:

• Brand Tales
• Customer Stories
• Press Releases
• Company Bios
• Internal Communication

3. Copywriter

A copywriter is quick to flip their creative thought between a wide range of themes and projects. They speak both your brand's and your customer's language. Copywriters weave experiences into every syllable, from product descriptions to website pages.

A copywriter creates:

• Website Text
• Print Media
• Infographics
• Sales Collateral
• Product Descriptions

4. Ghostwriter

A ghostwriter is a chameleon, able to shapeshift into the committed voice that belongs to both brands and people. Ghostwriters fill the content resource gap when your organization lacks the bandwidth, skills, drive, or above. When hiring a ghostwriter, businesses want someone who exudes confidence and trustworthiness. They will be entrusting them with the more incredible voice of their brand and the people behind the brand.

A Ghostwriter is ideal for:

• White Papers
• Thought Leadership
• Website Copy 
• Off-page Material

5. Technical Writer

A technical writer is an expert at making highly technical stuff understandable to others. They explain technology in detail, including how to use it, make it, the procedures, the components, the inner workings, and the mechanics. Whether they're creating guides, FAQs, or manuals, they'll demonstrate your product to non-technical people so they grasp its capabilities.

A Technical Writer creates the following:

• Instructions
• UX (User Experience) Messaging

6. Social Media Writer

A social media writer is probably a brand's loudest voice. Social media writers stay on top of ever-changing capabilities and algorithms with social networks to ensure content success. 

They speak each platform's language effectively to engage followers with appropriate messaging and interactive elements such as polls and queries. Again, trust is essential when choosing a social media writer because this person will become your brand's representative.

A social media writer is responsible for:

• Social Media Postings
• Interactive Material
• Public Relations Outreach
• Platform-specific Content

7. Email Writer

The purpose of an email writer's copy is to drive action. They are well-versed in lead generation strategies and how content may help such efforts. Psychology plays a significant role in their creative process. They create and put every word in headlines and call-to-action phrases, taking buyer stages and sales initiatives into account. A professional email writer is adamant about A/B testing text and will constantly examine and adjust their writing to attain the best conversion outcomes.

An Email Writer creates:

• Newsletters
• Transactional Emails
• Drip Campaigns
• Customer Nurturing
• Sales Nurturing

8. Scriptwriter

A scriptwriter is an essential component of multimedia ventures. They bring storytelling expertise while remaining committed to the messaging approach. Scriptwriters envision how words on a page will eventually convert to more rich formats, such as videos and podcasts. 

You'll know you've found the appropriate scriptwriter when they can see the big picture of your content vision from the beginning.

A Scriptwriter is a creative resource for:

• Video Scripts
• Podcast Scripts
• Explainer Video Scripts
• Radio/Audio Advertising
• Motion Graphics Scripts

9. Long-form Content Writer

A long-form content writer is a cross between a novelist and a marathon runner. Long-form content writers frequently become subject matter experts by default due to their enthusiasm for analytics and knowledge.

While many writers are intimidated by 2,000+ words, long-form content writers favor longer formats since they can incorporate insights into a cohesive and robust framework.

A Long-Form Content Writer creates:

• Data Studies
• Case Studies
• Pillar Blog Entries

10. Ad and Promo Writer

An ad and promo writer understands how to maximize prime real estate with any material they create. Within character count constraints, powerful messages are readily generated. 

They have to develop messages that resonate with prospects and inspire them to take a specific action that results in a captured lead for sales.

An Ad and Promo Writer would work best for:

• Advertising Text
• Landing Pages
• Direct Mail Copy
• Promo Blurbs Onsite
• Sales Material 

It is not, and should not be, one-size-fits-all. Because content is demanding, many writing specialists exist to assist brands in succeeding.

When you combine skills, such as content writing, with a specialized niche, you will become an excellent content writer. It might be a very appealing proposal because you now have subject matter expertise and technical skill related to this subject area. The following steps are what you need to know about how to become a content writer:

Step 1: Create a Portfolio

After choosing an industry or specialty, brainstorm content ideas, develop content for that industry, and create a few blog pieces, an ebook, or a case study. A strong portfolio will provide you with a solid foundation to expand. But it alone will not help you. 

You require social proof !

Step 2: Begin Generating Social Proof

You can use this as a content writer to produce your own social proof. Quora is an excellent place to do this. Quora not only allows you to flex your content writing muscles, but it also attracts the required social proof and demonstrates how people are not just consuming but also engaging with your information.

Step 3: Establish Authority by Blogging

Now you can attract more clients and convert them at a much higher price if you establish a sense of authority and knowledge. A blog is a simple way to accomplish this. It will use your blog to demonstrate your expertise and management. It is a reasonably easy way to set up a blog, and there are numerous sites online that will show you how.

Step 4: Develop a Pitch

A great pitch is straightforward, to the point, and articulate. These are the components of a practical angle:

• A clear, personalized topic line
• Address the recipient by name
• Mention where you found their requirement (or why you think they need content)
• Explain why you believe you are a good fit for the provision or company
• Examples of your work and portfolio
• Links to your blog and other social media outlets (like Quora, Upwork, etc.)
• Links to your social media accounts
• An effective email signature

And keep in mind that the treasures are in the follow-ups. Remember to follow up after you pitch.

Step 5: Start on Websites for Freelancers 

Fiverr and Upwork, the online marketplaces for freelance services, have led the writing gig economy. Many of you may say that it is saturated, but we believe there are still a lot of opportunities on these platforms. Giving out free labor in exchange for evaluations is a simple method to gain success on Fiverr and Upwork. You can also choose to use these content pieces to build your portfolio, so it's a win-win situation. Once you've accumulated a certain number of reviews, you'll have a better chance of landing assignments on these sites.

Step 6: Create Your Linkedin Profile

A LinkedIn account is the key if you want to be a part of the literary gig economy. The first and most obvious step is to create a complete profile with all relevant information.

After that, it's time to optimize your profile. LinkedIn is also a search engine, so make sure you show up when organizations look for people with specific skill sets. To accomplish this, ensure that keywords are included in both the title and the description.

Step 7: Apply to Firms That Have Openings

Keep an eye out for organizations seeking full-time content writers on job boards. It also includes digital marketing and advertising firms. They're almost always on the lookout for writers. Even if they have full-time writers, agency life is unpredictable, and you never know when your need will expand overnight. So, contact the appropriate individual at these organizations and pitch your services to them.

Step 8: Participate in Content Platforms

You won't be able to choose your clients here, but it's the perfect place to begin if you're starting out. There are other alternative venues, but their payments are lesser. In any case, it's absolutely worth a go.

Usefulness is a critical concept to grasp because wannabe writers either approach content writing as a technique to appease search engines or become scared because they believe they must be innovative. Both ways are incorrect because simply inserting keywords adds little value to our audience, and content writing is usually more about usefulness than creativity.

Clarity is what you should strive for while producing material. When you have clarity, you will be able to explain it lucidly, which is far more appealing than trying to sound clever and full of jargon.

Each of us has these skills, which can only improve through practice and consistency. Just as any muscle in your body can be conditioned and improved over time, so are your writing skills.

Starting content writing can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. Here are some steps to help you get started:

• Define your niche: Determine the area or topics you want to focus on. Choosing a niche will help you develop expertise and attract a specific audience. Consider your interests, knowledge, and target market while selecting your niche.
• Enhance your writing skills: Good writing is the backbone of content writing. Work on improving your grammar, vocabulary, and overall writing style. Read extensively, practice writing regularly, and consider taking writing courses or workshops to refine your skills.
• Research your topics: To create valuable content, research is crucial. Dive deep into your chosen niche and gather information from reliable sources. Stay updated with the latest trends and developments in your field. This will help you provide accurate and relevant content to your readers.
• Develop a unique voice: Find your own writing style and tone. Your voice should reflect your personality and resonate with your target audience. Experiment with different styles until you find an authentic and engaging voice.
• Be open to feedback and learning: Feedback is essential for growth. Be open to constructive criticism and learn from it. Keep honing your skills, exploring new writing techniques, and adapting to changes in the industry.
• Stay updated and adapt: The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Stay updated with industry trends, SEO best practices, and changes in content consumption habits. Adapt your writing style and strategies accordingly to remain relevant and competitive.

Remember, starting as a content writer may take time and perseverance. Keep practicing, seeking opportunities, and refining your skills, and you will gradually build a successful career in content writing.

Effective content writing is essential for businesses of all sizes. By creating high-quality content, businesses can attract new customers, build relationships with existing customers, and boost their bottom line.

Here are some tips for effective content writing:

• Start with a strong headline. The headline is the first thing potential readers will see, so it's important to make it catchy and attention-grabbing.
• Write for your audience. Keep your target audience in mind when you're writing. What are their interests? What do they need to know?
• Be clear and concise. Get to the point quickly and avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience may not understand.
• Use strong visuals. Images, videos, and infographics can help to break up your text and make your content more visually appealing.
• Proofread your work. Before you hit publish, take some time to proofread your work for grammar and spelling errors.

By following these tips, you can create effective content that will engage your audience and help you achieve your business goals.

The purpose of the content on the internet is to motivate, inspire, convince, or persuade people on the internet. Content does this through either educating, informing, entertaining, or selling to this group. 

Copywriting and content writing differ from each other in their purpose.

Copywriting focuses on selling a product or service. Meanwhile, content writing focuses on entertaining or educating.

Here are some tools writers use to elevate their writing. Do note, though, that these tools will make good writing better. It will not make lousy writing look good.

• SEMRush Writing assistant or   Website Auditor by SEO PowerSuite : For writing SEO-friendly content.
• Grammarly: A powerful software that helps improve spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Readable: To ensure that your content is readable to all readers.
• Hemmingway Editor: Hemmingway is a simple tool highlighting how your content can improve.
• Copyscape: To ensure your content is free of plagiarism.

Content platforms are an excellent way for budding writers to stretch their creative muscles and write content for various clients. Content platforms are sites actively hiring writers to write on multiple subjects. Of course, you won't have control over who your client is, but it generally pays well. So, it's an excellent place to start.

Here are some excellent content platforms:

• Constant Content
• Media Shower
• Write Access

Content writing jobs offer a diverse and rewarding career path for individuals with a passion for writing and a knack for crafting compelling, informative, and engaging content. These roles involve creating content for various mediums such as websites, blogs, social media, emails, and more. 

Content writing jobs often provide flexibility, allowing individuals to work as freelancers or remote employees, giving them the freedom to manage their own schedules. With the increasing demand for quality content in the digital world, content writing jobs present an avenue for creative expression, professional growth, and the potential to make a significant impact through the power of words.

A Content Writer with under three years of experience typically receives an annual average salary of ₹2.9 Lakhs. In the mid-career stage, a Content Writer with 4-9 years of experience can expect an average annual salary of ₹4.7 Lakhs. For those with extensive experience spanning 10-20 years, the average annual salary for Content Writers is ₹5.6 Lakhs. The average annual content writer salary in India is ₹4 lakhs. 

The average annual content writer salary in other Indian cities is:

• Mumbai: over ₹5 lakhs
• Bangalore: over ₹6 lakhs
• New Delhi: over ₹5 lakhs

 The average annual salary for a Content Writer is over $58,000 in the United States. The average annual content writer salary in other US regions is:

• Seattle: ranges from $50K - $83K
• San Fransisco: over $78,000
• New York: over $65,000

It is a statistical fact that a degree or an advanced degree can net you a higher salary. As such, content writers with higher qualifications take away higher wages. But, the only qualification required to be a good content writer is a flair for writing, a grasp of the language, and creativity. Stuff can only get you these skills.

Additionally, it counts if you have excellent typing skills and know-how of software used for writing.

1. Keep Honing Your Skills

As you write more content, keep sharpening your skills as a writer. Only settle down on one particular style of writing and explore new techniques and approaches once you find something that works and gives you results.

2. Read Digital Content

Reading is one of the simplest ways to improve your writing. Ensure you read digital content from the best writers on the platform to understand their styles and how they approach the core concepts of entertaining, educating, and selling.

3. Start Freelancing

Since your job is to write, you must avoid tying yourself down with one firm. Freelancing will open new vistas for the budding content writer. This will also put you in touch with many new clients.

4. Begin Editing and Proofreading

A good content writer must have an eye for perfection. A writer must develop the skills to edit and proofread their work to become successful in this field.

5. Identify Your Niche

There is something that everyone is passionate about. If content writer identifies their niche and pursues a career writing about what they are passionate about, they can have a far more fruitful career. Remember, there is a reasonable amount of content on the internet. Everybody needs content, be it board games, food, sports, or current events.

As with any other profession, content writers face their own challenges. However, good content writers overcome these and make steady headway in their respective careers. Here are a few challenges that you may face as a content writer:

1. Creative Fatigue

The pressure of constantly coming up with new and innovative ways to portray your content may prove taxing for many. As a result, content writers may often feel like they have reached the limits of their creativity. This Is not true. However, it is simply mental fatigue from the rigors of the invention. 

2. Writer’s Block

On rare occasions, writers can experience what's called writer's block. A simple analogy to this is those rare occasions when you can't find the right word you're looking for. Writers may experience this when writing too much too quickly.

3. Early Grind

The content writer profile requires a lot of grind during the initial phase. As you start, you will be working for meager pay since this is one of the most accessible profiles on the job market. Career progression will also gradually happen as you prove your mettle as an artist with words.

Content writing is both an art and a science. Content writing is frequently confused with creative writing, but it is more about utility than creativity. If you grasp the science behind it, you can wrap it in art (creativity). Understanding how to become a content writer has more to do with marketing content , which is most important for content writing. With a fundamental understanding of SEO and social media networks, you can create content that not only works but also spreads.

Simplilearn offers a Post Graduate Digital Marketing Program that focuses on the critical concepts, tactics, and best practices a writer needs to establish and improve an effective content marketing strategy. Enroll in the program today! 

1. Can I become a content writer without experience?

Yes, it is possible to become a content writer without prior experience. Here are some steps you can take to get started:

• Learn the basics of writing
• Research the industry
• Build a portfolio
• Network with other writers

2. How can I practice content writing?

There are several ways you can practice content writing:

Start a blog: Creating your own blog is an excellent way to practice content writing. You can write about topics that interest you and work on improving your writing skills with every new post.

Guest post on other blogs: Look for blogs that are related to your niche and offer to write a guest post for them. This will not only give you an opportunity to practice your writing skills but also help you build your portfolio.

Write for online magazines: There are many online magazines that accept submissions from freelance writers. Look for magazines that cover topics you are interested in and start writing articles for them.

Take online courses: There are many online courses available that can teach you the fundamentals of content writing. Take advantage of these courses to learn new skills and improve your writing.

Join writing communities: Join writing communities online and participate in writing challenges and contests. This will give you an opportunity to practice your writing skills and receive feedback from other writers.

3. What is the future of content writing?

The future of content writing will likely involve a mix of creativity and technical skills, with a focus on creating content that is personalized, visually engaging, and optimized for search engines.

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What Is Content Writing? [Definition, Types & Tips]

Last Updated: February 1, 2023

Why Is Content Writing Important?

Types of content writing, the content writing process, how to become a content writer, content writing tips for beginners, key takeaways.

There seems to be some confusion about what content writing actually is. Some people think that it just means writing articles, while others believe that it is simply creating website content.

The truth is that content writing is both and more. It involves the creation of articles and website content, but also includes other forms of written communication such as emails and social media posts.

In this article, we will:

• explain what is content writing used for
• discuss the different forms of content writing
• provide guidelines and tips on how to become a successful content writer

Let’s dive in!

What Is Content Writing?

Content writing is the process of planning and writing web content that is used for some type of digital marketing purposes. Content writing is used as a tool for building an emotional connection with your audience. It often aims to spike brand engagement and customer loyalty. Typically, content writers produce texts for blog posts and articles. They also write scripts for videos and podcasts and other types of content that suit the needs of specific platforms such as Reddit, Twitter, or other social media platforms.

Today, content sets the foundation of your company’s online presence. There is immense value in choosing the right topics and formats for content writing. This, along with quality content, can help businesses achieve their marketing and communication goals. Many people view content writing as just blogging or writing topic-related articles. To give you an idea of the outreach of content writing, here are some of the different content formats:

• Social media posts
• Video scripts
• Podcast titles
• Email newsletters
• Landing pages
• White papers and eBooks
• YouTube video descriptions
• Web page copy

DID YOU KNOW: Content marketing is popular because it gets you more traffic and leads, helping to promote your services. To determine what type of content suits your business needs, you can take a look at these content marketing statistics.

Content writing spans different genres. Here are the types of content writing that you are most likely to come across, as well as their overall purpose:

1.SEO Writing

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most common types of writing and makes up an integral part of most digital marketing strategies. SEO content writers produce texts that include specific topic-related keywords that help web pages rank as high as possible in the search engine result pages.

2. Technical Writing

Technical writing includes writing well-researched, in-depth technical descriptions and instructions on topics such as finance, robotics, or engineering.

Different technical writers bring forward different content writing skills; some might be better at presenting material to beginners, while others write for an expert audience.

3. Copywriting

Copywriting aims to tell a given product’s or brand’s story and present it in an attractive way that will increase customer interest. Some of the common duties of copywriters include writing press releases for new products, composing infographics, and writing short texts or titles for landing pages and sales pages that will catch readers’ attention.

4. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is crucial to a business’s social media presence. Companies hire content writers to manage their social media platforms and produce copy that will speak to their audience. Unlike SEO content writing, social media content writing does not revolve around keywords. Instead, it aims to grow brand awareness by providing readers with catchy, entertaining writing.

To measure brand awareness and see how customers are responding to their product or service, business owners carry out different metric surveys.

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a type of content creation that targets only specific audiences. It can be seen as a niche of content writing as it requires plenty of research and the ability to easily capture people’s attention.

One of the best content writing tips for future email marketers is to develop a good understanding of lead generation strategy and psychology. Additionally, here are some popular content marketing strategies that brands use to up their content game.

6. Script Writing for Video Content

This type of script writing is quite different from theater or movie script writing; it revolves solely around creating digital advertising content. These content writers usually produce scripts for podcasts, advertisements, and instructional videos. Motion graphic scripts, audio advertisements, and chatbot texts are also among the content writing examples which are produced by script content writers.

7. Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting is writing content without taking any credit for your writing. Ghostwriters often specialize in a specific niche and get hired by an organization or an individual to compensate for the lack of skill within the staff. Usually, they take on the white papers and eBooks that teams were not able to produce during the year.

8. Long-form Content

This is a broad category of content writing as it includes evergreen content, case studies, white papers, and eBooks. Long-form content writers prefer lengthy formats and usually specialize in niche topics. These individuals often become subject experts and provide analysis on the topics within their expertise.

When learning about the content writing basics many people are surprised to find that the content writing process focuses largely on preparation and research. This means that much of the work happens before you start writing.

Here are some of the aspects of the work content writers engage in:

Research and Planning

One of the most important things in content writing is presenting the audience with factual, verified information. Before doing so, you must identify your audience’s interests and needs and target the right keywords.

Your research and planning process will probably look as follows:

• Identify goals
• Find your consumer/client persona
• Target content writing keywords
• Develop a content strategy (choose your content writing formats and publishing channels)
• Create an outline of your content and visualize
• Research your topic
• Set up a content calendar to track progress

Writing and Editing

When you’re done planning your writing process, it is time for action. Here is how content writers approach their work:

• Picking an angle to make your writing stand out
• Luring readers in with the introduction
• Making the content easier to consume by introducing relevant visuals
• Engaging readers with calls-to-action
• Writing a meta description
• Self-editing

Publishing and Review

The final phase in the content writing process includes publishing and reviewing your materials. Once you share your writing with the audience it becomes part of your official content writing portfolio. It is crucial that you pick the right channels for publishing your content. Depending on your goals, you can do so through social media platforms, blogs, industry hubs, websites, and so on.

The process doesn’t end here, however. Monitoring how the audience responds to your content can help you learn and improve your craft. You can use SEO tools such as the Semrush toolkit to optimize your content and strengthen your online presence. Learn more about Semrush features in our full review.

There are some specific qualities and skills that this profession requires. Here are a few ideas that will help you acquire them:

1.Read Good Content

The best way to learn the dos and don’ts of content writing is by reading a lot of various articles. As content writing is by definition a process of research, you can start by searching for topics online and taking a look at both the best and worst-ranked content. While doing so you can take note of the writing styles that speak to you and bookmark them so you can examine them later.

2. Get Training

The best way to improve your writing skills is to get training. You can sign up for an online content writing course or a digital marketing certification program. This can be a good way to build connections, too, as many of them collaborate with big-name companies.

3. Build a Portfolio

Content writing examples of your work can be very helpful when building your portfolio, which you will need when applying for a position as a content writer. Another thing to remember is to diversify your skills as much as possible and engage with different topics especially if you plan on working as a freelance writer.

Good writing is more than just jotting down the information you gather. The aim of content writing is to cause the reader to act and share your work or buy the product/service that you’re writing about.

We’ve put together some tips on how to write engaging content as a beginner:

Write for the Readers

No matter how big or small your content writing portfolio is, content is valuable only when it appeals to the reader’s interests. Besides answering questions and describing the products, you should always include industry-related topics.

Pay Attention to Readability

Use the active voice and keep your sentences as clear and concise as possible. Make your paragraphs easier to read by using line spacing, subheadings, numbered lists, and bullet structure in your formats. Readers are more likely to skim and share your work if it is well-structured.

Focus on Keywords

One of the content writing basics is that search engines place great importance on keywords. These are usually phrases and sequences of different words that people are likely to use when searching for information on a given topic.

Avoid fluff in your writing and use words associated with the product or service you are describing.

Write Killer Titles

When it comes to titles, Google recommends you make them short, preferably no longer than 60 characters. A good title captures the reader’s attention and makes them want to discover more about the topic.

DID YOU KNOW: Press release distribution companies collaborate with professional content writers, journalists, and marketing specialists that can help your business reach its target audience.

• Content writing is the practice of planning and writing web content for digital marketing purposes.
• You can improve your content writing skills by signing up for a digital marketing or content writing course.
• Planning and organizing your writing process are just as important as writing and editing.
• Addressing your readers’ interests is key to producing valuable content.

Content writing has its own perks but there are many things to learn, too. Content writers should pay attention to all kinds of details as they engage with different types of platforms and write various types of content. Researching topics for content writing and meeting deadlines are just some of the things content writers face in their work, but the challenge is worth it when you start writing great articles that meet your audience’s needs.

Some of the most important skills that you need if you wish to pursue a career in content writing include strong organizational skills, good focus, thorough knowledge of SEO practices, and the ability to meet deadlines.

The 5 types of writing styles are descriptive, narrative, persuasive, expository, and creative. All of them serve different purposes and are used to achieve a given goal.

Now that you know what is content writing, you first need to do your research and read various types of content, then join a course, and start building your portfolio before you go on applying for content writer positions.

ABOUT AUTHOR

by Beti Prosheva Gavrilovska

I am curiosity-driven and detail-oriented so you will often find me researching the latest trends, experimenting with search engine optimization, or testing software. As a keen observer of content, my teammates often like to joke that "noting escapes the eye of Beti."

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Chatgpt prompts to produce content consistently (outperform everyone).

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ChatGPT prompts to produce content consistently (outperform everyone)

There are an infinite number of things to write about and an infinite number of ways to write about them. But when you’re hit with writer’s block, it can feel like every topic has been exhausted. Change that for good with ChatGPT, for more actionable and relevant ideas than you know what to do with.

ChatGPT doesn’t write my content, but I use it to produce consistently. Here are the five prompts I personally use to produce every day, resonate with my audience, and keep the ideas flowing. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Never be stuck for content ideas with ChatGPT: prompts to overcome writer’s block

Find new titles.

The headline is the most important component of any blog or article. Get the title right, and the rest almost writes itself. But it’s tough to think of compelling titles on tap. You need a system, and ChatGPT can help. Use this prompt to get new titles on tap, while learning from your best work to keep improving.

“Here are [number] titles that performed comparatively well over the last [duration]: [enter titles]. Here are some that didn’t: [enter titles]. Analyze the results and suggest: 10 new titles that will work well, then 10 rewrites of the titles that didn’t do well, to make them more compelling.”

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The more you know your dream client, the more you can create work that speaks directly to them. Get on a deeper level with the people you create for and dig into their challenges and problems for ideas on how to solve them. Unless there’s a compelling reason for them to consume your content, they’ll go elsewhere. Get their attention and make them stay.

“My target audience, [describe your target audience], has problems including [describe target audience’s biggest problems]. Suggest 5 topics they want to read about to solve their problems, including any underlying or less obvious ones, within my swimlane of [your business or writing area].”‌

Champion their desires

Your social media content should demonstrate to your dream audience that you understand them like no one else does. They should feel as though you’re one of them; fighting their corner, representing their needs, understanding their vibe. Use this prompt to let your audience know you’re one of them, reinforcing that message with everything you create.

“My target audience deeply wants [describe target audience’s deepest desires]. Create 10 punchy phrases that they will agree with, that I could incorporate into social media posts. These should not be questions, but simple statements.”

Re-work hooks

The hook is the most important part of any social media post. Don’t underestimate the power of this opening line. Give your words more chance of being read by rewriting the hook until it’s perfect. With this prompt, it doesn’t need to take all day. Once you have your options, read each one out loud. Which sparks intrigue? Which grabs attention as a standalone line? Use the most compelling opener to draw people in every time.

“Here’s a social media post I’m going to send. Re-work the first line to grab attention. The opening line should not be a question. It should be 5-7 words long, create an information gap and create intrigue. Suggest 10 new opening lines. [Insert social media post].”

Ideate wildcards

Content creation is a system, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Incorporate some crazy into your process. Use this prompt to experiment with off-the-wall ideas you would never have thought of. So don’t think, just do. Be hungry for the data these new ideas will bring. You can always delete them if it really doesn’t work.

“Given what you know about my target audience’s biggest problems and deepest desires, as well as article titles that have performed well, suggest 5 new article titles that are more left field, that I can create as an experiment. For each one explain what the article should include and why it could perform well.”

Produce consistent work with ChatGPT: content creation prompts

Information is everywhere, and there’s no excuse to not get started. Use these prompts to make content creation a breeze, by knowing exactly what to create for your audience and brand. Get ideas for new headlines, understand your audience on a deep level, and re-work how you open posts so they’re set up for success. Finally, ideate wildcards by asking for crazy ideas. Creativity is a habit you can cement today.

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XML Files: What They Are & How to Open Them

Published: June 03, 2024

Unstructured data generated on the web is growing exponentially. The Worldwide IDC Global DataSphere Forecast predicts that in 2024 alone, 138,258 exabytes will be generated — and that is only expected to increase to 200,132 exabytes by 2026.

That’s a lot of data.

This is where XML comes in handy. It’s one of the most popular and efficient ways of structuring, storing, and moving data online.

Understanding this technology was a crucial addition to my website development tool belt, and in this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned with you.

Table of Contents

XML vs. HTML

What is an xml file used for, how to create an xml file, what is an xml file, how to open an xml file, frequently asked questions about xml files.

An XML file contains XML code and ends with the file extension “.xml”. It contains tags that define not only how the document should be structured but also how it should be stored and transported over the internet.

Let’s look at a basic example of an XML file below. You can also click here to view the file directly in your browser.

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Since XML files are text files, you can open them in a few different ways. When I am casually viewing XML files, I open them directly in my favorite browser. When I am completing a project that requires me to frequently view, edit, or reformat XML files, I use an online XML editor or a text editor on my computer.

In this section, I’ll cover how to open XML files with each of these programs.

How to Open XML Files With a Web Browser

While I like to stick to my favorite browser, I can use any current web browser to read XML files right in the browser window. Like with the menu example from earlier, I can select an XML file from my device and choose to open it with my web browser. Here's how a file looks in Google Chrome:

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Mexico election 2024 highlights: Claudia Sheinbaum set to become president

Watch live from Mexico City as climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum held an irreversible lead in the race that would make her Mexico’s first woman president, according to an official quick count.

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Today’s live coverage has ended, but there’s still plenty to catch up on. Read what you missed below and find more coverage at apnews.com .

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum holds an irreversible lead in the 2024 Mexico election that would make her the country’s first female president, according to an official quick count.

▶ Lea lo último en español aquí.

Here’s what to know:

• Results: The National Electoral Institute’s president said Sheinbaum had between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, according to a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6% and 28.6% of the vote.
• Who is Claudia Sheinbaum?: The projected winner is the chosen candidate for Morena, the party created by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
• Violence on voting day: A town council candidate was shot to death by two hitmen aboard a motorcycle just hours before the election. In another town, armed men kidnapped one man who was voting in a polling station. Persistent cartel violence is among the top issues for voters.

Supporters of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum celebrate at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, after the National Electoral Institute announced she held an irreversible lead in the election, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A supporter of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum awaits her arrival at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, after the National Electoral Institute announced Sheinbaum held an irreversible lead in the election, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Mexico City’s central plaza, the Zocalo, erupted in applause and cheers early Monday morning as Mexico’s projected first woman President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke and pumped her fist before the crowd.

“We women have landed in the presidency,” she said amid a roar from supporters. “We are going to govern for everyone.”

Chants broke out when she referred to her political mentor Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She promised to “preserve his legacy” and continue many of his popular policies, including payments to elderly Mexicans and students.

However, instead of the packed plaza that greeted the current president six years ago, early Monday morning there were only a few thousand supporters – a sign that she still lacked the massive support her mentor enjoys.

Sara Ríos, 76, a retired literature professor at Mexico’s most esteemed university, celebrated the victory among throngs of other supporters, but said Sheinbaum has a long road ahead with many challenges, especially with the country’s ongoing cartel violence.

“She will make an effort to pacify the country and will make progress, but it is a slow process,” she said. “The only way for all of us to progress is by working together.”

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum addresses supporters after the National Electoral Institute announced she held an irreversible lead in the election in Mexico City, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

With both of her competitors conceding, Claudia Sheinbaum’s name is likely to go down in history as the first woman president of Mexico. The one who broke through 200 years of male governments.

Mexico now joins a list of 11 Latin American nations that are or have been governed by women: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

The country, with 129.5 million inhabitants and the second largest economy in Latin America, is known for its “machismo” and violence against women. But Sunday Sheinbaum broke through that longstanding ceiling in an election where the ruling party won by a wide margin.

The projected winner, of the Morena party, will now have to govern a country where disappearances and murders of women are so high, they’re counted with numbers and no longer with names.

Gender equality in the workforce is often divided by class, with women like domestic workers facing harsh conditions. Despite opening access to abortion expanding significantly in recent years, feminist groups in Mexican states are still fighting for better access to sexual and reproductive rights.

Opposition presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez shows her ballot during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

In a speech Monday morning opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez recognized defeat in her campaign for Mexico’s presidency.

She said the results “aren’t in my favor” and said she called the race’s projected winner Claudia Sheinbaum to concede.

Gálvez, highly critical of Sheinbaum and her political mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said she would continue to “defend democracy” which she said the populist has put at asked.

Gálvez said she told Sheinbaum: “I see Mexico with a lot of pain and violence.”

• ONGOING VIOLENCE: López Obrador claims to have reduced historically high homicide levels by 20% since he took office in December 2018. But that’s largely a claim based on a questionable reading of statistics. The real homicide rate appears to have declined by only about 4 or 5% in six years by some measures.
• MORE COMPLEX CONFLICT: Under López Obrador cartels have expanded control in much of the country and raked in money — not just from drugs but from extorting legal industries and migrant smuggling. They’ve also fought with more sophisticated tools like bomb-dropping drones and improvised explosive devices.
• “AMLO’S” SHADOW: While Mexico’s next president will likely make history as being the country’s first woman leader, they will likely struggle to step out of the shadow of López Obrador’s larger-than-life image.
• THE ECONOMY: López Obrador brags about Mexico’s strong exchange rate against the U.S. dollar; but the strong peso hurts Mexican exporters, and high domestic interest rates – whcih underpin the currency – tend to choke off economic growth.
• PEMEX: Mexico’s state-owned oil company continues to totter under a mountain of debt, while López Obrador’s pet project _ a new oil refinery – has yet to function, and many of his other infrastructure projects are unfinished, over budget and unlikely to ever turn a profit.
• DEBT: López Obrador also leaves his successor with a staggering budget deficit equivalent to 5.9% of GDP, as well as ongoing costs to fund his building and benefit programs, which will limit their room for manuever.
• WATER AND ENERGY SHORTAGE: López Obrador’s favorite state-owned company, the Federal Electricity Commission, has proved both highly polluting and unreliable, especially in the face of drought and an extended heatwave. The whole country faces looming water and energy shortages.
• THE ENVIRONMENT: Mexico has suffered from long-running drought, wildfires and soaring temperatures causing monkeys to drop dead from trees . Construction of López Obrador’s Maya Train has also fueled environmental concerns .

A supporter of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum holds a flag that reads in Spanish “we won” after general elections at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A man dressed in traditional clothing sings after the close of polls during general elections at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square where supporters of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum are gathering, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A supporter of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum waves a Mexican flag after the polls closed during general elections at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Supporters of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum wait for her arrival at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, after polls closed during general elections on Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Supporters of ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum embrace after the polls closed during general elections at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum addresses supporters during general elections in Mexico City, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters after the polls closed during general elections in Mexico City, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

“I will become the first woman president of Mexico,” Claudia Sheinbaum said in her victory speech.

She smiled, speaking at a downtown hotel shortly after electoral authorities announced a statistical sample showed she held an irreversible lead.

“We have demonstrated that Mexico is a democratic country with peaceful elections,” she said.

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters after the National Electoral Institute announced she held an irreversible lead in the election in Mexico City, early Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Projected winner of Mexico’s presidential elections Claudia Sheinbaum gave a victory speech early Monday morning, saying she received calls from her competitors, who conceded the race.

“I want to thanks millions of Mexican men and women who decided to vote for us in this historic journey,” she said in a speech.

She said she received a call from opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez congratulating her on the victory.

She said she hopes to work on the “construction of peace” in a violence-torn Mexico and built a “diverse and democratic” Mexico.

FILE - Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, and then Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, greet supporters at a rally in Mexico City’s main square, the Zocalo, July 1, 2019. Sheinbaum, Mexico’s ruling party presidential candidate, slipped up during a campaign speech Friday, May 10, 2024, and said López Obrador was motivated by “personal ambition,” but later acknowledged the phrase “could be misinterpreted.” In Mexico it is used to describe a desire for personal economic gain. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that his political mentee will be Mexico’s first woman president.

“Of course I congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum with all my respect who ended up the winner by a wide margin. She is going to be Mexico’s first (woman) president in 200 years,” López Obrador said.

According to projections by Mexico’s electoral agency President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party will hold a congressional majority.

This would allow Claudia Sheinbaum, who the agency has projected will win the race, to push through her agenda with ease.

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum shows her ink-stained thumb after voting during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum held an irreversible lead Sunday in the presidential race that would make her Mexico’s first female president, according to an official quick count.

The National Electoral Institute’s president said Sheinbaum had between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, according to a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6% and 28.6% of the vote and Jorge Álvarez Máynez had between 9.9% and 10.8% of the vote.

The governing party candidate campaigned on continuing the political course set over the last six years by her political mentor President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

His anointed successor, the 61-year-old Sheinbaum led the campaign wire-to-wire despite a spirited challenge from Gálvez. This was the first time in Mexico that the two main opponents were women.

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum arrives to vote during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is leading the presidential race with 30% of polling place tallies counted by Mexico’s electoral authority.

Sheinbaum, candidate of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party, leads with more than 57% of the vote.

Lagging behind her is opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez with nearly 30% of the vote.

Longshot candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez trailed with little more than 10% of the vote.

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is leading the presidential race with 20% of polling place tallies counted by Mexico’s electoral authority.

Vote counts have been slow, opening the door for competitor Xóchitl Gálvez to sow doubt in election results.

“The votes are there. Don’t let them hide them,” Gálvez wrote on the social platform X shortly before the electoral authorities’ announcement.

Mexico’s electoral agency, the National Electoral Institute, announced that it will give an update on the vote count shortly.

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum casts her ballot for president during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is leading the presidential race with 10% of polling place tallies counted by Mexico’s electoral authority. Vote counts have been slow.

The head of Mexico’s electoral agency called on political parties, candidates and the media “to act with restraint, prudence and responsibility” in announcing results after a number of candidates and news organizations called the presidential race based on private exit polls with little official results available.

“Our electoral system is designed to ensure that every vote counts and that every result is verified in a fair and transparent manner,” wrote Guadalupe Taddei Zavala, the president of the electoral institute in a statement.

Vote counts continue to lag in Mexico’s historic election. Despite private exit polls favoring frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum, The Associated Press bases its report on official results and will continue to update coverage as votes roll in.

As night fell, crowds in Mexico City’s main plaza, the Zocalo, still hadn’t formed.

The plaza where frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum plans to celebrate her victory resonated with music piped through speakers rather than the buzz of yet-to-arrive crowds. It was a stark contrast from just six years before when Mexicans flooded into the plaza in the early hours of the night to celebrate the eventual victory of her political mentor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Throughout the campaign, Sheinbaum failed to generate the same enthusiasm that López Obrador , better known as by his nickname “AMLO,” has long enjoyed.

After polls closed, supporters of Sheinbaum and López Obrador’s party began to arrive in Mexico City’s Zocalo. Some street vendors were promoting Sheinbaum dolls – though those of the populist president appeared to be selling faster.

Fernando Fernández, a 28-year-old chef, and Itxel Robledo, 28, an administrator, opted to buy two pairs of socks with the image of López Obrador while they waited for the results.

“You vote for Claudia out of conviction, for AMLO,” Fernández said. But his highest hope is that Sheinbaum can “improve what AMLO couldn’t do, the price of gasoline, crime and drug trafficking, which he didn’t combat even though he had the power.”

Robledo said that the best of López Obrador was the fight against corruption. “Yes, he achieved it although there is still more to be done and he helped a lot of poor people with his programs in Mexico,” he added.

Robledo, 28, said she supports López Obrador railing against corruption, but hopes that Sheinbaum will put more professionals in her government.

She hopes if Sheinbaum wins, she’ll be able to govern “without the shadow of López Obrador.”

PHOTOS: Voting results are beginning to publish in Mexico’s historic elections

Electoral officials count votes after polls closed during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A voter casts her ballot during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential ballots fill a ballot box, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Electoral officials and poll watchers count votes after polls closed during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Voters cast their ballots during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Mario Delgado, president of the Morena party, speaks after polls closed in Mexico’s eastern time zone during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez waves after polls closed during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Mexico’s electoral agency is beginning to publish results of the country’s historic elections, in which a woman is likely to be elected as president for the first time.

Mexico City is one of the nine states choosing its governor on Sunday.

The capital has been ruled by leftist governments since 1997, but in 2021 mid-term elections, the president’s party had a setback because important sectors of the capital’s progressive middle class did not agree with López Obrador. He had intensified his criticism of environmentalists, academics, human rights defenders and lashed out against independent institutions that serve as a check on his power.

Yoselin Ramírez, a 29-year-old who voted in a middle class borough, said she split her vote because she didn’t want anyone holding a strong majority. She chose Sheinbaum for president because she thought she was the most qualified.

“I don’t want everything to be occupied with the same party so that there is a little more equality,” she said without elaborating.

López Obrador’s Morena party is also hoping to pick up governorships in opposition strongholds of Guanajuato, Jalisco and Yucatan. Heading into the elections, Morena controlled the governorships in 23 of Mexico’s 32 states.

Engineer Guillermo D. Christy photographs a steel pillar filled with concrete that was installed inside the Aktun Tuyul cave system to support the Maya Train track on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Construction of the Maya Train is rapidly destroying part of the hidden underground world of caverns and sinkhole lakes, known as cenotes, already under threat by development and mass tourism. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

As votes are tallied in Mexico’s history elections, catch up on Associated Press coverage in the lead-up to the election:

• In Mexico, a hidden underground world under threat by the Maya Train
• Mexico’s drug cartels and gangs appear to be playing a wider role in Sunday’s elections than before
• Mexico’s poorest receiving less government funds under president who brought poor to the fore
• A woman will likely be Mexico’s next president. But in some Indigenous villages, men hold the power
• A woman could be Mexico’s next leader. Millions of others continue in shadows as domestic workers
• As election nears, violence is key issue for Mexicans, including Catholics jolted by priest killings

Maria del Carmen Ayala Vargas, who said her son Ivan Pasrtana Ayala disappeared in 2021, attends the annual National March of Searching Mothers, held every Mother’s Day in Mexico City, Friday, May 10, 2024. Her sign reads in Spanish, “I’m not looking for those to blame, but for my son.” (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

In some parts of Mexico, voters chose to nullify their votes by writing in the names of some of Mexico’s more than 110,000 missing people as president.

The act was a clear sign of protest by those who were fed up by failures by the government to respond to people who have been forcibly disappeared amid cartel violence.

Among them was Victoria Delgadillo, in Xalapa in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz. She founded the “Xalapa Connections” collective and is looking for her daughter, Yureny Citlali Hernández, who disappeared in 2011 at the age of 26, and 12 other young women. Disappearances often haunt families.

“I voted for Yureny, for Pilar, for Carmen and all those many who have been disappeared,” Delgadillo said.

The “Vote for the Disappeared” campaign, launched nationwide by relatives of those who have gone missing, was not intended to discourage participation. Rather, it was created to make invalid votes have special meaning by registering the name of a disappeared person on a part of the ballots where the voter can write the name of an unregistered candidate.

Such families have criticized the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who they say has sought to minimize the problem of people going missing amid ongoing violence in Mexico.

“Vote for whoever you vote for, we mothers of the disappeared have to work with whoever is left,” Delgadillo said.

Fear gripped the small central Mexican town of Cuitzeo Sunday afternoon, where a town council candidate was shot dead just hours before voting began.

Candidate Israel Delgado Vega was chatting with men near his home when two men on a motorcycle shot him dead, according to local prosecutors. Less than a day later, all that remained at the scene of his death were flowers and candles. Few wanted to speak about his death.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promised to reduce violence while in office. He employed a strategy known as “hugs not bullets” focusing on not confronting cartels and instead addressing social ills fueling cartel recruitment, like poverty.

But under the leader, cartels have expanded control in much of the country and raked in money — not just from drugs but from extorting legal industries and migrant smuggling. They’ve also fought with more sophisticated tools like bomb-dropping drones and improvised explosive devices.

Elections have been marked by violence, especially in disputed areas like Guerrero, Chiapas , and Michoacan, where Delgado Vega was slain. It continues to be a top concern by voters.

▶ READ MORE:

• Mexican president claims that criminal groups are ‘respectful’ and ‘respect the citizenry’
• Mexico’s drug war uses drones, human shields, gunships
• Hugs or bullets? Mexico conflicted over how to fight crime

Max Aleman, center, wears a Mexican flag as he waits for hours along with others to vote in the Mexican election at the Mexican Consulate building Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Houston. Houston and Dallas were the only two consulate locations in Texas where Mexican nationals could go to vote. Mexicans went to the polls Sunday to vote for who will likely be the country’s first female president. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Thousands of Mexican voters lined up at their nearest consulate offices. The turnout exceeded Mexico’s expectations in several cities across the United States and other countries.

In Dallas, some voters started waiting in line at 3:30 a.m. local time, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Similar lines could be seen in Houston after hundreds filled sidewalks waiting in the heat with little to no shade for hours.

In Los Angeles, voters draped themselves in Mexican flags and erupted in cheers every time another ballot was cast, the Los Angeles Times reported. Street vendors selling food and snacks also gathered outside the consulate, catering to eager voters.

The Mexican consulates in San Francisco, San Diego and Fresno also saw long lines of hundreds of voters Sunday. California is home to more than three million Mexican immigrants.

“In some cases, such as in Madrid, California, Chicago and Phoenix, the large influx of people wishing to vote at the consular headquarters has exceeded expectations,” Mexico’s National Electoral Institute said in a statement.

Polls have closed in most of Mexico’s 32 states. Voters begin awaiting the results of an election that will chart the way forward in the coming years. Voting will continue for another hour on the Baja California peninsula.

Chinese migrants follow a U.S Border Patrol agent to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico Wednesday, May 8, 2024, near Jacumba Hot Springs, Calif. San Diego became the busiest corridor for illegal crossings in April, according to U.S. figures, the fifth region to hold that title in two years in a sign of how quickly migration routes are changing. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

While Mexicans were voting, a group of about 200 migrants crossed the Suchiate river that divides Mexico and Guatemala and walked up a highway outside Tapachula.

Venezuelan Eliezer Ávila crossed the Suchiate and quickly joined up with a group of other migrants moving north.

Ávila, a security guard back in Venezuela, said that along the banks of the Suchiate there were hundreds of other migrants who had been waiting for weeks to be attended to by immigration authorities. He said he couldn’t afford to wait around so he set out walking.

We ask “that (authorities) at least set up a humanitarian corridor to a city where we can wait or let us make it to our destination (the United States), he said.

More than 500,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap dividing Colombia and Panama last year , the majority Venezuelans.

The number of migrants reaching the U.S. border has fallen significantly since January and U.S. officials credit efforts by Mexico. The Biden administration is finalizing plans to clamp down on illegal crossings before the U.S. election.

Mexico has been moving migrants from the north back to the south away from the border. Migrants complain they are constantly extorted by authorities as they move through the country.

TAKE A LOOK: AP photographers capture voting in biggest election in Mexico’s history

Indigenous women line up to vote during general elections in Zinacantan, Mexico, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Etzin)

Voters stand in line as they wait their turn to cast their ballots, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Cable cars glide over a polling station, right, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

A child watches as an electoral official dyes her father’s thumb with election ink during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A voter, reflector in a wall mirror, casts her ballots during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A woman casts her ballot in a box for voters who need special assistance, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Agitated voters hold out their arms to show where electoral workers marked them with a number outside a polling station, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. Election workers at this downtown polling station created the number system to determine when they reached 1,000, the number of available ballots at that polling station. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Voters line up around the block as they wait to cast their ballots, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

An Indigenous woman votes during general elections in Zinacantan, Mexico, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Etzin)

Louanne Garcia casts her father’s ballot during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Associated Press journalists across the country have been working to cover the country’s biggest election in history , with more than 20,000 local and federal seats up for grabs.

FILE - A person holds a sign with a message that reads in Spanish: “We are all the same Mexico”, at an opposition rally called to encourage voting in the upcoming election, in the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme, File)

• “ AMLO” : The legacy of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who many see as a champion of Mexico’s marginalized and others see as a threat to democracy. A major question is:
• Violence: Cartels have expanded in power in much of the country in recent years, raking in money from new industries and using more powerful weapons to fight for territory.
• The Economy: Mexico’s peso is the strongest it’s been in years, but many Mexicans complain about inflation, especially in places like Mexico City.
• Gender: With two women leading the ballot, Mexico is on track to elect its first female leader. Both have promised to address violence against women and gender disparities.
• Democracy: López Obrador’s critics say moves he has made represent a democratic threat, something that has fueled massive protests.
• The Environment: Mexico has suffered from long-running drought, wildfires and soaring temperatures causing monkeys to drop dead from trees . Construction of López Obrador’s Maya Train has also fueled environmental concerns .
• Social Spending: AMLO’s social programs are so popular that even the opposition candidates promise to continue them, but spending on Mexico’s poorest has actually fallen

Armed men kidnapped one man who was voting in a polling station in the town of San Fernando, in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, according to the Chiapas Prosecutor’s Office.

Two armed men burst into a local market where a voting station was set up and kidnapped the man. The man later appeared beaten up in another place, prosecutors said.

Violence has rapidly escalated in Chiapas in the past year like no other part of Mexico. Cartels and other criminal groups have waged a brutal war for control of the lucrative migrant and drug smuggling routes along the country’s southern border with Guatemala.

• A mayoral candidate and 5 other people killed in gunfire at a campaign rally in southern Mexico
• Mexico’s leading presidential candidate stopped by masked men who ask for help in stemming violence

Outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador poses for photos with supporters after voting in the general elections, in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Mexico’s populist leader López Obrador has long been a larger-than-life political force , and continues to be highly popular in Mexico. He has a strong base of support among poorer and rural Mexicans, who identify with his folksy charisma and have long felt forgotten by the country’s political system.

Because of that, his political ally Sheinbaum has used her connection with the leader in her campaign and promised to continue on many of his policies.

At the same time, his critics say his moves to attack the judiciary , slash funding to Mexico’s electoral agency and expand the military’s responsibilities in civilian life have eroded Mexican democracy. Sheinbaum’s competitor Gálvez has capitalized on criticisms of López Obrador throughout her campaign.

Mexico goes into Sunday’s election deeply divided: friends and relatives no longer talk politics for fear of worsening unbridgeable divides, while drug cartels have split the country into a patchwork quilt of warring fiefdoms. (AP video shot by Fernanda Pesce and Megan Janetsky)

FILE - Relatives and friends carry the coffin that contains the remains of a man slain in a mass shooting, into a church for a funeral service in Huitzilac, Mexico, May 14, 2024. When Mexicans vote June 2, they will do so in an increasingly polarized country that continues to struggle with staggering levels of violence. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

Many Mexican voters say violence is top among their electoral worries, but it’s also spurred democratic concerns.

Cartels and other criminal groups use elections – particularly local elections – as an opportunity to make power grabs. The National Electoral Institute says it has had to cancel plans for 170 polling places, mostly in Chiapas and Michoacan and mostly because of security problems.

While voting appeared peaceful, if time-consuming, at most of Mexico’s approximately 170,000 polling places, there were isolated incidents of violence Sunday after a bloody campaign process.

In the central state of Puebla, four armed assailants tried to burst in to a school where voting booths were installed to steal ballots. State police said arrests had been made.

And Queretaro’s governor, said that assailants had tried to burn ballots at four polling places. A video posted on social media showed two masked men escaping on a motorcycle after one attack.

Earlier this week, unidentified gunmen opened fire a couple of blocks away from a mayoral candidate’s final campaign rally in western Cotija, Michoacan.

Meanwhile, candidates have been picked off, with at least 28 political contenders slain this year, according to human rights organization Data Civica.

• Mexico’s cartel violence haunts civilians as the June 2 election approaches
• Violence clouds the last day of campaigning for Mexico’s election

A voter uses a fallen palm leaf to protect himself from the sun while he waits to vote in the general election, in Xalapa, Veracruz, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Alba Aleman)

The elections in Mexico are heating up – and not just politically.

In the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, temperatures were already at 100 degrees (37 Celsius) before noon and were expected to rise further. Voters were covering their heads with stalks of leaves and palm fronds as they stood in line. So far this year, 14 people have died in the state from heat stroke, and howler monkeys have fallen dead from the trees.

In the Veracruz hamlet of Mandinga, two voters, Antonio Castillo, 43 and Esteban Ramirez, 45, took refuge in the little shade provided by an improvised cover of palm fronds.

Because of poor organization, some voters in Veracruz faced lines up to three hours to vote. Castillo and Ramirez, both taxi drivers, were uncomplaining. “The important thing here is to vote. We found these palm fronds here and they’re helping us,” Castillo said, “though we’d really like to have a real palapa.”

Even in the relatively temperate capital, Mexico City , about 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level, Hugo Nava, a 71-year-old university professor, said the heat was the worst he remembers in at least 30 years.

“I used to carry a sports coat or sweater around. No more,” says Nava, who showed up in shirt sleeves to wait in line to vote. “It’s bad.”

“ The climate is having a big effect ,” he said. “People are coming out early, because they don’t want to be here at noon.”

Presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez arrives to vote in the general election in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Jorge Álvarez Máynez is a longshot candidate in Mexico’s presidential race. He’s offered himself up as an alternative to those not content with the polarized candidates locked in a tug-of-war for Mexico’s top position.

While he’s sought to court the youth vote, he’s also become the subject of many internet memes throughout the race. A former federal lawmaker, he represents the smaller Citizen Movement party.

PHOTOS: AP photograhers capture Mexicans voting in historic elections

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum shows her ballot before voting, during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum leaves the polling station where she voted during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Voters, some holding a sign supporting opposition presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez, line up outside a polling station during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Opposition presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez shows her inked-stained thumb as she leaves a polling station after voting in the general election, in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

An electoral officer assists a voter with her presidential ballot during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

La Catedral está iluminada mientras amanece antes de la apertura de las urnas para las elecciones generales en la Ciudad de México, el domingo 2 de junio de 2024. (AP Foto/Matías Delacroix)

La candidata presidencial del partido gobernante, Claudia Sheinbaum, habla con periodistas después de votar en las elecciones generales en la Ciudad de México, el domingo 2 de junio de 2024. (AP Foto/Matías Delacroix)

Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum leaves the polling station where she voted during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez shows his ink-stained thumb after voting in general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Mexico’s National Electoral Institute reports that as of 11 a.m. – three hours after polls were to open -- only about 82% of voting places had successfully opened.

The reasons stemmed from violence-plagued areas where it was unsafe to have to people vote to local conflicts among residents and poll workers who didn’t show up.

It was especially difficult in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico’s poorest state, which has been torn by growing cartel violence over the past year.

Electoral authorities there said that they only managed to open 58% of polling places.

They said in many cases they were unable to open on time because there were not sufficient poll workers. In some cases they had to recruit voters from the lines.

Violence was behind some of the reticence. Local candidates have been killed in some Chiapas communities in recent days.

In Tamaulipas, at Mexico’s northern border with Texas, Magdalena Ruiz, 69, was frustrated by voting problems in the state capital Ciudad Victoria.

Ruiz had roused her grandson from bed early Sunday so that he could vote for the first time – he was not enthusiastic. But she convinced him it was his duty and got him to the polling place.

But it only got worse when they got there. Locals were fighting over the opening of the polling place and it was 11 a.m. before authorities were able to establish order and start the voting.

“I feel sad,” Ruiz said. “I hope my grandson doesn’t come away with a bad experience.”

Senator Xóchitl Gálvez is the opposition candidate in Mexico’s presidential elections.

She sold snacks in a small town in central Mexico as a girl to help her family and rose to national politics with a biography that could help take her to the heights of power. She speaks more candidly – similar to López Obrador – than her competitor and her story of humble origins helped her make a splash when she entered the race.

Gálvez is a fierce critic of the outgoing president, and doesn’t shy away from verbal sparring. She represents a coalition of parties that have had little historically to unite them other than their recent opposition to López Obrador.

But Gálvez hasn’t been able to ignite as much fervor as her supporters hoped,and she has trailed the ruling party’s candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum in polls.

A woman holds up a sign with a message that reads in Spanish; “I will decide” as she joins a march demanding legal, free and safe abortions for all women, marking International Safe Abortion Day, in Mexico City, Sept. 28, 2022. Mexico’s Supreme Court on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, has decriminalized abortion nationwide. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

Electing a female president would be a huge step in a country with soaring levels of gender-based violence and deep gender disparities .

Mexico still has a famously intense “machismo”, or culture of male chauvinism, that has created large economic and social disparities in society. In its most extreme form, the misogyny is expressed in high rates of femicides , and things like acid attacks against women .

Both frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum and opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez have promised to address high rates of gender-based violence and gender disparities if they win.

A historic number of women in the socially conservative country are taking up leadership and political roles.

That’s in part due to a decades-long push by authorities for greater representation in politics, including laws that require political parties to have half of their congressional candidates be women. Since 2018, Mexico’s Congress has had a 50-50 gender split, and the number of female governors has shot up.

Waiting to vote in her first election, 20-year-old Evelyn Elizondo Valdez of Xalapa, Veracruz, was pleased to have two women to choose from on the ballot.

“It has cost women a lot to get into public positions,” Elizondo said. “And even though they deny it, Claudia (Sheinbaum) is still an extension of (President Andrés Manuel López Obrador), a man. That’s why I think it (should be) Xóchitl (Gálvez).”

In Mexico City, Guillermina Romero, 59, hugged Sheinbaum when she came to vote.

Romero said her husband came from a sexist family and her mother was abused by her father. But she’s seen the change that Mexico has undergone over time. As she stood next to her daughter, also voting, she said it gives her hope.

Having a woman president “means that Mexico has changed, that they’re taking us into account,” she said.

• A woman might win the presidency of Mexico. What could that mean for abortion rights?
• Sexist tropes and misinformation swirl online as Mexico prepares to elect its first female leader

Claudia Sheinbaum has been the clear frontrunner of Mexico’s presidential elections in her bid to replace outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She is the chosen candidate for Morena, the party he created.

Despite running Mexico City, one of the biggest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Sheinbaum has struggled to construct her own image. While she has pitched herself as being a continuation of her political ally, she has a more reserved character and may turn out to be more progressive than López Obrador.

She has had to walk a fine line in her campaign – embracing López Obrador’s support, while not critiquing him on less popular fronts, like his security policy .

The campaign left many wondering whether she can escape the shadow of the larger-than-life incumbent.

• Mixed feelings in Mexico as two women vie for country’s presidency
• Mexico’s likely next president is a scientist. Politics has her mostly quiet on climate threats

A relatively new trend is emerging in Mexican elections: bringing your dog to the voting booth.

At one polling place in central Mexico City, nearly a dozen dogs - ranging in size from Great Danes to pugs - were waiting patiently with their owners in lines that stretched around the block.

Koba, a tawny colored Husky, accompanied his owner, Marco Delaye, into the polling place, and the two emerged smiling. “He behaved very well,” said Delaye. “He let me vote without any problem.”

That was no small feat, given that turnout was very high early Sunday and polling places were jam-packed _ perhaps because Mexicans are lining up to vote early to avoid the country’s unprecedented heat wave.

Clara Brugada, a candidate for Mexico City mayor for the governing Morena party, took her pup to vote too.

Historic levels of migration have been at the core of upcoming elections in the United States, but it’s been largely left out of the electoral debate in Mexico.

The different ways migration is resonating in the two countries’ elections this year reflects the neighbors’ very different styles of democracy and attitudes on the issue.

Just about every Mexican family has an immediate experience with migration, so much of the conversation has centered about migrant protections. Mexico also still remains largely a sending and transit country, though more migrants are putting down roots here as the U.S. becomes more difficult to enter.

Donald Trump moved anti-immigration sentiment to center stage in U.S. politics seeing it as a winning issue for himself and Republicans.

No Mexican presidential candidate has tried to make immigration an issue beyond pledging to defend Mexicans already in the U.S.

At the same time, Mexico’s next president will likely have to work with whoever wins upcoming elections in the United States on cross-border issues.

At Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala, security and immigration are top of mind for some voters.

“One of the main (concerns) is the out of control immigration that some authorities have not been able to resolve efficiently,” said teacher Daniel Martínez in Tapachula.

The 69-year-old said he still planned for governing party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum because he considers her to have a lot of experience as the former mayor of Mexico’s largest city.

Claudia Muñoz said the gender of the candidates shouldn’t be a deciding factor in casting your vote, but rather their ability to deal with Mexico’s security problems.

She called for a far greater security presence along Mexico’s porous southern border, as well as more security across the country and a bolstering of the economy.

Two of Mexico’s most powerful cartels have been battling for control of smuggling routes along the southern border, displacing residents and spreading fear.

Amid a sea of press and applauding supporters, presidential frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum strolled into her small voting site on Mexico City’s south side, waving and hugging men in cowboy hats as women snapped photos.

“Presidenta! Presidenta!” supporters chanted as neighbors stood on their roofs to take photos.

Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez took selfies with supporters as she waited to vote in the central Mexico City Reforma Social neighborhood.

“Hang in there,” she said. “It is going to be a hard, difficult, contested day, it is not just a formality,” she said.

“There is a great turnout and I said it from the beginning: if people participate Mexico wins.”

Walking amid shouts of “You are not alone Xóchitl” and “We are going to win”, she said she was not nervous. “God is with me.”

Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the Citizen Movement party waded through press with his team trying to avoid trampling other voters waiting their turn to vote.

As she left home to vote, frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters briefly that she was “very happy, very excited” on what she described as a “historic day.”

She said that she had a “quiet” night and that after voting she would come back home to have breakfast.

She called on people to go to the polls. “You have to vote, you have to go out and vote,” the former Mexico City mayor said as she left in a car.

Outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and first lady Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller arrive to vote during general elections in Mexico City, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

Outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador walked out of the National Palace and into a nearby voting location to cast his ballot.

The 70-year-old leader wearing a blue suit ducked into a voting booth to mark his ballot.

López Obrador oversaw a months-long internal campaign in his Morena party to select his successor. Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum emerged victorious in internal polling and received López Obrador’s seal of approval.

She ran a conservative campaign essentially promising to continue her mentor’s policies.

Voters of the Latin American country of 130 million people have started casting their ballots. Voters began lining up before dawn for the historic election.

The election – and Mexican politics in recent years – have been deeply divisive, reflecting polarized Mexican society.

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is a clear frontrunner in the race, and is seen as a continuation candidate of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his Morena party.

Others have turned to opposition presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez , who has focused her ire on López Obrador’s “hugs not bullets” policy of not confronting the drug cartels.

Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the smaller Citizen Movement party has targeted the youth vote, but has trailed the two women.

At a special voting post on a large Mexico City medical campus where people like on-duty doctors and nurses who can’t get home to vote can cast their ballots, men and women are waiting for polls to open.

Aida Fabiola Valencia said, “yesterday I told my colleagues to go vote, I don’t know who they are going to vote for but it is the first time they are going to be able to elect a woman, who I think is going to play an important role, we (women) are 60% of the population, it is historic.”

There have been female candidates before in Mexico, but this is the first time the two leading candidates — Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez — are women.

FILE - This combo image shows opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez, left, on July 4, 2023, and presidential frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum, on May 29, 2024, both in Mexico City. Voters choosing Mexico’s next president will decide on Sunday, June 2, 2024, between Sheinbaum, a former mayor and academic, and Galvez, an ex-senator and tech entrepreneur. A third candidate from a smaller party trails far behind. (AP Photo/File)

Nearby, Mónica Martínez, said “The fact that people vote for a candidate who is a woman implies a lot of change at all social and work levels, that means that it is already starting to get better. It already is. But the fact that it is for a presidential candidacy is much more significant.”

On the fringes of Mexico City in the neighborhood of San Andres Totoltepec, electoral officials filed past 34-year-old homemaker Stephania Navarrete, who watched dozens of cameramen and electoral officials gathering where frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum was set to vote.

Navarrete said she planned to vote for Sheinbaum despite her own doubts about outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his party.

“Having a woman president, for me as a Mexican woman, it’s going to be like before when for the simple fact that you say you are a woman you’re limited to certain professions. Not anymore.”

She said the social programs of Sheinbaum’s mentor were crucial, but that deterioration of cartel violence in the past few years was her primary concern in this election.

“That is something that they have to focus more on,” she said. “For me security is the major challenge. They said they were going to lower the levels of crime, but no, it was the opposite, they shot up. Obviously, I don’t completely blame the president, but it is in a certain way his responsibility.”

Mexicans are voting Sunday in historic elections weighing gender , democracy and populism , as they chart the country’s path forward in voting shadowed by cartel violence .

The race is historic . With two women leading the contest, Mexico will likely elect its first female president. The elections are also the country’s biggest , with more than 19,000 congressional and local positions up for grabs.

The Associated Press’ reporting team on the ground will be providing updates throughout the day.

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