How to Become a Content Writer: Learn From Scratch

Content writing jobs have increased significantly with increased use of digital medium for content generation. This is why one must have the detailed knowledge of the path that must be followed to become a content writer.

As a content writer, I will be sharing my personal experience as well as industry requirements throughout this article. If you want to learn how to become a content writer, this article will be your safe haven. I will try my best to share what I have learnt during my journey from starting out as a content writer to how I was able to write some of the top-ranking articles.

• Why did I want to become a content writer?
• Who is a content writer?
• What does a content writer do?
• What are the different types of content?
• What are the different types of content writers?
• Why are content writers in demand?
• How to become a content writer?
  • Who should:
    • Become a content writer
    • Not become a content writer
  • Career Path to Follow
  • Prerequisites:
    • Skills Required
    • Tools Required
    • Courses
• Career Scope for Content Writers

Why Did I Want To Become A Content Writer?

I was always fascinated by books since I could live a fairy tale in the real world. Books allowed me to visit places that I perhaps could never travel to. I was able to feel an adrenaline rush as the murderer was soon going to be unveiled by the detectives. It all seemed so surreal yet so intriguing.

One fine day, in grade 9th, I felt this urge to create my own characters, give them an identity and narrate their stories. I picked up the pen, flipped to a blank page and… I started writing. This was the beginning of my journey as a writer. 

Soon, this passion turned into ambition. I wanted to turn this into a career. To become a professional writer, a degree in journalism was a must. Without this qualification, not many opportunities were available. I was so passionate about writing that I delved into research. After I was done with my research, I found a mid-way. 

For the first time, I came across the job opening for ‘content writers’ in several companies. Through my research, I learnt about content writers. According to the internet, it was defined as:

“A professional who writes and manages content for businesses.”

It did not require a degree in journalism, and anyone with a passion and writing skills could start out as a content writer. This strengthened my goal to turn my writing passion into a career. 

If you have become interested in learning how to become a content writer, then, you must know about this career profile. You should know who is a content writer, what it does and what skills you require to become a content writer in India. Let us first learn about this job profile.

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Who is a Content Writer?

A content writer is a professional who is responsible for creating digital content with a ‘purpose’ for companies. The purpose may vary from bringing in leads to ranking website’s content on search engine. Such a professional must have impeccable writing skills and SEO knowledge to boost content’s visibility. These professionals write content for websites, social media platforms, company’s documents, scientific papers and publications. 

What does a content writer do?

A content writer needs to fulfil the following job responsibilities:

• Should be able to write industry-related content.
• Must write grammatically and syntactically correct content.
• Have knowledge of SEO, CMS and other relevant tools.
• Should be able to conduct simple keyword research and write content based on the latest SEO guidelines.  
• Can proofread, edit and update content on a regular basis.
• Must deliver finalized content before the deadline.

Types of Content 

Content writers write a variety of content, including the following types:

• Blog Posts: These are regular updates on a website, usually informal or conversational in tone. They can cover any topic related to the website’s theme.
• Articles: These are more formal and in-depth than blog posts. They usually cover topics in detail and are often used for online publications or magazines.
• Product Descriptions: These are used in e-commerce to describe and sell products. They need to be persuasive and informative.
• Social Media Posts: These are short pieces of content designed for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. They are usually engaging and designed to interact with followers.
• White Papers: These are in-depth reports on a specific topic. They are usually quite formal and aim to present a problem and solution, often backed up with original research.
• Newsletters: These are regular emails sent to a list of subscribers. These contain a variety of content, including updates, articles, and promotional content.
• Press Releases: These are official statements issued to newspapers giving information on a particular matter. They are used to announce new products, events, or significant happenings in a company.
• Scripts: These are written for videos, podcasts, or other audiovisual content. They need to be engaging and easy to understand when spoken.
• Technical Documents: These are detailed pieces of writing that explain complex information, often related to technology, science, or engineering. They can include user manuals, technical guides, and more.

Types of Content Writers

Content writing jobs can be both full time and part-time. Depending on your suitability, you can even go for freelance opportunities. There are primarily three types of content writers, including the following:

1. Technical Content Writers

Technical content writers specialize in creating content that explains complex concepts or procedures. They often have expertise in a specific field, such as engineering, science, or law. Here are some key features:

1. They often write for an audience that have a penchant for technical topics. Their audience may vary from technical professionals, students and even researchers.
2. Technical writers may create user manuals, technical guides, patent applications, and other technical documents.
3. They need to have a deep understanding of their industry and the ability to explain complex concepts to ensure that their audience will understand.

Prerequisites: Any technical degree or knowledge of a programming language is required for technical content writers.

2. Non-Technical Content Writers

Non-technical content writers focus on topics that don’t require specialized knowledge. They write for a general audience, making complex ideas easy to understand. Here are some key features:

1. Non-technical content writers create content on various topics, from marketing, to finance and personal care.
2. They aim to make their content accessible to a broad audience, avoiding jargon and complex language.
3. Non-technical writers often work in journalism, copywriting, and content marketing.
4. They write blog posts, product descriptions, review articles, and other types of content that don’t require specialized knowledge.
5. Non-technical content writers need to have a strong command of language and the ability to explain concepts clearly and engagingly.

Prerequisites: Anyone with the flair to write content. More certifications are required for upscaling in the career. 

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3. Medical Content Writers

Medical content writers specialize in creating content for the healthcare industry. These professionals are relatively paid higher salary than other types of content writers. They write about medical research, policies, new inventions, discoveries in healthcare and wellness material. They closely work with healthcare professionals to ensure that the content is factually and medically accurate and latest. Here are some key features:

1. They write complex medical information in simpler layman’s terms so that everyone can understand from healthcare professionals to general public.
2. Medical content writers work with subject matter experts to create healthcare documents that comply with regulatory and publication guidelines.

Prerequisites: Anyone who holds an advanced degree. They may have a medical degree such as a PhD, PharmD or MD or have an experience in academics, as pharmacists, bench scientists, and physicians. 

Why are content writers in demand?

The purpose may vary according to the company’s domain, target audience and business goal. Overall, a content writer helps companies in the following ways:

1. Boost SEO Rankings: SEO-friendly quality content helps in improving a company’s search engine rankings. This makes it easier for potential customers to find them online.
2. Engage Audience: Well-written content can engage readers, keep them on the website longer, and encourage them to take action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
3. Establish Authority: Informative and insightful content can help a company establish itself as an authority in its field, building trust with customers and potential customers.
4. Increase Traffic: Regularly posting fresh content can help increase website traffic, leading to more potential customers and sales.
5. Improve Brand Image: High-quality content can help improve a company’s brand image, making it appear more professional and reliable.
6. Social Media Presence: Content writers often create posts for social media, helping to increase a company’s online presence and reach a wider audience.
7. Communicate with Customers: Content writers can help companies communicate with their customers, providing important information about products or services, company updates, and more.

How To Become A Content Writer?

Before you decide to become a content writer, you must ensure that you have the passion and skills to become one. 

Who should become a content writer?

These are the basic requisites required to become a good content writer. 

1. Passion: You should be passionate about writing. It is important to feel excited about creating content since it requires time. 
2. Command on language: It is important to have professional-level expertise in the language in which you will be creating content. If you do not have command on the language, you will not be able to create good content.
3. Research Oriented: You should be able to do thorough and in-depth research. Without research, you would not be able to create authentic and factually correct content. Half-researched content will lack depth and readers will not learn what they wanted to. 
4. Curiosity: It is extremely important to remain curious about everything. Without inquisitiveness, content writers cannot write engaging and detailed content. One must try to understand every aspect of content writing. When you have curiosity, you learn every aspect of a topic. This allows you to write detailed content in simplified terms. 
5. Enthusiast about learning: Content writers create content after doing proper research. For this purpose, they must have the enthusiasm to keep on learning. They must learn supporting tools, courses to enhance skills and improve your writing style. Learn new subjects as well. Do remember that the learning journey is never-ending. The more you learn, the more you upgrade yourself. 

Who should not become a content writer?

1. Writing should not feel like a task: It should not be tiresome since you will have to write lengthy content pieces and if it becomes exhausting, then, content writing may not be the suitable field for you. 
2. Money is your only goal: As a content writer, our primary goal is to provide factually correct and latest content. If earning money is your only goal, then, content writing will not be a satisfying career choice. 
3. Lack of versatility: If you cannot modify your writing style as per the requirement, then, you will have a limited niche to write on. As content writers, we must be able to adapt to requirements of target audience and domain. For example, finance and data science readers are more interested in facts and figures. They do not want to read flowery and lengthy sentences. This is why identifying your target audience becomes important. Once you have identified them, you need to adapt to the writing style that suits the target audience. 
4. Procrastinating nature: Do remember that content writers have to create content within deadlines. If you are not good with deadlines, then, content writing will be an unfavourable career choice. 

Career Path To Follow

Becoming a content writer without prior experience is achievable with dedication and persistence. Here are steps to become a content writer without experience:

1. Develop Writing Skills: Improve your writing abilities through regular practice. Practice writing to refine your grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
2. Read Extensively: Read books, articles, blogs, and other forms of written content. This will help you in learning the types of content that are trending and are high ranking on search engines.
3. Start a Blog: Start your own blog to showcase your writing skills. Write on topics that interest you to improve your ability to produce engaging and informative content. This also serves as a platform to build your portfolio.
4. Internships: Offer your writing services as a volunteer or intern for non-profit organizations, local publications, or online platforms. This provides an opportunity to gain real-world experience, receive feedback, and develop a portfolio of published work.
5. Guest Blogging: Write guest posts to established blogs and websites based on your niche. This helps you learn the writing style, content tone and requirement of the target audience.
6. Content Writing Courses: Enroll in online courses to learn content writing. These courses provide valuable insights into industry best practices, writing techniques, and content creation strategies. They may also offer certifications to enhance your credibility.
7. Network and Collaborate: Engage with other writers, professionals, and industry experts through social media, writing communities, and networking events.
8. Freelancing Platforms: Start freelancing to ensure that you deliver finalized work before deadline. You will also start modifying your writing style as per the client requirement.
9. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with industry trends, SEO practices, and digital marketing strategies. Stay informed about the evolving needs of content writing and adapt your skills accordingly.

How To Become a Content Writer: Prerequisites 

In this section, we will explore the prerequisites that are required to become an expert content writer: 

Skills Required To Become A Content Writer

The following skills are required for becoming a content writer:

1. Knowledge of SEO: For any content writer, knowledge of SEO is inevitable. They must be able to write SEO-friendly content so that the content ranks of search engines. 
2. Digital marketing: Content writers need to know about the basic digital marketing concepts for promoting their content on different platforms. If they want to delve into email marketing or social media marketing, they must be aware of digital marketing to get optimal results.
3. Time management: One of the most important skills of a content writer is time management. One must be able to manage their time to deliver the content piece before achieving deadline. As a content writer, it is important to improve your time management skills.
4. Proofreading: Content writers must have impeccable grammatical skills. They must be able to proofread and edit the content to make it flawless. 

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Tools That Content Writers Must Know

The following tools are extremely useful for content writers:

1. Content Management System: This software helps in creating, managing and publishing digital content. CMS offers features for uploading, editing and publishing content. WordPress, Joomla and HubSpot CMS are some of the popular tools.
2. Writing Assistants: Tools such as Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps content writers improve their writing by identifying grammar and spelling errors, suggesting alternative words or phrases, and providing writing style suggestions.
3. Plagiarism Detector Tool: Grammarly and Small SEO are some of the free tools that allows plagiarism check online. This ensures that the content is original.
4. Editor: Content editor tools such as Hemingway Editor help writers in improving the clarity and readability of their content. It highlights complex sentences, suggests simpler alternatives, and provides a readability score.
5. Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that helps content writers optimize their content for search engines. It provides real-time analysis and suggestions for improving SEO elements such as meta tags, keyword usage, and readability.
6. Content research tools: Content research tools such as BuzzSumo allows content writers to discover popular and trending topics in their niche. It provides insights on the most shared content and helps writers understand what resonates with their target audience.
7. Graphic design tool: Tools like Canva allow content writers to create visually appealing images, infographics, and social media graphics without the need for design skills. It offers pre-designed templates and a wide range of customization options.
8. Google Analytics: It is a powerful and popular web analytics tool. Content writers can use to understand their audience, track website traffic, and gain insights into user behaviour. Google Analytics helps writers make data-driven decisions about their content strategy.
9. Headline Analyzer: Headline Analyzers such as CoSchedule Headline help content writers in crafting compelling headlines. It analyzes the effectiveness of headlines based on factors such as word balance, headline length, and emotional impact.

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AI Tools For Content Writers

There are several generative tools that are being actively used by writers for the purpose of research, content flow, improvement suggestions and statistics. These include tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, Copy.ai among others. There are several other important tools including the following:

1. ProWritingAid offers comprehensive AI-driven writing analysis. It provides suggestions to improve grammar, style, readability, and overall writing quality.
2. Frase is an AI content creation tool that assists with research and content brief creation. It helps generate content outlines, identifies relevant topics, and provides AI-generated summaries.
3. MarketMuse utilizes AI to analyze content and suggest improvements for SEO optimization and topic coverage. It helps content writers create comprehensive and authoritative content.
4. INK is an AI-driven content optimization platform. It analyzes content for SEO, readability, and engagement, providing suggestions to improve content performance.
5. Copyscape uses AI to detect plagiarism by comparing content with a vast database of web pages. It helps content writers ensure the originality of their work.
6. Atomic Reach utilizes AI to provide insights on content quality, readability, and target audience engagement. It offers suggestions to enhance content and align it with specific audience preferences.
7. Acrolinx is an AI-powered content governance tool that ensures consistency, tone, and style across various content pieces. It provides guidelines and suggestions to maintain brand voice.
8. Articoolo uses AI to generate unique content based on given keywords or topics. It helps content writers with content creation and ideation.

3. Suitable Courses For Content Writers

The following are some of the popular courses for content writers:

1. Ultimate Web Content Writing Masterclass+Power words eBook  

• Course Provider: Udemy
• Duration: 2 hours

2. Content Writing Mastery 1: Content Writing For Beginners 

• Course Provider: Udemy
• Duration: 2 hours

3. Content Writing Master Course 

• Course Provider: Hubspot
• Duration: 16 hours

4. Writing Tools & Hacks: Copywriting/Blogging/Content Writing

• Course Provider: Udemy
• Duration: 8 hours

5. Think like an editor (content strategy and UX writing) 

• Course Provider: OpenClassrooms
• Duration: 10 hours

Career Scope for Content Writers

Content writers can work in diverse sectors such as marketing, advertising, media, e-commerce, publishing, and more. Organizations need content writers to create engaging website content, blog posts, social media content, product descriptions, email newsletters, and other digital assets.

Through job boards, they can find jobs in companies of or choose to work as freelancers. Content writers can specialize in specific industries, such as technology, healthcare, finance, travel, or fashion. This allows them to develop expertise in their niche, increasing their value and potential for higher-paying opportunities.

Content writers can advance their careers by taking on leadership roles, such as content managers, editors, or team leads. With experience, they can manage teams, and get involved in planning content strategy for organizations.

Content writers with entrepreneurial aspirations can start their own content writing agencies or consultancy services. They can build a portfolio of clients, hire a team of writers, and provide content solutions to businesses.

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