Content writing jobs are one of the more common, yet in-demand jobs available on a freelance, remote-work basis and we can see why. As a writer, being given the freedom of creativity and regular income make it a very attractive job, but becoming one of the top content writers on freelancing sites such as Upwork and Fiverr isn’t easy. Below we look at a few tips to help you become a top content writer.
Have extensive knowledge on what you are writing about
There are many writers that are “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none” types and this allows them to get a broad range of jobs and clients, but to really be a top level writer, find your niche and learn and research as much about it as you can. By becoming the authority in this niche, you will likely be in high demand and therefore command a higher fee. Although you won’t likely have a diverse range of clients, you are really going for quality, not quantity. Whether you focus on specific topics within the medical field or even specialise in meeting room booking systems, knowing your field inside-out and constantly updating your knowledge will only benefit you.
Optimise for digital content
It is highly likely that your content will be used in the digital sphere and therefore it should be optimised for it. As a content writer you should be knowledgeable of SEO and its strategies. Afterall, the main purpose of content is usually to drive traffic to a webpage, so what use is your content if it is not optimised to do so? SEO and its strategies are constantly evolving so it is important to stay up-to-date with these developments and use the most relevant keywords possible for your topic.
Have it professionally proofread
This is a very important step as we can often be blind to our own errors, especially if we have spent a long amount of time focused on it. Many top writers actually have a team working with them to help with areas such as researching, proofreading and SEO management as this can take up much more time than the writing itself. Consider outsourcing your work to professional copy editors to ensure your work is fit for publishing.
Write headlines that grab reader’s attention
Again, research comes into play when writing an eye-catching headline. Over the past year anything with the words; covid, pandemic, or vaccine are sure to draw attention, but stringing them together in a unique headline is becoming more difficult. You don’t want to mislead people with a headline that is not relevant to the topic, nor do you want to sensationalise – leave that to the amateurs as that has no place in top-level, professional content writing.