As writers, our skills are crucial to a business. With AI writing tools dominating the industry news, it is becoming more important to improve our content writing. We know AI won’t replace a good writer anytime soon – so let’s look at the small ways you can improve your writing skills.
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Read more
To become a better writer, it is not surprising that reading will help. Surround yourself with different materials – novels, news articles, or blog posts. Indulge in different genres and formats in order to get a firmer grasp of your own style and writing for different audiences.
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Further your knowledge
To upskill, it is vital to keep up to date with industry trends. Stay updated with the latest tools, and what media your audience is currently consuming. You can avoid falling behind in various ways – following relevant people on LinkedIn, reading company blogs, and listening to podcasts and webinars.
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Write for your target audience
It is essential you research your target market and know how to market to your audience. Know the basics – their age, location, and gender. Then learn their hobbies and interests, and their problems and desires. Provide solutions to their problems, and show how your brand benefits them.
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Split up your content with headings and visuals
An exciting hook for your headline is important to your content, plus splitting up your content with headings and subheadings will improve readability. Don’t forget to include visuals to help the flow of your content and support your message.
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Use examples
Similarly, back up your content with examples, whether you use images, real-world case studies, or quotes and testimonials. Avoid empty statements that have no substance – make sure to show your reader how your brand can benefit their life, and why they should listen.
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Get a second perspective to look over your work
Another pair of eyes may see things you have missed that you can take on for the future. Even the most obvious of mistakes can be missed when you have looked at your work so many times. As well as spotting typos or grammatical errors, ask your reader to advise on any stylistic choices or if you can improve readability.
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Take breaks
As with all professions, breaks are vital to delivering your best performance. There are many different writing routines – from writing in 15-minute sprints or writing when creative inspiration strikes. Evaluate if your writing habits are the best for you and if you have accounted for genuine breaks that help you come back to work refreshed.
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Read aloud
Just like it’s important to have another person glance at your work, reading aloud is also an effective way to spot mistakes and check readability. There are plenty of text-to-speech tools out there if you’d prefer not to read aloud, but still want to hear your work.
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Plan and structure
You may already outline your work before diving straight in – however, it’s worth reviewing how you can plan better. Look into how you structure your work and see if this helps you in the long run. Investigate different copywriting structures and formulas, and see which one you can apply or adapt to your own work.
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What’s the purpose?
When you are writing or editing your work, always have the question on your mind: what is the purpose of this copy? Why should the reader care? Earlier we mentioned the importance of researching your audience – once you have worked out your reader’s problems or desires, use this information for your content to serve a purpose.
Creating great content takes time and practice, plus the high competition in content marketing means your work needs to stand out now more than ever. Take on our advice above and let your content writing flourish!
For more marketing advice, read another of our helpful articles on the It Works Media blog. Alternatively, contact us today to find out how we can help you with your next marketing strategy.