If you love writing, the online space, and want the freedom to create your own schedule, you probably want to become a professional content writer. However, content writing is a relatively new addition to the job market, and it might be difficult to understand what route you should take to become one. Don’t worry, though, while it’s true that everyone has their own path, there are some steps you can take to enter this exciting professional career.
Write, Write, and Write Some More
If you want to become a content writer, of course, you need to write. Like any other craft, writing requires time and practice to develop. Therefore, there’s no better way to learn it than doing it daily. The best advice we can give you is to start a personal blog. Choose one subject that you’re crazy about, and just write about it. A few web hosts let you setup a site for free such as WordPress or Blogger, enabling you to write and publish your work without needing to invest.
Besides improving your writing, having your own blog will help you further down the line when looking for a job as a content writer. Most companies will ask you for writing samples and if you already have a blog with published articles, you can send links to your best work to show off your skills.
Join a Community
Writing is great, but it’s essential to read tons of content as well. What better way to have daily fresh content to read than joining a community of bloggers that love the same things as you? From fashion to finance, there’s a community for everyone. Of course, you won’t be copying the exact writing style of your favorite content writer. However, through research, you’ll start to learn different styles of writing and then you can slowly integrate them into your work, making your writing richer and better overall.
By joining a community, you’ll also build a network. Such connections are extremely important for various reasons, one of them being access to new opportunities. Collaborations, guest posts, or even writing for a bigger website, the options are limitless. All of them will get you out of your comfort zone, translating into growth and more confidence as a content writer.
Online Courses
There are a couple of degrees that are perfect for people who dream of being content writers such as English or Marketing. However, if you’re looking for a career change and the time for going to university is long gone, there are ways to learn content writing online. There are even ways to learn it for free with platforms like SkillShare, HubSpot, and Udemy.
It’s vital to take into consideration that content writers do more than just writing. Most likely, when you get a job as a content writer, you’ll also be drafting your own articles. Therefore, it’s important to have some knowledge of SEO and HTML. Don’t get scared, though, you’re not going to design websites, so the basics are more than enough.
Tools to Improve Writing
When you’re working as a content writer, it’s almost certain that an editor will be reviewing your work. This is perfect since they’ll point out your errors and explain how to correct them. However, while on the path to becoming a content writer, who is going to edit your work (besides yourself)? Probably no one. Fortunately, there are some tools to help us.
Grammarly is an excellent example of that. Through meticulous proofreading and descriptions of your mistakes, it shows you where you need to improve. Of course, these tools are not as great as a human editor, but in the lack of one, it’s your best option.
It Takes Time, But It’s Worth It
If you are looking for a career change, it’ll take time and effort to get a job as a professional content writer. However, if writing is your passion and you want a daily outlet to fulfill your creative needs, it’s definitely worth it.
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