When you own a business, especially when you are a solo-entrepreneur, you find yourself taking on many roles and managing all kinds of different tasks. And, because online content is so very important, unless you've been ignoring it, you're probably the one taking on the role of content “writer.” Why? Because someone's got to create that content. This can be a scary and potentially overwhelming concept. Many people fear writing or put it off because they don't consider themselves to be “writers.”
But here's some good news! You don't have to be a “writer” to produce good, effective content for your website. There's a difference between content published in newspapers and magazines and the type of content published on most websites. The content on your website doesn't need to appeal to a broad audience. and it also doesn't need to be covering a broad topic. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The content that you produce for your website, blog, or in social media ought to be quite specific.
Your content should be about the things you're an expert in… and the things your audience wants to know.
For example, if you're in the baking niche, you could have an article about “ten tips to bake better chocolate chip cookies.” It provides value to a very specific target audience. And if you have a website about chocolate chip cookies or baking, then you can write this article without thinking much about it. You know the topic. The information is already inside of you.
Web content is also more conversational. Content online works best when it feels personal – so it's okay to write in the same way you might talk to someone. You'll use words like:
– You
– Your
– You'll
– You're
– And sometimes if you're writing a blog post you'll find yourself using “I,” “Me,” and “We.”
These are not words you'll find in any piece of journalism unless they're in quotes. Newspapers and magazines are generally far more formal than websites. They use third person perspective.
Additionally, web content is formatted for easy reading. You'll use bullet points, numbers and headings and subheadings to break up your content into bite-sized pieces. So what does all this mean if you're not a “writer?”
It means that writing content for your website is pretty straightforward. Basically, you just…
– Write what you know and what your audience will benefit from
– Write conversationally
– Write so it's easy to read online
The simplest method to use when you're writing your online content is to spend a few minutes creating the structure for your article. Write a rough headline and subheadings. Then fill in the content. Write it as if you're writing a letter to a friend. Don't worry about grammar and spelling on the first draft. You can go back and edit for clarity later.
Once you have your thoughts down on paper, polish. Add your keywords in to optimize for the search engines and publish it. Test and track your articles and content to evaluate what content your readers respond to. With a little confidence and a plan, you can write content to build and grow your business.
You Content Creation Bonus
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If you recognize the importance that solid content marketing can play in growing your business online, The Compelling Content Checklist can help you get there faster and smarter. It's a short, simple, and proven formula to help you create good, original content for blogs, social media posts, and even YouTube, each and every day in less than 20 minutes. When you download your free copy right here, you'll discover just how simple and efficient great content creation can be.