For Marketing Leaders
The following 20 tips guarantee to make you a better website content writer. Especially if you are a beginner.
Remember, website content writing is as crucial as the design and development of a website. It is the main reason for people to visit your site and a key factor to rank you higher on Google search engine.
Writing well is not enough, you need a strategy. A plan to organise and create your content piece from start to finish. From having an intriguing heading that grabs your readerās attention, to providing information that satisfies their search intent.Ā Ā
Great website content must also be suitable both for your viewers and search engines. Itās a balance of both elements, which require approximately the same amount of work.Ā
There are many other articles, blog posts and videos out there. An absolute saturated sea of information. So, how do you stand out, find your voice and attract viewers to your website?Ā
The answer to this question is not straight forward, but here are some powerful tips that will boost your game plan.
20 Powerful Tips for Writing Excellent Website Content
When creating a website, one of your top prioritiesĀ is to writeĀ engaging and readableĀ content.Ā To help fine-tune your style here are 20Ā powerfulĀ tips that you canāt afford to skip.
Apply these tips and your content will be optimised to drive more traffic to your website.
1. Be original and avoid plagiarism
Being unique may sound difficult with hundreds of articles already present online on similar topics. Copying text from other sites can be tempting, why go through all the trouble if someone already has what you want.Ā
You can use others work for inspiration and even direction but you must add your own twist to it. Copying directly will result in your site getting penalized or rated poorly by search engines. Spend extra time developing original content.Ā Ā
Remember there is no such thing as original, all the information you see out there has been based on preceding content/s. Just like new publications the reference dozens of other papers.
Some apps that can help includeĀ Copyscape,Ā DuplicheckerĀ andĀ 1text,Ā that are used to confirm the originality of your content.Ā
QuillBotĀ is great for paraphrasing and helping reword paragraphs you are struggling with.Ā
2. Use an intriguing headline
TheĀ headlineĀ determinesĀ whether your audience will read the rest ofĀ your work. A boring headline does not sparkĀ interest, curiosity, orĀ emotion. No one clicks on a boring headline.Ā
Getting peopleās attention through copywriting and intriguing headings is a key skill of a website content writer.Ā
3. Do your research extensively
You must haveĀ goodĀ knowledgeĀ ofĀ the topicĀ you are talking about. Strive to include data andĀ statisticsĀ to support yourĀ claims.Ā ResearchĀ isĀ vital,Ā as itĀ gives you an upper hand overĀ others.Ā Dig deep to get the bestĀ information about theĀ latestĀ trendsĀ or newsĀ toĀ makeĀ your reportĀ more relevant and valuable.
4. Avoid long paragraphs, sentences and complex words
Try to keep paragraph length to 3-5 lines and write short sentences (11-18 words). It makes your text understandable and readable to an average person.Ā Ā Ā
Complex words and high-level writing may impress some people. But most people will get annoyed and will stop reading your content. Also, try to write to people who have no prior knowledge about the subject topic.
5. Utilize bullet points, sub-headings and numbered lists
Try to keep paragraph length to 3-5 lines and write short sentences (11-18 words). It makes your text understandable and readable to an average person.Ā Ā Ā
Complex words and high-level writing may impress some people. But most people will get annoyed and will stop reading your content. Also, try to write to people who have no prior knowledge about the subject topic.Ā
6. Understand your target audience
By knowing more about your audience, you will be better equipped to writeĀ for them.Ā AlwaysĀ keep yourĀ audienceĀ and their needs/questionsĀ in mindĀ while writing.Ā You can investigate what people are asking about onĀ AnswerthePublic.com
7. Use an outline
Have an organized ideaĀ of yourĀ writing for each webĀ page.Ā The quality of your content will increase ifĀ you planĀ and organize it in a structured manner that is easy to follow.
8. Talk to your readers like a friend
Talking to your readers like your friend creates a bond. You can use techniques such as:Ā
- Direct addressing with words like āyouā and āweāĀ
- Active voice to sound more personalĀ
- Making jokesĀ
- Painting a scenarioĀ
9. Avoid repetition
Readers visit your websiteĀ to learnĀ from theĀ things you post. They donāt want to keepĀ seeing and reading the sameĀ thing whenĀ they want to learn something new.Ā
10. Avoid Punctuation, Spelling, and Grammar Errors
Bad grammar can put offĀ readers. Your content should beĀ free from any form of errors.Ā AppsĀ likeĀ GrammarlyĀ are availableĀ to check yourĀ spellingĀ and correct anyĀ grammatical blunder orĀ improperĀ use of punctuation marks.
11. Stick to the point and focus
There is an ocean of information out there, so you need to stick out. Identify the key message you want to convey; it will keep you from losing your flow halfway through the post. Donāt write to hit a particular word count.Ā
Keep yourself away from distractions to stay focused. There are several methods available to increase creativity while writing and minimize distractions.Ā
12. Add visuals
People tend to remember what they seeĀ more quicklyĀ than what they read. AddingĀ images or videosĀ to yourĀ write-up can grabĀ peopleās attention and make themĀ betterĀ understandĀ the message.Ā Websites likeĀ Pexels,Ā Unsplash, andĀ PixabayĀ contain freeĀ legal imagesĀ that can suit your content.Ā
A professional website content writer knows how to find images that complement their content.
13. Use Calls-To-Actions (CTAs)
A CTA tells your readers what they need to do, it can be aĀ sign up,Ā shop now or any otherĀ graphic thatĀ encourages a reader toĀ take action.Ā Great content without aĀ clearĀ CTAĀ is notĀ effectiveĀ as theĀ websiteās primaryĀ purposeĀ isĀ toĀ lead the visitor toĀ some form ofĀ action.Ā
14. Use creative anchor texts
If you want your readers toĀ click on a link within your content, donāt just insert theĀ link.Ā BeĀ creative;Ā useĀ an anchor textĀ that is invitingĀ and fits naturallyĀ into the content.Ā
15. Write with a unique voice
The contentĀ created forĀ aĀ website isĀ the voiceĀ of the companyĀ and should portray its personalityĀ and nature. TheĀ toneĀ of your writingĀ must align with the targetĀ audience and brand goals.Ā Ā
16. Build a social/online presence
The mantra ofĀ an excellent content writer is beingĀ friendlyĀ andĀ socially active. Develop yourĀ relationships with peopleĀ andĀ expertsĀ via social media. Pitching your ideas on social networksĀ connectsĀ you to peopleĀ inĀ yourĀ niche andĀ helps youĀ gain more knowledge.Ā
17. Prioritize adding value to your readers
ReadersĀ usuallyĀ wantĀ to gain knowledgeĀ andĀ seekĀ answers from the content they consume.Ā It is crucialĀ toĀ add value to your readers by providing meaningful and factual content.Ā
18. Optimize your content
Optimizing yourĀ content increases your content visibility on search engines.Ā Avoid keyword stuffingĀ andĀ includeĀ relevant keywordsĀ in titles and sub-headings.Ā Make sure you checkĀ our article onĀ SEO for beginnersĀ if you are just starting out.
19. Know your competitors
Doing some research onĀ yourĀ competitorās websiteĀ is an excellent way to identify trendsĀ and get ahead of the game.Ā Check their site ranking andĀ investigate theĀ services and productsĀ they offer.Ā
20. Review your content
After writingĀ content, it is essentialĀ to review and editĀ yourĀ work. You can do thisĀ byĀ readingĀ through it,Ā lookingĀ for any errorsĀ orĀ missingĀ information, and polishing the rough edges of your writing.
