If improving your writing skills is one of your goals for 2022, then you’ve come to the right place.

Content writing is an essential asset to have in your marketing strategy. It is low-cost and can greatly increase your brand awareness.

Whether it’s for a blog, article, or e-book, there’s always room to step up your game. So let’s help you cross out one New Year’s resolution off your list.

Why is content writing important?

The power of content writing is undeniable. They drive web traffic, increase credibility, boost sales conversions, and most importantly, strengthen relationships with customers. That last one is what sets it apart from other forms of marketing because of the long-term benefits it can have.

Content writing focuses on making connections with the reader and sharing information that people will find valuable. Each piece of content should educate and answer any questions that the reader may have. 

Because your content helped them find what they need, they’ll leave with a positive impression of your brand. They see that you are a trustworthy business and are more likely to invest in you.

So when you write, think with the mindset of customer-first and how you could be of service to them.

12 tips to improve your writing skills

Whether you’re new or experienced, it always helps to find the best way to communicate your message to your audience. Here are 12 tips you can use to hone your writing skills.

Make an outline

Before getting started, it always helps to start with an outline. (If you’re not sure how to start, check out Grammarly’s guide to creating an outline.) They essentially act as a map or skeleton of your article. It’s the key to crafting a fluid and well-organized blog post. It’s also a way to ensure that your sections transition smoothly into one another.

Many people often skip this step as they just want to start writing. But don’t underestimate an outline. It can save you time in your writing process.

Write in active voice

In active voice, the subject carries out the action of the verb. As opposed to passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. When it comes to content writing, you want to communicate your message clearly and concisely.

Active voice is perfect for this because it is more direct. They help keep your sentences simple and succinct. It gets to the point fast without adding any fluff. Plus, it makes you sound less robotic and more personal and conversational. 

But, we’re not saying to avoid passive voice altogether. There are instances where it does work. If you feel a sentence is better off as passive voice, then trust your gut and leave it as is. No harm, no foul. But for the most part, you want to be using active voice.

Write Every Day

Practice makes perfect. Pretty cliche, but it’s true. 

Writing is a skill like any other, where the more work on it, the better you will get. Even the best writers do it, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.

So figure a time out of your day to write. It doesn’t even matter what you’re writing about – a journal entry or a short story – it all counts. 

Have fun with writing prompts

Warm-up with a quick writing activity to get the juices flowing. Step away from your required writing assignment and simply have fun with writing prompts. They’re a great exercise to get the mental muscles moving. 

These prompts are great because they allow you to write without boundaries or restrictions. It’s all about letting your creativity flow and write whatever comes to mind. As a bonus, you’ll leave the activity more excited and engaged.

You can find hundreds of writing prompts on Reedsy and Think Written.

More conversational, less formal

In the world of content writing, it’s all about building a connection with the reader. Nothing strengthens your relationship with the reader than writing in a conversational tone. They’re easier to understand, and it feels like they’re talking with a friend instead of reading a body of text. When you write in a conversational tone, it makes you sound more human and genuine.

Think about the interactions with your friends and how interesting they are when they tell it. That’s how you should approach content writing. Don’t look at it as writing for a broad audience. Look at it as if you’re speaking to one person.

So what are ways you can achieve a conversational tone? Here are a few ways.

Write like you talk

That’s right. It can really be that easy. In a casual conversation, you don’t talk like Socrates or Aristotle. So why should your content be? Remember to keep it simple. Keep it you.

A little trick that helps is to read your article aloud and hear how you sound. Does it sound like the way you talk to your friends? Does it sound like you?

Use contractions

Another way to sound more conversational is by using contractions – I’m, they’re, we’re, don’t, etc. It makes the reader feel more comfortable with you and your piece. Not using them will make you sound formal and rigid.

Keep it simple, avoid jargon

It’s paramount that you don’t obfuscate the reader, so keep your diction elementary and perspicuous. Did you understand any of that? No? Then it did its job. 

You’d think that using big, SAT vocabulary words would impress readers. In reality, makes you sound condescending and pretentious. On top of that, it creates a disconnect between you and the reader.

It’s also best to refrain from using too much jargon. You’re trying to explain your topic as straightforward as possible. Using too many industry-specific terms makes it more complicated.

To do this, you can use analogies or read them to a friend and see whether they understand the concept completely.

Let your personality shine

Writing is a lot more fun when you add your personality to it. People feel comfortable and can easily relate to you when you are yourself. Add some slang or funny phrases to add some pizzazz to your content. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable for both you and the reader.

Think people first

As a writer, you should always have a sense of empathy. They are reading your blog post because they want to learn about something. Make it easier for them to find what they’re looking for. You not only want them to have a positive reading experience but also leave with more answers than questions. 

As you’re writing, ask yourself these questions:

1. How can you make it easier for the reader to understand your topic?
2. Is this sentence confusing?
3. Did I explain this enough in simpler terms?
4. What other information could be relevant and beneficial?
5. What should they get out of this post?

Read!

Reading is an essential part of the game. A great way to learn good writing is to read good writing. This allows you to see various writing styles, different ways of communicating a message and learn new vocabulary.

So pick up a book or check out an article and study their style. 

Edit, edit again, and then edit some more

The editing process is where you truly get to see how you write. As you go back and proofread your work, you’ll be able to identify where you can make improvements. You’ll be able to see your typos and grammatical errors.

We know it’s tedious, but reading it over several times will help you see the flaws in your work. You can also listen to your work by converting your written text to audio using tools like Natural Readers, TTS Reader, and Voice Dream.

Bonus Tip: Have someone else read your work or get someone to write for you

It always helps to have a pair of fresh eyes look over your writing. Sometimes we may not see the mistakes in our own work, so it helps to have someone catch errors that we otherwise would have missed.

You can also hire a content agency to take over writing and managing your content. Check out People First Content, Brafton, or Dear Content.

Conclusion

Now you’re on your way to crafting the best piece of content for your readers. The more you write, the easier it will be to consistently create interesting, engaging content that people will find useful.