1. Read More

Read often, and read different types of content. Making a habit of reading will expose you to different styles of writing and ways of structuring your content, which will benefit your own pieces. Read content from different brands and media publications you’re interested in or that are related to your industry, and consider setting up Google Alerts for the topics you write about.

Monitoring your competitors and other industry leaders is also a good idea. After all, analyzing your competition can help boost your own content marketing, as this guide demonstrates.

2. Write Every Day

Every craft takes practice to become truly proficient, and writing is no exception. Unless you are one of a few very fortunate people, you will not become an award-winning author by accident. One top writing tip is simply to write as regularly as you can.

Writing every day does not mean churning out thousand-word-long articles. If you want to become a better writer, a great way to get going is to write just a little, but often. It can provide a ton of practice while you’re waiting for your workload to pick up.

3. Get a Clear Brief

Whether you are writing for your own company or you work for someone else, a clear brief is key to good writing. The brief needs to firmly lay out what is expected from the piece.

4. Know Your Audience and Use the Right Tone

It’s crucial to be in tune with your target audience. You’ll need to focus on what issues are key to them and which topics they will want to read about. It is also important to communicate using the words and voice familiar to that audience via the websites and apps they like to use. Make sure all your articles are written in the voice appropriate for the intended audience.

5. Research Your Topic

Before putting pen to paper, you should research your topic carefully. Depending on the subject, you might spend anywhere from 15 minutes to several months diving into your topic.

If you’re new to the research process, these resources can help you get comfortable: 

  • CORE is an open-access database of scholarly articles you can use to create informed writing topics 
  • GanttPRO gives you access to Gantt chart templates so you can keep your research tidy and organized 
  • Mendeley is a fantastic resource if you need to track and cite sources in your work 
  • Topic Research is a tool that can help you quickly learn about the most popular subtopics, questions, searches, and headlines related to your focus topic.

 Remember that the goal of your research should be to identify your piece's primary purpose and ensure you answer all questions your audience has in relation to the topic.

6. Analyze Search Intent

Search intent is the purpose of a user’s search. In other words, it’s the reason why people Google a specific phrase. For example, it can be because they are looking to buy something, find a place, or get an answer to a question. Analyzing search intent can be beneficial for writers creating organic content.

Start by typing your topic (or keyword) in Google. Then, analyze the content that appears on the first page.

Look at the following:

  • Type of search intent (e.g. are they looking to buy or to get information)
  • Headlines and their main focus
  • Structure of content (e.g. listicles, how-to guides, and short-form articles)
  • Questions and subtopics covered in the piece
  • Tone in writing (e.g. casual and friendly or professional and serious)
  • Target audience (e.g. does the piece target beginners or pro users)

In other words, these articles are for people who are not familiar with the topic and want to learn what is revenue operations and whether they need it in their companies.

7. Think About Structure

You might have an incredible command of the language, but if your structure doesn’t make sense, your message might seem unclear and confusing. Order information logically, leading the reader through your arguments or ideas point by point. 

First, the reader can immediately skip to the section of the article that they need via hyperlinks in the introduction. From there, each paragraph packs a punch. They are short, informative, and supported by images and video.

8. Pay Attention to Your Introduction and Summary

Understanding the reader’s motivations and ensuring that each section of your article has a purpose will make your piece more engaging and help you become a better writer overall.

9. Tell Your Story and Build a Narrative

Storytelling is an engaging way to hook your readers right from the start of an article or piece of copywriting. It helps the reader understand why something is important and how it relates to their situation.

In a couple of paragraphs, share your customers’ problems or challenges and how they worked hard to overcome them. Then step outside of the anecdote and relate it directly to the reader. Alternatively, dot quick sentences throughout your copy or article to share real experiences.

10. Keep It Readable, Simple, and Short

You might like to wax lyrical, but that does not mean your would-be audience wants to read it. Like simplicity, brevity is key to good writing. Emily Newton-Smith, Growth Marketing Manager at Otta, recommends one exercise where writersremove as many words from a sentence as possible. Afterward, it should all still make sense. 

Such advice is similar to one of author George Orwell’s six rules of writing: “Never use a long word where a short one will do,” Orwell said. “If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.”