As a business owner you’re called on to manage a variety of tasks. Due to the importance of content, one of those tasks is writing. You have content to create. 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.
Good news! You don’t have to be a ‘writer’ to write good content for your website. There’s a difference between content published in newspapers and some magazines and content published on most websites. The content on your website doesn’t need to appeal to a broad audience. It also doesn’t need to be on a broad topic. Quite the opposite, actually. Your content will be quite specific.
A quick story about when I was in English Comp 101 in college. I barely got by in that class and I was convinced that I could not write. PERIOD. I persevered and pass the course only to have to take English Comp 102. I certainly was not looking forward to that class. Fortunately for me, I had a wonderful instructor that let me know that ‘formal’ writing was not the only way to write. Writing in a more conversational mode is acceptable in many cases. I think if it was not for her, I am not sure where I would be on the web since a lot of what I do is writing!
Back to the important stuff.. Your content will be quite specific. For example, it could be “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 it. The information is already inside of you.
Web content is also more conversational. Content is written to feel personal – as if you’re speaking to your audience. You’ll use words like:
- You
- Your
- You’ll
- You’re
- And sometimes if you’re writing a blog post you’ll use ‘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 more formal. 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. You:
- 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.
Absolutely. There is a vast chasm between my vernacular when I wrote my thesis and my textbooks, my reports to clients (and among clients, where different styles work), my blog, and my comments on blogs like yours. I do admit that the intellectual snob in me Wil not permit grammatical errors or laxity, but that’s just me.
I try my best… and I am sure I can do better; I hope you do not cringe when you read my writing, Roy!
One phrase that I write about a lot is asking people about gratitude on one of my other sites. Grammatically speaking, the question is correct as, “For what are you grateful?” yet to most people, it sounds a little, off. However, when I ask the grammatically incorrect question, “What are you grateful for?” it sounds easier.
This is all excellent advice.
I have a tendency to type first and format later. Formatting first and filling in seems more efficient and will help stay on task.
It is a personal preference – some folks like it this way, while other like it the other way! Glad I could point out a different way fro you to try, Kandas!
Writing and editing use different parts of your brain. I’ve learned to write first and get out everything I want to say, then go back and edit…rearranging as necessary, doing spell check and grammar proofing once I have my thoughts on paper. However, I know others who work best editing as they go along. It’s all a matter of preference and what works for you.
I love using bullet points/lists when blogging. As a reader I prefer to get to the point first. If the post holds my interest I am more likely to seek out more details once it’s ‘grabbed’ me. I remember my high school teacher telling us the way to write an essay was to “tell ’em what you’re going to tell ’em; tell them; then tell ’em what you told ’em”. 馃檪
I couldn’t have said it better, Cindy! I think the best thing to do is try a little bit of everything and see what works the best for you! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this information. I thought I had lost my mind when I signed up to do a blog challenge not having a blog and not being a writer but now I see what a blessing it will be and how much I can learn. Thanks for hosting the challenge as well.
Having a blog has nothing to do with “being a writer.” If you can speak and be understood, that will suffice to get your point across. In fact, some blogs are audio blog where there is an audio recording as the content. And then, there is also the Vlog – a video blog where you talk into the camera and post that!
Thanks for being a part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge
A great post and a very good distinction. Even i am not a writer but I am very good in conversations so I started my blog. My closed group of readers really. Like my style Of writing. Thanks for sharing
It is always nice to get confirmation of what you are doing is correct, acceptable, and overall, OK! Thanks, Richa – keep it up!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so very much for sharing this with us. I am not a writer and like you said, I did not think I could write either.
I think that if I just write as I talk, I should be fine. This is really a big relief!
Thanks! You are my new BFF!
I am glad this works for you, Karen! Just get in the habit of writing like you speak, and all should be fine! Thanks for stopping by!
great advice, different writing has a different tone, most bloggers write as they would speak.
There are some more technical and formal sites out there, but for the most part, you will be safe writing in a conversational tone. Thanks!
Hi Paul,
Just this bit – Your content will be quite specific – makes writing a little easier. Also, helps to sometimes use the same content in the point of view of different audiences.
Thank you.
Keeping on topic and in your niche will make your site more cohesive as well. Thanks, Anurag!