A content writer is a writer who specializes in planning, producing, and editing written content for websites and other digital marketing purposes. The content is created to be relevant, engaging, and informative for the audience perusing the site. A content writer produces high-quality work in a variety of formats and which often contain keywords aimed to enhance the website’s SEO (search engine optimization). The main goal of the work that a content writer produces is to inform the audience.

What kind of content?

• Articles
• Blog posts
• Webpages
• Headlines
• Social media posts
• Email newsletters
• Video and audio scripts
• Descriptions of other content such as videos
• Reports
• And more

A good content writer will have a strong understanding of the purpose of a specific type of content in order to produce high-quality work that engages the audience that it is targeted towards.

What skills are needed?

Content writers wear many hats. Not only writers, they are also researchers, SEO experts, editors, and designers. To succeed in all of these roles, content writers are required to have a variety of skills.

• Conduct research quickly and effectively 
• Adapt to different styles and formats of writing
• Adapt writing to different tones or voices to reach specific audiences
• Strong understanding of grammar and spelling conventions
• Time management to meet deadlines
• Understanding of various social media
• Attention to detail for editing and other nuance work

How to get started?

If you have not done any content writing previously, make sure to highlight your current writing skills on your resume/CV, such as written language skills, grammar, or editing skills. Mention any blog writing you have done, even if it is a personal blog.

A way to get your foot in the door is to either apply to a content writing services company or operate as a freelancer. Freelancers often find work through job boards or websites where they are able to bid on a contract for a content writing job that a company or an individual has posted. Competing with the plethora of freelancers may be difficult when starting out, but as a portfolio of successful work is developed, it gets easier.


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