Are you considering entering the world of content writing? Whether looking for a career change or just exploring a new hobby, statistics show that content writing is a flexible and rewarding field. After spending years as a virtual assistant, I decided to dive into writing, and here are the five most important steps that are helping me as I get started.
Step 1: Understand what content writing is
Content writing involves creating informative, engaging, or persuasive pieces for blogs, websites, social media, and more. Content writing is everywhere, whether it's writing product descriptions or long-form articles. The good news? You don’t need formal qualifications to get started—just a passion for writing, curiosity, and the ability to research.
When I first started, I didn’t fully grasp how broad content writing could be. I had been exposed to writing tasks here and there as a virtual assistant—drafting emails or writing brief updates for clients’ blogs—but I didn’t realise the depth of the field.
What helped was taking time to read content from popular blogs, browsing company websites, and analysing the emails I was already receiving from my favourite brands. This helped me understand the different tones, structures, and goals of various types of content.
Take time to explore different types of content to see what you enjoy. Do you like writing short, snappy social media posts, or are you more into in-depth blog writing? Understanding the various forms of content will help you decide where to focus your efforts.
Step 2: Choose a niche
When I started, everyone seemed to be talking about the importance of choosing a niche. I heard advice like, “You need to specialise to stand out.” But honestly, I had no idea what my niche would be, and that felt overwhelming.
I thought about my past experiences. As a virtual assistant, I was pretty skilled in productivity hacks and time management. Plus, I’ve been an avid triathlete for years. I combined these two passions and began writing about fitness, wellness, and time management. This made the writing process more enjoyable and authentic because I could share personal insights and experiences.
But if you’re not sure what your niche is, don’t stress! You don’t have to commit to a niche from day one. It took me a lot of time experimenting with different topics, and the more I wrote, the clearer my niche became. Some of my best opportunities came from topics I hadn’t even considered initially.
Step 3: Start writing—just get words on the page
I remember the moment I decided to stop procrastinating and start writing. I had been thinking about content writing for weeks, reading guides, and researching, but I hadn’t written a single word. Then one day, over my morning coffee, I told myself, "Enough reading, it's time to write!"
My first piece wasn’t for a client or a big blog. It was a post on my personal blog about productivity tips for busy parents. I set a goal to write at least 500 words, and I just went for it. The draft wasn’t perfect, and I ended up rewriting half of it, but the sense of accomplishment from simply finishing my first piece was huge.
Looking back, I see how essential this step was. Don’t overthink it. Just start writing. Whether it’s on your blog, as a guest post, or even a mock article for practice, every piece of writing helps you get better. The more you write, the more confident you’ll become, and soon enough, you’ll have content ready for your portfolio.
Step 4: Learn SEO basics
If I’m being honest, SEO sounded like some sort of dark magic when I first heard about it. Terms like “keywords,” “meta descriptions,” and “backlinks” were foreign to me, and I felt a little lost. But I knew SEO was crucial if I wanted to turn this passion into a paying job.
One weekend, I took the plunge. I spent hours watching YouTube tutorials and diving into free online courses to learn the basics. I started by understanding how to pick keywords and structure my articles for search engines. I still remember practising by rewriting a listing description I made for a real estate agent I was working for, this time with proper SEO techniques, and it actually started getting more traffic. It was like a lightbulb moment—SEO wasn’t that scary after all!
Once I had a handle on the basics, I noticed a real improvement in my writing. Not only did my content become more visible, but it also started to resonate more with the audience because I was optimising it without sacrificing quality.
Step 5: Build a portfolio and start pitching
Once you’ve honed your writing skills, it’s time to put yourself out there. Create a portfolio showcasing your best work, even if it’s just a few samples. Quality matters more than quantity when you’re starting. If you don’t have paid projects, consider writing mock articles or contributing to blogs for free.
When I started building my portfolio, I hadn’t landed a client yet, and it felt a bit intimidating. To get started, I wrote a few mock articles on topics I enjoyed, like productivity and fitness, and offered to write free pieces for small blogs and local businesses like Write Wiser. This helped me build a collection of work that showed my skills.
Next, start pitching your services. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or ProBlogger are great places to start but don’t hesitate to reach out directly to companies or blogs. Confidence and persistence are key. Currently, I’m building my client base slowly by offering free samples, proving my worth, and eventually, getting paid projects.
By following these steps, you can kickstart your journey into content writing. It’s all about practice, learning, and consistently improving your craft. With time and patience, you can turn content writing into a fulfilling career or side gig.
Keep writing, stay curious, and embrace the process!
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