7 Ways to Take Your Writing from Yawn-Inspiring to Awe-Inspiring in a Few Seconds without an Editor
- Anne Marie Ianko
- Sep 13, 2016
- 4 min read
If you are like most content writers, chances are that you know just how frustrating it can be to get stuck on a headline for a very important piece or waste valuable hours of sleep trying to figure out what topics you should expand on next, in order to keep your readers on your side.
So what exactly should you do, when no amount of coffee could keep you awake like a pending deadline does? How could you write better onsite and offsite content when you can’t afford to add a great editor or content manager to your small team of creative minds?
You do what you can, with what you already have, and focus on becoming an even more successful all-in-one content creation guru. OK, so how do you do that?
7 Steps to Take to Become a Truly Inspiring Writer without an Editor on Board
While there is no secret tried and true recipe for success that you should apply to make your articles and blog posts seem more appealing in the eyes of your audience, there are a few simple and effective strategies that you could employ to elevate the quality of your writing in no time.
Craft a More Compelling Story Introduced via a Magnetic Headline. Start by figuring out what you should write about. Choose a subject that is compatible with your interests and business profile, and also manages to address the curiosities of your public. Craft a compelling story around your brand, and make it about your readers. Before actually putting meat on the bones of your content piece, come up with an attention-grabbing headline that is tantalizing enough to make your readers stay on your page and read the whole body copy. Avoid writing headlines that are too vague or too specific to harness the interest of your audience and feed their curiosity.
Start a Meaningful Conversation with Your Readers. Next, strive to create a solid bond with the people who visit your blog or website by begging your piece with an important question. Questions invite people to meditate on ideas that could change their lives for the best, and also give you, as a writer, the perfect opportunity to add your thoughts and maintain a fruitful dialogue with your public.
Write with Your CTAs in Mind. Instead of letting your words flow freely, write with your specific purpose in mind. What kind of actions do you wish to drive through your content piece? Start by writing down a part of your desired outcome. By doing so, you could craft a more specific, action-inducing post, instead of creating a piece that is overly metaphorical and exploratory. Start the piece with a short introduction focused on the main pain points; continue by adding background information; develop a framework announcing possible solutions to the problems experienced by your readers; then draw the necessary conclusions by presenting the pros and cons of your preferred solution and encourage your audience to take action.
Expand on Topics That You Are Familiar with (and Passionate about) and Get Specific. Making small talk with your readers is never a good idea, considering that most of your public is looking for quality problem-solving writing on your website. This is why you should always write your posts with the specific needs and demands of your readers in mind. Use a series of online tools such as Blog Topics Generator or Evernote to find inspiration for your next article or blog post, and organize and store your ideas in a more efficient way.
Also, keep in mind that we are all different, and don’t hesitate to get very specific and let your readers know exactly how you do things. Write about things that you are really good at; this way, you will manage to answer any potential question on to the core of your piece, surprise your audience with the best solutions to any subject-relayed problem, and establish yourself as an industry expert.
Make Sure Your Writing Alternates between Third, Second and First Person. Also, keep in mind that your writing should reflect the perfect balance between first and third person. Opt for a smooth transition from the “I” statements, which allow the reader to become familiar with your own experiences and learn from them, to second and third person narrative, meant to help you create empathy and present a scene that will interest the readers, from the perspective of a neutral observer, encouraging your audience to respond to your calls to action.
Incorporate Links to Your Favorite Sources. Believe it or not, no one expects you to reinvent the wheel while promoting your business via informative, engaging articles and blog posts. As a matter of fact, by adding links to your content pieces, you could highlight the fact that you are producing high-quality, well-researched and well-rounded content, and boost the credibility of your website.
Rewrite the Begging and the End of Your Piece. Moreover, strive to become your own editor. Reread your work to eliminate fluff and reword certain sections that provide little to no value to your readers. After finishing the last sentence of your body copy, try to summarize and rewrite the beginning and the end. By doing so, you could keep the intro short and sweet, make the CTAs more noticeable and effective, and gain the appreciation of readers with a short attention span.
Practice What You Preach Often to Exceed Your Own Efforts as a Writer
At the end of the day, becoming a better writer is a perfectly achievable goal, especially when your personalized recipe for success involves consistency and practice. Writing is so much more than a method to generate and share life-changing ideas. As an invaluable communication tool, your written content pieces allow you to bridge any gap between your brand and your audiences. Given that the stake is so high, choose to redirect all your resources towards a process of self-discovery and self-improvement to reestablish yourself as an industry leader through your stellar content.
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