Caffeinated Content: 10 Ways to Become a Better Writer
By: Jazelle Handoush
Tags: Writing, Marketing Tips, Content Writing, Marketing, Writing Tips

Espresso-self (sorry guys, I had to) and add an extra shot of awesome to your content with these 10 tips to become a better writer.

Photo by Fahmi Fakhrudin on Unsplash

Struggling to get the crystal clear thoughts in your head onto the page, only for it to come out a jumbled mess? Hey, don’t sweat it; you’re not the only one. In fact, about 44% of marketers say content production, including writing, is their biggest struggle.

For marketers, writing is an essential skill. Strong copywriting can engage potential customers and spark excitement for your product or service. As a result, it can also improve sales.

Not to mention it’s kind of an important part of SEO.

Without it, your website will become stagnant. You’ll end up posting boring photos and boomerangs on Instagram just to push out content. Customers could stop caring, leading your sales to take a hit.

With these 10 tips to become a better writer, you can boost your website ranking, social media engagement, and more!

So let’s get typing about it.

1. Read Everything, Always

Even Stephen King and JK Rowling will tell you this one. To become a better writer, you need to become a better reader, too.

Don’t restrict yourself to a certain genre. Read non-fiction and fantasy novels or the Daily Skimm’s quick-wit news.

Make sure to check blog posts and marketing materials from competitors in your industry, too. Then, keep an eye on how customers respond.

That way, you can learn a little from every writer around you to step up your game.

2. Develop Daily Habits

Once you start reading everything, you can get into writing a little of everything, too.

Set time in your daily schedule to write. Change it up each day with a different type of content. This can include:

Blog posts

Email blasts

Social media posts

Website content

PPC ads

Print material (flyers, brochures, billboards)

Stretch those writing muscles a little each day!

3. Know Your Audience

Remember who you’re writing for. Learning how to connect with your audience is a big step for you to become a better writer.

With each piece of content, focus on the writing’s purpose. Are you trying to engage readers on social media? For landing pages, maybe you’re trying to get them to complete a form.

Once you know your goal, you can focus your content around a single concept.

Make sure you don’t go heavy on the jargon, but don’t underestimate your readers, either.

Once you know who your target audience is, writing for them becomes a lot easier.

4. Triple Check

Just as you shouldn’t make assumptions about your audience, you shouldn’t with your content, either.

Triple check everything. This includes:

Facts

Names (no misspellings!)

Contact information (phone numbers, addresses, emails)

Job titles

Gender identification pronouns

As you’re fact-checking, you may even come across additional (or stronger) information to use within your content.

5. Short and Sweet

Don’t exhaust your readers before they’re even through the first sentence.

Instead, keep your sentences and paragraphs short. This will improve your readability.

Plus, it plays a part in improving your SEO.

Aim for paragraphs with one to three sentences. Make sure to mix up the combination with each paragraph.

To check your readability, check out the Hemingway App.

6. Cut Improper Punctuation

Please. Don’t. Do. THIS!!!!!

Improper punctuation can change the entire meaning of a sentence. For example, “Let’s eat, Grandma,” and “Let’s eat Grandma!” can be the difference between a family dinner and family for dinner.

Yuck.

Check for missing (or overused) commas throughout your sentences. Ellipses should only be three dots long (…). Finally, cut back the exclamation points.

If your content is exciting, it will speak for itself.

7. Tap into Tools

I mentioned the Hemingway App earlier, but there are tons of tools online to help you become a better writer.

Here are a few to get you started:

However, these tools shouldn’t replace your very own brain! Self-proofread to make sure the content is exactly how you want it.

8. Drop Kick Unnecessary Words

Read through your content and check how many times you used the word “that.”

Then remove it from each sentence. Does the content still make sense?

“That” is pretty much the “um” of writing. Cut it out when you can to clean up your sentences.

“Very” and “so” are two other words you can drop kick out of here.

9. Read It Back

Once your brand new content is written and reviewed, read it again.

Mix it up. After writing the piece and reading it once, your brain might complete the sentences for you. To avoid that, read aloud, word by word.

You can also flip your content. Start from the last paragraph and work your way up so your memory doesn’t fill in the blanks.

That way, you can ensure there aren’t any mistakes before it heads out to readers.

10. Ask About It

To become a better writer, you need to keep improving a little every day.

The previous nine tips are a great start, but that’s not the only way to learn. Speak with other bloggers, marketers, and copywriters. Learn from the best to become the best.

Show them your writing and ask what they would do to improve it. A little advice can go a long way.

You can even ask your audience what they want from your content. That way, you’re providing unique material that’s relevant to what your readers need.

Love it a Latte: 10 Ways to Become a Better Writer

With these 10 tips to become a better writer, you can espresso-self (sorry guys, I had to) and add an extra shot of awesome to your content.

Reach new customers, engage your current audience, and boost sales with these copywriting tips.

Ready to get typing about it? Comment below about how you plan on giving your marketing that espresso-charged copywriting!