6 Basic Content Writing Mistakes to Avoid

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6 Basic Content Writing Mistakes to Avoid
Stefan Ivanovic

Article by

Stefan Ivanovic

Aug 7, 2018

Content writing is much more difficult that it seems. In order to get it right avoid these common mistakes.

Proclaiming yourself to be a content writer is not going to cut it! Sure, you have the desire to create valuable content but can you really do it?

If you want to avoid some of the simplest and most often mistakes made by content writer read on.

1. Content for Everyone

While you would like for your content to reach as many people as possible, most of the time it’s not possible to write content that everyone will read. The closest you can get in reaching ‘everyone’ is writing simple news, but then again that’s not the content creation you are after.

Simply focus on reaching some core audience that will find your writing helpful and that way you will have someone to directly address to and when reader’s needs are met, they will return to you for another or new reading.

2. Ignoring competition

When you are trying to establish yourself as an original content writer, the last thing you need is to copy someone else’s work. First of all, search engines will know! You will NOT be on the first search page regarding the topic an after that you may as well be on a page 100.

Check out how your competition is doing. What is their way of operating and reaching success and try to copy the model of their work - not the actual content.

3. Bad Headlines

If your headline doesn’t give the answer on what is inside the article no one is going to open it. At least, no one of value! Clickbait headlines can hurt your business, so keep away from those also.

This is where monitoring competition comes in handy. If you have a similar article in the works as they have previously published, you are in a position to craft something more compelling and engaging. Use this chance and you may even take a couple of their customers.

4. Typos

The last thing you need is writing directly on site and publishing your new work without reading it first. Or even reading it second and third time. It’s much more time consuming, it seems, but it’s a complete waste of time if you created a content that search engines will recognize as a mistake, because of your laziness to proofread.
Always plan proofreading into your working hours and make sure you got everything right.

5. No Visuals

You can write the best content in the world, but do you remember those books without photos you had to read at high-school? No one gladly reads a total black and white content, and these days the competition in any content writing is so high that people will just browse over the content. As soon as they see how boring it is they’ll avoid it. You must remember that a lot of content is informative these days and it’s not essential that people come to your page.

Keep some pictures, links or even videos inside that helpful content you are writing.

6. No Research

Skipping research will probably destroy your content writing career even before it started. Assuming you know best and not consulting multiple sources is a sin not easily forgiven in the world of content writing.

Open a hundred articles if you have to, read and to detailed research (depending on how deep you are exploring the topic) and make sure that you got all the facts right. Give credits to those whose work helped you create your own and possibly make business associates and expand your own business.

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALSO READ: 

UX Writing: The Ultimate Guide To User-Friendly Copy by Ferry Vermeulen from INSTRKTIV

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