For what seems like forever, written communication has served as one of the ultimate forms of expression. Whether it’s Edmund Spener’s The Faerie Queene or a BuzzFeed article to help you determine which Stranger Things character you are, writing is a necessary art form and one we interact with daily. But writing isn’t as simple as putting words to paper.
As far as modern marketing and copywriting are concerned, more goes into writing than ever. A writer’s job is demanding between implementing the best SEO practices, battling against a plethora of competitors, and keeping up with rapidly evolving trends. Moreover, anything else, you still need to create compelling content that audiences will want to engage with regularly.
Staying humble and honing your craft are musts, and there are always ways to improve your writing. Being open to new ideas and putting in the time to practice is essential if you want better interaction with your content. Thankfully, improvement is easy when you have the right tools for success.
This brief guide will examine tips, tricks, and tools you can use to improve your writing immediately. Read on to learn more!
Use a Word Counting Tool
Knowing when to keep things short and create longer written copy can be tricky, especially when reaching an audience. Many algorithms factor the length of search phrases to determine what results to serve. By that same train of thought, longer written copy is also analyzed through various factors.
Sometimes if a headline is too long, or if you do not have enough written content in the body of your copy, you will rank less effectively. Using a word counting tool is recommended for any type of writing. These tools help you understand how long your copy is to determine if the content needs to be condensed or more elaborate. Luckily, most writing software has a built-in “word count” feature, so access is generally straightforward.
However, some tools like Word Counter are even more effective. This tool functions as a word count and inspects your content to provide crucial web ranking and analytics information.
Always Peer Review Your Content
One of the easiest and best ways to improve your writing is peer review. This practice is when you and your team read through each other’s content, looking for errors, clarity, tone, and more. Peer review is a simple practice that all writing professionals should follow closely.
Another set of eyes goes a long way, and because we often fall into unique habits with our writing, peer review helps keep things fresh and flowy.
Learn SEO and Other Best Practices
When it comes to modern writing, SEO is king. SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization and is essentially a form of internet magic in less technical terms. In actuality, SEO is the practice of optimizing your content for search engines, which by extension, helps your content rank and show up quicker when people search for something specific.
Many factors go into the full scope of SEO, and most writers are not involved in or responsible for the entirety of its utilization. However, it is not necessarily difficult to understand SEO at a basic level and incorporate it into your writing.
While someone else might be responsible for keyword research and acquisition, web ranking analysis, and sourcing reliable links, taking that info and using it for your writing is relatively simple. Oftentimes, SEO writing at its foundation involves incorporating specific words and phrases into your content, improving web ranking.
Take the Time to Step Away
Like any creative process, writing takes time and requires dedicated attention. Focusing on something under a microscope can cause tunnel vision, leading to sloppiness or monotonous writing.
To the best of your ability, start early on projects and give yourself enough wiggle room to walk away from your content for a few hours or a day. Having space and coming back in with fresh eyes is highly advantageous for writing. You will often find ways to improve your content — a short break is usually enough to break up any feeling of monotony.
Read a Lot and Stay Inspired
Writing is forever evolving and, as such, requires that you remain up to date with modern practices and trends. To stay up to date, you’ll need to read various content and stay involved as much as possible.
Reading and staying inspired can be a massive help concerning your writing. Lack of inspiration leads to stale content and also means you’re less likely to enjoy writing. Remaining exposed to many sources and reading regularly can improve your writing, as you never know where you’ll take inspiration from next.
Closing Thoughts
You should always strive to be the best possible writer, especially if it is your passion. The most important thing you can do is consistently practice and incorporate writing into your daily routine.
In addition to consistency, finding tools and tricks that work for you will help keep your writing polished.
