Since the evolution of technology, the world of the internet has become a little too real for everyone. Businesses started to have an online image and for that, websites were created. A content writer is someone who creates content for web pages and spaces. If you are passionate about writing or someone who has always been the chosen one when flawless vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures were needed, then being a content writer can be the perfect job for you. Content, both visual and textual will continue to rule social media and different industries, so becoming a content writer is a sustainable career choice as well. So if you believe you can do thorough research, and explain a topic relentlessly, here is a complete guide on how you can become a content writer yourself. 

What is the job of a content writer? 

Before moving forward with how you can become one, let's understand the job role completely. A content writer is a professional who is responsible for crafting well-researched, informative, and engaging written content for different brands and organizations. They are in charge of conceptualizing, writing, and editing content like articles, blogs, emails, website copy, social media posts, product descriptions, etc. 

The typical responsibilities of a content writer include - 

1. Understanding target audience and content requirements
2. Conducting thorough research on assigned topics and subjects
3. Writing authentic, plagiarism-free, informative, and engaging content
4. Forming content using HTML tags, images, graphs, etc. as needed
5. Editing and proofreading the content before publishing
6. Ensuring the content is created using the best SEO techniques
7. Staying updated on the current trends to produce better content 

How to become a professional content writer? 

a)   Get a bachelor’s degree 

The first step is to get a bachelor's degree that helps you establish your writing capabilities and aids the work across niches. Having a degree will also help you with improving your research, writing, and especially with the communication skills needed for this job. The most-suited degrees for a content writer are a bachelor's in English Literature, Journalism, or Mass Communication, a bachelor's in creative writing or communication, a BBA for business content writing, or a B.Tech/BE for technical writing. 

b)   Develop writing skills

Several other segments require hard work to become a professional in the content writing field beyond formal education. You can choose to dedicate your time to improving grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. You can also learn different storytelling and writing styles along with practicing writing by maintaining a diary. You also need to get into the habit of reading regularly, whether it is a magazine, a newspaper, or blogs on the internet. These all will help you build proficiency in writing. 

c)    Gather formal writing training

If you are serious about getting into the field of content writing make sure you understand and learn about what the industry is like and what goes on regularly. To help understand the basics of the industry, you can join a content writing course. Through taking this course, you can gain the knowledge of optimized writing for SEO and content strategy, how to write and format blogs website copy, articles, press releases, etc. You will also learn how to craft content for social media posts and follow the trends, along with developing knowledge about brand storytelling. 

d)   Learn digital marketing basic 

The industries of content writing and digital marketing are interrelated which requires a content writer to have the basic knowledge of digital marketing as well. Start by taking a beginner-level digital marketing course that will include Search Engine Optimization, Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Ad platforms like Google/Facebook/Instagram Ads, Google Analytics, etc. Getting basic knowledge of these will help you craft more tailored content for digital and social media platforms. 

e)   Create a portfolio 

Now that you have attained all the required knowledge, it is time to take the next step by building a portfolio. For that you need to choose a specific industry or specialty, then brainstorm some ideas and create content for that industry or specialization. After that when it comes to actually getting paid to write, you need a strong portfolio that will give you a solid foundation that you can expand further. The portfolio should highlight all your skills and work that you have done which can include social media posts, blogs, or website copies. 

f)   Generate social proof

To make your portfolio even stronger you would require social proof that will stand tall with all your expertise and skills. Quora is an excellent place where you can flex your content writing muscles but also gives you amazing social proof. Write content there and it will prove that people are not just consuming your content but also engaging with it. 

g)    Establish authority by blogging 

To take this even further you would need to establish authority and that can be done by regular blogging. After you have built a solid portfolio with excellent social proof, you can turn this writing passion into a full-time job with high-paying clients if you successfully establish authority and knowledge. Blogging will probably be the simplest way to do so which you can use further to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the industry. It is also reasonably easy to set up a blog with various websites showing you how to do so online. 

h)    Gather experience 

Apart from blogging, there are a few other things that you can do to gather the much-needed experience your employers would require before hiring you. You can start by doing freelancing for small businesses and start-ups. You can also volunteer to write for an NGO or take an internship at a content writing or digital marketing firm. There are also several online publications available online looking for content writers which can you an excellent opportunity to add something to the experience list. These opportunities will help you set the right foot in the industry and you can start getting paid for content creation. 

i)    Develop a pitch

To make yourself look more serious as a content writer, you need to develop a pitch that is articulate, straightforward, and to the point. The pitch should include a personalized topic line, a mention of where you found their requirement, and an explanation of why you will be the perfect fit for the company's requirements. The pitch should also contain examples of your previous work and your portfolio, as links to both your social media accounts and blogs. Remember to always follow up after you have sent your pitch. 

j)    Build a network and apply

After a good experience of 1-2 years, you will be a desired candidate for high-paying and reputed content writing firms. A good way to make yourself a more suitable candidate is to attend content writing seminars and conferences and build your network with people from the industry. These networks will help you gain knowledge of different openings and hiring in different reputed companies. Some of the most popular content writing jobs include the positions of Content Developer, Copy Editor, Creative Writer, Website Content Manager, Social Media Content Creator, and Writer, etc. 

Starting content writing can be an exciting journey so make sure to follow the steps to make this a success. Firstly, determine what niche you will be working on and start with enhancing your writing skills. However, the most important thing is to develop a unique voice which can be done only by finding your writing style and tone. Your voice should be reflective of your personality and resonate with your target audience. Happy writing!!