In today’s content-driven world, good writing is essential to a successful online presence. But for beginners, understanding what content writing really is, the different types of content that exist and the benefits of high-quality writing can be overwhelming. This guide will break down everything you need to know about content writing, from the different types of content to the benefits of great writing, so that you can produce the best possible content for your website or blog and see the best results.
What is Content Writing?
Content writing is the process of creating content for websites or other digital channels. Content can take many forms, including blog posts, articles, ebooks, infographics and more. The goal of content writing is to create valuable, relevant and engaging content that will attract and retain an audience.
Contrary to other types of content, such as advertising or product descriptions, good content writing is not about selling or convincing. Instead, it is about providing valuable information that will help the reader in some way.
For example, a blog post about gardening tips would provide valuable information to someone who is interested in gardening and might convince them to try out some of the tips. However, it would not try to sell them a garden hose or gardening gloves, or at least not in an overt way.
5 Types of Content Writing
There are many different types of written content, but some of the most common include:
#1: Blog posts
Blog posts are a common type of content that can take many different forms. They can be opinion pieces, news stories, how-to guides or even just a collection of thoughts and musings. A good blog post is usually around 800 words and is focused on a single topic. Although, recent studies like the one performed by Hubspot show that for search engine optimization purposes, blog posts between 2,100 and 2,400 words have outperformed other lengths of blog posts.
Blog posts are a great way to connect with your audience and give them valuable information in an engaging way. If you’re running a business, blog posts can also help to promote your products or services in a subtle way.
#2: Articles
Articles are another common type of content that are similar to blog posts in that they are usually around 800 words and focus on a single topic. However, articles are generally more formal than blog posts and are often published on sites other than your own. For example, you might write an article for an industry website or trade magazine.
Articles are a great way to build your credibility and expertise in your industry. By writing articles for well-respected websites, you can show potential customers that you know what you’re talking about and that they can trust you.
They can be on any topic but are generally more informative than blog posts or other types of content.
#3: Ebooks
Ebooks are a type of content that can be used to provide more in-depth information on a topic than what you would find in an article or blog post. They are usually longer than other types of content, often around 20,000 words or more, and can be downloaded and read as a PDF.
Ebooks are a great way to build your authority on a subject and show potential customers that you have valuable information to share. They can be used as lead magnets to attract new subscribers or customers, or simply sold as products in themselves.
If you want to write an ebook, it’s important to choose a topic that you know well and that will be of interest to your target audience. You should also make sure that your ebook is well-designed and easy to read as the writing aspect is not the only important part.
Ebooks can be a great way to generate leads for your business or to sell as products in their own right.
#4: Product Descriptions
Contrary to blog posts, product descriptions focus on convincing the reader to buy a product rather than providing valuable information. They are usually shorter than other types of content, around 200 words or so, and include persuasive language and sales copy.
Product descriptions need to be well-written and persuasive in order to convince potential customers to make a purchase. However, they should also be accurate and provide enough information for the customer to make an informed decision.
If you’re selling products on your website, it’s important to have well-written and persuasive product descriptions.
#5: Website Content
Website content is content that is placed on a number of sections of a company’s website. This is the content that fills “About Us” pages, home pages and much more. Website content is the first thing seen by people when they land on a new website and as such, it is important that it is captivating and compelling to lower a website’s bounce-rate.
3 Benefits of Content Writing
You may be wondering why marketers and business owners alike are so obsessed with content writing. After all, it can be time-consuming and sometimes difficult to come up with ideas for new pieces of content. However, there are many benefits to content writing, which include:
#1: Builds Trust with Your Audience
If you provide valuable and accurate information in your content, your readers will begin to trust you as a source of information. This is especially important if you’re running a business as it can help to build credibility and expertise.
#2: Helps to Promote Your Products or Services
As mentioned before, blog posts and articles can be a great way to subtly promote your products or services without sounding like you’re selling something. By providing valuable information about your industry or product, you can show potential customers that you’re an expert in your field and that they can trust you.
#3: It Helps with SEO
Google looks at many aspects of your website, but one of the most important is the content. By writing high-quality, keyword-rich content, also known as SEO copywriting, according to Moz, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), which can lead to more traffic and potential customers.
Final Thoughts
Content writing is an important part of any marketing or business strategy as it can help to build trust with your audience, promote your products or services, and improve your SEO. If you’re not already incorporating content writing into your plans, now is the time to start. This article has hopefully given you some ideas about the different types of content you can write as well as the benefits of doing so. Happy content writing!