Web Design - Web Site Creation
Debunking The Myths of Content Writing
1. Content Writing is easy
Writing is not easy. If it was, then everyone and their brother would be doing it. It’s a skill that takes awhile to develop through consistent efforts (unless you’re one of those rare individuals that have the skill already). You have to be able to come up with article ideas nearly every day. You have to be able to write the articles in your own words, and you have to be able to utilize the correct spelling, grammar, and complete mechanics correctly because if you don’t you may end up working through run-on sentences like this one that makes no sense because of the fact that it is a run-on and you’re probably going to get tired by the time I’m done typing this. There’s a reason that mechanics, grammar, and spelling count. These standards of writing help establish credibility and that you know what you’re doing.
2. Copying and pasting content from another site is content writing.
Copying and pasting someone else’s content is NOT content writing, or any kind of writing. It’s cheating and plagiarism, plain and simple. There’s a reason that plagiarism is looked down upon (not only is it looked down upon, it’s illegal) in professional and academic circles: you’re stealing someone else’s copyrighted content. If you get the urge to take the quick route and copy and paste someone else’s work, remember this question and ask yourself: would you like someone else stealing your work and making money off of it without your permission? When in doubt, write it out yourself.
3. This is the internet. Spelling, grammar, and mechanics don’t count.
Let’s destroy that myth right now. Whether you’re writing articles, blog posts, or whatever, spelling, grammar, and mechanics absolutely DO count. Would you trust a writer that uses words outside of their own context? Would you trust someone that cosnsistnty typs lk ths wutith no regrad ofr your own understanding of the sentence itself? Would you trust someone that consistently misuses the semicolon, colon, and other means of punctuation? The whole issue with spelling, grammar, and punctuation is the fact that these things lend credibility to your writing.
4. Sounding smart builds credibility.
Just because you use big words doesn’t make you smart. Do you know what paradigm means? Do you know what xynophylactic probability is? Do you know what that bee is doing stinging your arm? Before you go searching for xynophylactic probability, don’t. I made it up. But, it does illustrate my point: just because you sound smart doesn’t mean the article imparts the knowledge that you want it to provide. Use words that you understand 100% fully so that you can get your point across clearly and succinctly enough to a wide enough audience.
Writing intelligently is all about imparting understanding and knowledge, not just making you look smart in front of your colleagues at the office.
5. I don’t need an audience for my writing!
Yes, you do. How are you going to write effectively if you don’t know who you’re speaking to? How are you going to promote your writing if you don’t know the people that you’re trying to reach? And, perhaps the most important part of dispelling this crazy myth once and for all: how is your writing going to move into the realm of credibility if you are not speaking directly to your audience? What, article ideas are going to pop out of thin air? Not hardly. Just as you can’t really create a successful blog by blogging about everything under the sun, you cannot write successful articles without a defined audience. Know who you’re speaking to, and tailor your posts to that audience. If your audience includes SEO Geeks (I use that term with pride, BTW) that expect a certain level of technical terminology, speak to them. If your audience includes those who are golfers, then speak to the golfers. The point is to reach your audience, deliver on your argument, and hopefully close a sale if the site is monetized.
6. Paragraphs don’t need any form or structure.
Okay, then, how do you expect your readers to read your web site? By going through an entire 100-page memoir? They won’t do that. In fact, most people will go to another web site whose text is formatted properly. Break your posts into paragraphs, and transition from one paragraph to the next until you reach the conclusion. It’s a much better method than forcing your readers to read one extensively long page.
There are many myths on the web when it comes to content writing. Remember, write when you are tired. Write when you’re wide awake. Write when you’re watching Reno 911. Write when you’re watching Star Wars in your Darth Vader helmet. Write while you’re watching episodes of Married with Children and the No Ma’am group chanting “At the nudie bar…” Write while you’re watching the latest contestant get voted off of American Idol. Remember, just write, write, and write. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing at the time.
Just write.
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