What skills do one must-have to be a good content writer?

Is it having a professional degree in writing? The answer to this question is No. A good Content Writer is beyond any professional degree.

Now, you must be thinking that if it’s not about having a professional qualification, then what are these skills any good Content Writer must possess and learn.

Thus, in this article, we will explore what skills are necessary in order to gain a competitive edge. There is a difference between being a Content Writer and being a Good Content Writer. Hence, we will talk about the skills and qualities that differentiate these two.

1. Researching Skills

 Good and strong research is the base for any good content. The more reliable and relevant information you gain about any topic – the better you can write about it. To make content reliable and genuine, you must include credible facts and information from a trustworthy source.

Therefore, to be a good content writer, you must have good research skills. There are plenty of sources where you can find information and gain knowledge, but all information you come across is not necessarily worthwhile. A good content writer must know how to filter these vast pools of data and extract what’s reliable.

2. Original Content

It is one of those skills every writer knows about yet finds hard to implement. Whilst using the internet as a source for finding references and acquiring knowledge about the content, it might feel tempting to plagiarize a few things here and there. However, it is certainly not the right thing to do. Whether you write for yourself or someone else, you don’t want your content to be called copied content.

3. Knowledge of how the Digital World works

As content writing has evolved dramatically over the past years, the digital world has played a significant role in such a drastic change in the field of content writing.

Any online social media platform consists of a vast number of daily users. Users that any business wants to reach out to promote their product and services with the help of written content.

Not only do these platforms allow you to reach your target audience, but they can also help you develop and maintain a healthy connection with them. Therefore, understanding social media platforms and knowing how they work is a must-have for a Good Content Writer to generate better results.

4. Adapting to the change

Undoubtedly, change is constant. Nothing remains the same forever. And a wise person adapts as per the changing needs.

The same applies to writing; the audience for whom you write, the product description you write, the platform for which you write, the trends you follow, and the services you provide, all these things keep evolving over time. Therefore, the way you write should adapt to the change as well.

A good content writer must be flexible and a constant learner so they can adapt to changing requirements.

5. Editing and Proofreading Skills

No writer ever publishes the very first draft they pen down. The reason is simple; it’s not modified.

There is a difference between writing down your content and making your content presentable for your target audience. As a content writer, you must have the necessary editing and proofreading skills, so that your content is not only well penned but also well presented for your readers.

6. Handling Feedback

In order to improve your work and yourself, feedback is essential.

When your content is out in the public for everyone to read, feedback is inescapable. There are times when you will receive positive feedback and other times when you will receive negative feedback. There will be times when your client or reader will want you to make slight adjustments to your content. A good content writer needs to be open to feedback and have the ability to handle it without appearing rude, whether it is positive or negative.

Moreover, with feedback comes criticism.

Self-criticism and criticism from others. Not everyone will like your work, nor everyone would be considerate with their words whilst talking about your work. Importantly, not everyone knows how to criticize constructively. That is way beyond your control. Nonetheless, you do have a choice. You can either concentrate on the positive and improve or concentrate on the negative and let it distract you.

7. Taking Breaks and okay with being Unproductive

Are you wondering how this point is relevant to being a good content writer? Let me tell you how and why.

To write well, you must think original and creative, and for that, your mental health and mental peace must be in the right place, in a peaceful place. The mind needs rest as our body. Working continuously for weeks or months without taking a break affects not only your physical health, but your mental health as well. 

As much as breaks are necessary, it is also essential that you enjoy your break time without feeling guilty about being unproductive. Hence, good content writer has the skill to make time for themselves once in a while to restore their physical and mental health to keep doing what they love doing. 

8. Other Skills

Few more skills that you must have to be a good content writer includes the following:

• Good understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
• Knowing and understanding your target audience.
• Communication Skills.
• Time management Skills
• Organization Skills

P.S – Do you want to add any other skills to the list that you believe is required to be a good content writer? Let me know in the comments section.