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Imagine the internet without any content: no websites, blogs, emails, social media, videos or podcasts.
Content writers play a key part in bringing that material to us.
A content writer creates written material for the internet.
If you're thinking about becoming one you may be wondering: would the job be a good fit for me?
What contribution does a content writer make to society?
A content writer helps businesses and organizations reach their goals by providing them with original and well-crafted pieces of writing that readers find relevant and useful.
What will you be doing every day?
You'll be working on your writing, whether that's creating new text or editing and re-writing or proofreading the final piece.
You may also be:
Researching. You'll likely write about many different topics so you'll need to research them to make sure your writing is accurate and helpful.
Working with others. You may be part of a team of people in marketing, sales, or communications. Or you may be presenting your draft to editors or clients for their feedback.
Scheduling. You'll be arranging meetings and keeping track of writing deadlines.
Did you know?
If you have in-depth knowledge about a specific topic or type of content, you may be able to make it your area of expertise or niche.
Where might you work?
Businesses
You could work in almost any industry, including marketing, health, retail, technology, and education.
Businesses will need your writing to attract and keep customers and boost the credibility of their brand.
Agencies
These are content marketing, advertising, or public relations agencies. Businesses hire them to create and distribute material for them.
You may be writing content for a big-name business, many of whom use agencies. To learn more about writing for an agency check out this blog post by a content marketing writer.
Nonprofits
Nonprofits will rely on your writing to help bring attention to their cause, encourage people to take action, and support their fundraising goals.
Did you know?
You may be working in-house (employed directly by an organization) or you may be freelancing (self-employed and doing contract writing for clients).
Can I make a living at it?
What kind of preparation will I need?
Experience
To get a job, you'll need experience with the specific type of writing required. Ways to gain experience include:
starting a blog
looking for websites to publish your work
applying for internships
looking for freelancing opportunities
Creating a portfolio of your writing to show off your skills is also a good idea.
Education
Formal educational qualifications aren't always necessary but this varies depending on the type of writing you plan to do.
For example, sometimes employers prefer a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, creative writing, or communications. But for technical writing, they may prefer industry-specific qualifications instead. Take a look at this Byte on technical writing to learn more about it.
You'll love it if...
You're an excellent communicator and storyteller. You'll be capturing readers' attention and keeping them engaged with your well-organized and well-written text.
You're creative. You'll be thinking up topics and ways to approach them that are unique and interesting.
You like learning. You'll be learning your craft, researching new topics, and keeping up with developments in your area(s) of expertise.
Think again if...
You prefer other outlets for your creativity. You'll be writing — a lot!
You like flexible timelines. You'll need to meet deadlines, sometimes tight ones.
A slow start to your career won't work for you. It will take time to hone your skills and stand out from the competition.
Quiz
Pick the two people best suited to become content writers.
Priti
A student who writes for the school newspaper about a wide range of topics.
Ahmad
A counselor who gives people helpful information as the need arises.
Bo
A web developer who posts about the latest tech on his blog every few days.
Amy
A student who uploads dance videos on TikTok and occasionally comments on other people's.
Quiz
Select the two who would do the best as content writers:
Priti and Bo both write a lot. Priti learns about a variety of different subjets and Bo has technology as his niche.
Take Action
If content writer sounds like just the job for you:
This Byte has been authored by
Janet Hine
Business Owner
Ph.D.