There is a fine line of difference between a person who loves writing and a professional who does it for a living. While writing for yourself, there are so many things that you can ignore just for the sake of freedom. However, that should not be the case when you write professionally.
A professional content writer is not just a weaver of words. Their job is to stay true to the parameters followed by the industry. This article will help you with that. In this writing, we will be primarily talking about SEO content writing and some of the content writing mistakes that you need to avoid.
Therefore, follow along to learn more about this subject.
Content Writing Mistakes You Must Avoid at All Costs
As a content writer, your job is not just to write. It’s about writing a piece that resonates with what the client is doing and
Content writing mistakes can be varied. The worst part about writing web content is that errors are often hard to identify. However, we have got you covered regarding that aspect. In this article, we will be helping you understand how to write for SEO as a content writer professional.
Therefore, follow along.
Ignoring The Reader
One of the biggest blunders that can affect your website traffic is not knowing who you are writing for. As a writer, it is your job to cater to an audience. You cannot simply write for yourself and fail to give your readers what they want.
Not knowing your audience is like presenting a magic show to an audience who cannot see. You can never establish a consistent repertoire with the audience, and that means people will not return.
Tailor the content in a way that makes it relatable and approachable to the wider audience of the website. This is crucial to establish a base.
Skipping Research
Research is an important detail that many writers often overlook or do not devote sufficient effort to. At the same time, it is understandable, as many content writers struggle with deadlines. However, skipping research is equivalent to doing a disservice to your website.
Researching your content is not just about the content. It is also about the website and the audience you are writing for. These points are particularly important and require special attention.
Therefore, research components such as who you are writing for, what you are writing about, and where you are writing are crucial. These will help you steer your ship in the right direction.
Lacking A Sense of Originality
As a content writer, it is quite natural to hit a dearth of subjects. Or you are writing for a subject that does not fall into your forte. Whatever the case, it is easy to get lost in the grind and lose sight of originality.
This is a dangerous concoction of disaster. Even if you are paraphrasing something or writing about something you do not know about, you need to do it creatively. Creativity can make a piece of your own.
Therefore, take reference from other writers, but approach a topic with your brand of creativity.
Putting Outlining on the Backburner
Creating a proper outline for content is as important as research and other similar activities. You cannot create content that does not follow a proper outline. An appropriate outline of the content makes it easy to approach.
Outlining is arranging content into a readable format.
- The basic format that writers must follow is an introductory section that provides a preliminary discussion of the subject.
- Then a body section that elaborates on the subject is important.
- Finally, the concluding paragraph brings the debate to a close.
This is a basic format that writers must follow. This format is also one that most readers find comforting.
Showing Off Jargon
Using jargon can make a writer come off as an expert. However, excessive usage of jargon often leads to a break in the connection between the reader and the writer. Therefore, you need to find a balance.
Excessive usage of jargon would alienate you from your readers. This can lead to catastrophic effects in the long run. Always ensure that your readers understand something as simple as possible.
To do this, you can either go out of your way to explain each of these jargon terms or use simplified language. The latter is preferred as it keeps the fluff in check.
Not Breaking the Monotony
Ever come across a writing that feels like a long wall of text? If you have, then you would understand why they are not recommended for content writing. Not breaking your content into paragraphs is one of the biggest content writing mistakes. Here are two points you need to understand.
- A huge wall of text is not only monotonous but also quite daunting to decipher. Therefore, please break your paragraph at an optimal interval. This enhances the general accessibility of your content and also its readability.
- The hack is not to write more than 50 to 60 words in a paragraph. This hack can take some practice to master. However, it is quite trustworthy and can help you improve your writing.
Not Editing
Writers understand the power of editing. Editing a piece or a draft before final publishing should be mandatory practice. Why? Well, it helps a writer to polish a piece into something more than what it is without silly mistakes.
Fine-tuning your piece will ensure that it reads and flows as intended. Therefore, once you are done with your piece, sit down and review it slowly and carefully. This might seem like a daunting task at the end, but the payoffs will be immense.
While editing, look for elements such as tone, information organization, grammar, and the SEO parameters that your publisher has specified.
Endnote: What Could These Do to Your Traffic?
The content writing mistakes listed here are not exhaustive. There are other mistakes to avoid as well. However, the ones we have listed here are the most prominent mistakes we have come across.
Failure to understand these common writing mistakes can cause irreparable damage to the website. Therefore, be vigilant and more conscious of what you are doing and the outcome it will bring. Otherwise, you can forget about retaining or bringing in traffic.
