How To Improve Your Writing Confidence

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how Google is clamping down on content farms and low quality content in it’s search results, you can read the post here: Google Frowns on Content Farms.

To follow on from the post, I thought a few tips and resources on writing quality content and gaining the confidence to do so would help! Writing content is one of the things that our clients find the most difficult and frustrating, and in the end, just don’t write anything at all. This is understandable if you’re new to writing and don’t feel confident about it.

Before I get going, I thought I’d share a bit about my own experiences. When I started out in business in 2002, I had written very little about internet marketing and wasn’t a confident writer at all. I got away with a very basic site for a couple of years before co-writing a newsletter called Marketing Karma. It was having to write the newsletter each month which really helped me improve my writing. I admit I found it really hard to begin with and struggled with my writing style but fortunately my co-writer, Robin Houghton, was there to give me lots of feedback. I also get regular feedback from Louise on my blog posts as well as the Savvy Marketing Tips newsletter, which is a great help. It’s practice that has really helped me to improve my writing style and feel much more confident about writing regularly and getting my message out there.

If you’re new to writing about your products or services, then having to write regularly can be daunting and if you’re not confident about your writing, then taking shortcuts can be tempting. However, this is where it can all go wrong. If you regularly take shortcuts with your content, then it can start to reflect back on your business and this is also where you may find it affects your search rankings. However, the more you write, the more confident you’ll become and your articles will improve no end – practice makes perfect, believe me!

So, what are my tips and resources on writing quality content?

Firstly, find a writing buddy, or at least someone who’ll give you honest feedback before you send out your newsletters or publish blog posts. A second pair of eyes can make sure your articles make sense and pick up grammatical and spelling errors.

Secondly, don’t rush articles or knock them out like a production line. When I write I tend to get my thoughts down, then edit afterwards. I usually leave the article a day or two before returning to it to edit further as a fresh pair of eyes usually finds errors in writing style as well as spelling mistakes.

Thirdly, keep practicing! Make sure you send out your newsletters regularly, add new posts to your blog regularly. The more you write, the easier it will become. It does require a certain amount of discipline, which is why if you start a newsletter, you have to send it out each month, and therefore write something for it!

As I’m no writing expert, here are a few resources to help you get going:

Writing Good Content – from ProBlogger

How to Write Great Blog Content – from ProBlogger

11 Smart Tips for Brilliant Writing – from CopyBlogger

Copywriting 101: Your Guide to Effective Copy – from CopyBlogger

How to keep your readers happy - from Savvy Marketers

5 Tips on Writing for the Internet - from Savvy Marketers

Does writing come easily to you, or do you struggle? How have you disciplined yourself to write regularly for your business? Please share your tips here!

About Samantha McArthur

Sam McArthur is an internet marketing consultant with 12 years in the industry. She helps professional service businesses with their internet marketing strategy, helping them to see significant results from their online marketing activities, particularly within the search engines. She also consults on the latest internet tools, technology and best practice techniques.