Write Better Content Right Now | Part 1: Start Writing. Now.
Part 1: Start Writing. Now.
This is part one of a four-part series on writing better marketing content right now. Entrepreneurs and companies come to marketing pros like me when they need polished, professional marketing content. But not everyone has the budget or resources for a full content strategy. In these posts, I want to help you see that you can write great content, and you can do it now.
Every day — as I talk with clients, friends, family, and my favorite bagger at the grocery store — people tell me, “I don’t know how you do it. I can’t write like that.” I used to blush, shrug, and try to explain some part of my craft. And, for a while, I might have actually believed them. Maybe I did have some kind of intangible gift…
I look back at myself in those days, and I think, “Oh, my sweet summer child.” No, I am not special. Yes, you can write. And you can write well. In the words of the inimitable Ann Handley, “Everybody writes.” You just might need a little kickstart and a few pointers to get you up and running.
Yes, you are a writer
You write every day. You write emails, social posts, and texts every single day. Now, true, you don’t have to be Hemingway to write an effective email. Guess what. You also don’t have to be Hemingway to write a stellar blog post, either. Blogging for your business doesn’t have to be a huge endeavor, and it doesn’t have to be a massive challenge. You can really just do it.
And I can hear you now, “But I can’t do it well! Who’s going to want to read my blog?” Well, actually…you can. You have a story. You bring something unique to the table, and you need to get the word out about what you do, why you do it, and how you can help your prospects and customers. And you can do it. Better. Now. Let’s get started.
Published is better than perfect
Why should you start writing your first (or next) blog post right now? Two reasons: One, in the world of content marketing, something is always better than nothing. Two, as cliché as it sounds, practice makes perfect.
What’s worse than writing an imperfect blog or a less-than-amazing piece of web content? NOT writing that imperfect blog or less-than-amazing piece of web content! From an SEO perspective, the more content you have, the more visible you are to Google and other search engines. And, when you start putting out content that people want to read, you can start building back links and gaining authority for your site. That adds up to better SERPs, more traffic, more leads, and more sales.
Now, if you’re like me, you might be stuck on a phrase from that last paragraph — “content that people want to read.” You’re thinking, “Yeah, that’s the problem. No one’s going to want to read my content because I’m not a good writer. Great advice, thanks a lot. [eye roll].” Well, that’s where that cliché old saying about practice comes in. The more you write, the better your writing gets. And you can’t start practicing and improving if you don’t, well, start!
That’s all for Part One. Your homework until next time is to start writing. Whether you’re writing a blog, ad copy, product descriptions, your bio, or anything else for your business — start now.
Ready to keep going? In the next installment of this series, Part 2: Save the Editing for Later, we’ll talk about overcoming your inner critic so you can write more and better content. Until then, start writing!
