5 Important Things to Remember When Creating High-Quality Content

I don’t know if you would agree, but writing about something you do for a living often feels a little strange. It seems like you should know the ins and outs of the subject, but most of the time you feel like you either do not know enough or know a little too much. I have been writing for quite some time, and it is fair to say that it happens to be my favorite medium. But putting together an article about what makes a text worth the readers’ (your) time was not easy. Indeed, what differentiates high-quality content from a mediocre one?

 

After a little bit of self-reflection and quite a bit of research, I thought of 5 principles that can help you write a good article. Of course, the list is in no way definitive but it is fundamental in its nature.

 

1st: Understand who you are writing for

 

Imagine you are writing a blog post about coding. The way you are going to write about it, the questions you will answer, its length and style will all depend on who you will address.  You simply can’t write the same way for a teenager, an amateur coder, a professional developer, or say… your grandma.

 

If you want particular kind of people to read your content, you need to write for them. A useful tip within the tip — if you feel lost, try imagining a single person from the audience you are writing for. It makes it easier to focus.

 

 

2nd: After you have created the first draft — polish it

 

I am one of those people who finds it easier to write 1200 words for an 800-word article ( you’ve guessed it — I have done it for this article as well). It might feel like it happens because I have many things to say, but it is the other way around — I brainstorm while writing.

 

High-quality content is not a dumping ground for words. That is why all the magic happens at the editing stage — it is when the incomprehensible mess starts to take its shape. Editing for me feels more like rewriting — I summarise ideas, rephrase sentences, delete paragraphs, rearrange the texts. Making sure that the points are concise and clear, and say something — that is what good content is all about.

 

3rd: Research (please)

 

When you are writing about something make sure you understand it as well as you possibly can in the time frame you are given. If your priority is creating high-quality content than this is a must. To an extent, other things can be excused — a slightly longer paragraph is fine, a misspelling can be excused, but a lie is never going to be forgiven.

 

 

And rightly so, some fields  — like content writing — might be a little more liberal in those terms, since nothing is absolute. If you are writing on topics that demand accuracy — be it technology, history, or anything in between — then make sure to put in the time. Wearing the shoes of the experts on the subject matter you tackle in your content might end up being the most rewarding and fun part of the process.

 

4th: High-quality content is not only about writing

 

Creating high-quality content is not only about the written content. It is also about formatting, optimization, visuals, and SEO.  A content writer needs to have a basic knowledge of HTML, WordPress, CSS, and graphic design. They need to read other’s works and be familiar with tools that help improve the quality of their writing.  

 

It is not unlike work in other industries — how well you operate with all the tools that are available, and whether you invest time in learning and broadening your professional skill set or not, is the difference between two professionals in the same field. Which camp you want to join is always a choice.

 

5th: Invest in developing ‘a voice’

 

Some might think that having a voice is only for those who write fiction, but that is not true. Every content writer needs to have a unique way of saying things. I would even argue, that you already have it. It is not about being fancy, stylized, or difficult — it is about authenticity.  

 

 

Maybe, you are a serious person, who has a plan for everything. Maybe, you are the lucky one with a great sense of humor. Or you are particularly imaginative and have a way with metaphors. You might be a person who prefers experiencing things before writing about them. All of those approaches to life (and writing) can help you develop a unique voice. Even if you need to write about something that has been written about a thousand times over, your personality is what might end up making all the difference. Do not shy away from it whenever appropriate — people are drawn to people, not soulless words.

 

Last but not least — do not obsess

 

This is not so much a tip, as it is a closing remark — do not obsess over it. Writing is a craft, remember? It means that to be good you need to give it time. No one gets it perfect from the first time. Of course, you can’t cram all the techniques you have learned in one article, hoping they will do all the work for you. Or you can spend time writing different texts and getting the feel of the process. In a sense, high-quality content writing is about developing a similar tip list for your own selves.

 

And do not forget to enjoy the journey to mastery! If you want people who are already passionate about what they do to help you out, consider contacting our team of (awesome) content writers. We love what we do, and make sure to constantly invest in our art. No matter what the subject, and type of content you need — we make sure to become mini-professionals in the field we are writing in. Contact our team, or take look at our portfolio.