What Is Content Writing? Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

If you’ve been scratching your head over questions about content writing, you’re in the right place.

This guide contains everything you need to know to get started. Trust me.

My goal is simple — to help you understand the basics of content writing.

Key takeaways

• Businesses must attract, engage, and retain customers. Content writing is one way to do that.

• Learning content writing can give you job opportunities, a steady income, and a chance to grow.

• This guide provides practical steps to start writing content, including understanding the basics, choosing a niche, analysing existing content, practising regularly, and seeking feedback.

What is content writing?

Content writing is planning, drafting, and editing online content.

Some people call it “online writing” or “digital writing.”

However, it’s the kind of writing done online.

It involves writing:

• Blog posts and articles
• Scripts for videos and podcasts
• Content for various purposes and online platforms, such as social media.

The primary goal of content writing is to communicate information effectively to a target audience.

What does that mean?

It’s simple: Any written content that doesn’t convey the intended message to its audience has failed.

Read that again.

“The primary goal of content writing is to communicate information effectively to a target audience.”

Meanwhile, content writing is also about creating valuable and relevant content that helps the target audience.

What is content, anyway?

Content is everything you see, read, or hear online that communicates a message to you.

Content drives the internet, and it comes in 5 forms:

• Text: Written words such as articles, blog posts, social media updates, and product or service descriptions

• Visual: Images, photos, illustrations, infographics, memes

• Video: Social media videos, live streams, webinars

• Audio: Podcasts, audiobooks, voice messages

• Interactive content: Quizzes, polls, and games.

In this guide, the focus is on text or written content.

That’s the foundation of most content forms.

“Written content is the foundation of most content forms.”

This is because you can turn text into various forms or formats.

For example, you can turn a blog post into a video, an infographic, or a social media post.

This makes content writing an all-round starting point for creating different types of content.

Importance of content writing

“Content writing is at the heart of most digital marketing strategies.”

In digital marketing, businesses use content writing to:

• Attract visitors to their websites and social media channels

• Build trust with their audience

• Sell their products and services

• Engage and retain their customers.

So, content writing is at the heart of most digital marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, there’s more to know about why content writing is important in digital marketing.

But what’s in it for you? What can you gain from learning it?

What are the benefits of learning content writing?

Here are 5 benefits of learning content writing:

1. You’ll have many job opportunities.

Many companies need content for their websites, blogs, and social media.

Statistics show that 51% of businesses using content marketing publish content daily.

This means there’s a high demand for skilled content writers in various industries.

So, there are plenty of job opportunities out there for content writers.

2. You’ll be financially stable.

With the increasing demand for content in digital marketing, skilled writers can make money from lucrative job opportunities.

The content writing industry is so big you can earn as much as you want.

For instance:

On LinkedIn, John Iwuozor revealed how much money he made from content writing in 2024 alone.

Isn’t that great?

So, if you’re willing to learn content writing, you can earn a living from it.

To get started with content writing immediately, get this book: How to Create Clear And Engaging Content.

3. It can align with your interests and values.

Content writing lets you focus on specific niches or topics.

This means you get to align it with your interests and values.

So, whether it’s writing about fashion, tech, education, or health, you can niche down to topics you’re passionate about.

4. It gives you flexibility.

“You can work from anywhere on your schedule and choose to freelance or work full-time.”

Content writing provides flexibility, especially with remote and freelance opportunities.

You can work from anywhere on your schedule and choose to freelance or work full-time.

This can improve your work-life balance.

5. You get opportunities to grow.

Learning content writing helps you improve your writing, research, and communication skills.

What’s more?

As you continue to write, you get more creative and learn new skills, such as:

• Content strategy
• SEO
• Social media strategy
• Content marketing.

These 5 benefits make content writing a rewarding skill and career choice.

In the long run, you’ll be happy and fulfilled in your daily tasks.

To get started with content writing immediately, get this book: How to Create Clear And Engaging Content.

What are content writing skills?

Here are 3 super important content writing skills for beginners:

1. Writing skills

Being able to write clearly and concisely is fundamental in content writing.

This includes proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and structuring content logically and clearly.

With strong writing skills, you can create content that connects and engages your audience.

Join the Simply Moses Community now to start learning.

2. Research skills

These skills help you find, understand, and gather facts from reliable sources, such as books or websites, to ensure the accuracy of your writing.

Strong research skills also help you:

• Learn about new topics
• Understand different opinions
• Verify information
• Read about a topic in more detail
• Create trustworthy and well-informed content.

Here’s a guide to get you started: how to research for content writing.

3. Editing and proofreading

Editing skills help you improve the quality of your writing.

Proofreading skills enable you to focus on finding and correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.

Both skills ensure your writing is clearer, polished, and professional.

Here’s a guide to get you started: how to edit your own writing.

Remember: Developing these 3 skills will help you become an effective content writer.

How to get started with content writing

Here are 5 practical steps to help you learn the ropes and build your content writing skills:

1. Understand content writing basics.

Here are ways to go about this:

I. Learn what content writing is all about.

Know its industry demand, its importance in digital marketing, and the skills required to get started.

This guide already provides a great starting point for you.

But here’s a helpful article on what content writing entails (including 8 key steps for creating content people will love).

II. Know the different types of content writing.

Content writing types refer to the specific kind of writing based on its purpose, the target audience, and the style used.

Examples include:

• Blog writing: This is writing informative articles

• Copywriting: This is for persuading or selling products and services.

• SEO writing: This entails writing optimised content to rank on page 1 of Google.

• Technical writing: This is writing clear, instructional documents on technical topics.

• Social media writing: This is creating engaging, brief posts for social media platforms.

To learn more, see this post on the types of content writing.

III. Get familiar with different content writing formats.

Content writing formats refer to the structure or layout of the content — or how you organise and present it.

Examples include:

• Listicles: Articles written in list format

• How-to guides: Step-by-step tutorials or instructional content

• Interviews: Question-and-answer format

• Case studies: Structured stories of success or results

• FAQs: A series of questions and answers addressing common concerns.

You can apply these formats to various content writing types.

2. Choose your niche or topic.

A niche is a specific topic or area you focus on when creating content.

It’s like your little corner where you become an expert for a particular thing.

Niching down helps you:

• Focus on one area where you can learn more

• Attract an audience interested in the same subject as you

• Become an expert by knowing a lot about that topic.

Here are 2 ways to choose your niche:

I. Identify topics that interest you.

When you’re really into a topic, writing about it comes easy and feels more enjoyable.

Trust me: You don’t want to write about topics you’re not interested in or knowledgeable about.

Some examples of niches or topics in content writing include:

• Food and recipes
• Fashion and beauty
• Health and wellness
• Travel and adventure
• Tech and gadgets
• Business and entrepreneurship
• Content marketing.

“When you’re really into a topic, writing about it comes easy and feels more enjoyable.”

So, what topics do you love? Choose the best among them.

II. Identify the subtopics or sub-niches.

Now, you have chosen your topic of interest. Great!

The next step is to find out the sub-niches or specific areas of that topic your audience might be interested in.

This is because you can’t know everything about a topic.

Example:

If you love fashion, find the small areas of fashion your readers are likely interested in (like wardrobe tips, fashion news/trends, or styling advice).

Examples of niches and sub-niches in content writing:

Examples of Niches and Sub-Niches
Niches	Sub-niches
Personal finance	– Budgeting tips – Personal finance for young professionals – Cryptocurrency and blockchain
Business and entrepreneurship	– Startups and new business ideas – Small business marketing strategies – Scaling a business or managing growth
Tech and gadgets	– Smartphone and tablet reviews – Home automation and smart devices – AI and machine learning trends
Health and wellness	– Mental health awareness – Nutrition for specific diets – Fitness routines for beginners
Travel and adventure	– Solo travel guides – Budget travel tips – Luxury travel experiences
Fashion and beauty	– Beauty tips for particular skin types – Personal styling guides – Makeup tutorials for beginners
Food and recipes	– Meal prep for busy professionals – Baking tips and tutorials – Allergy-friendly recipes

3. Read and analyse existing content.

Here’s how to go about this:

I. Read high-quality blog posts and articles.

Find samples of published articles similar to the topics you want to write about.

(Note: Ensure they’re high-quality blog posts and articles from successful content writers.)

Then, read them carefully.

II. Analyse the articles.

Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t in the articles.

As you analyse them,

• Consider how they engage you as a reader and how they’re structured.

• Look at how the headlines are written, how the sentences and paragraphs flow, and how the ideas are presented.

Remember to note down what you learn along the way.

4. Practice, practice, practice.

Here’s the truth:

Knowledge is one thing, but practice transforms knowledge into a skill.

Practice is the bridge between information and true expertise.

So, practice content writing regularly.

To get started,

• Pick a topic from your list of selected topics.

• Start writing daily or a few times a week. Even short pieces will help you build the habit.

You can join the Simply Moses Community now to start practicing.

Remember:

Focus on writing consistently over perfection. Regular practice is key to improving.

Meanwhile, here are 6 steps to guide your practice:

1. Researching
2. Planning
3. Drafting
4. Editing and proofreading
5. Formatting
6. Optimising for SEO.

Here’s a summary of the steps:

Step #1. Researching

Researching ensures that your writing is on point, interesting, and helpful to your audience.

It involves:

• Understanding the topic
• Knowing your audience
• Finding relevant keywords
• Analysing what competitors have written.

Here’s our guide on how to research for content writing to learn more.

Step #2. Planning

Planning your content before writing can help you write smoothly without any distractions.

It lets you create content that’s easy to understand, engaging, and effective.

To learn more, see how to plan content writing for beginners.

Step #3. Drafting

Drafting is the core part of content writing. It’s where you focus on getting your ideas down.

Here’s how to write your first draft in 5 practical steps.

Step #4. Editing and proofreading

Go through your draft and improve its clarity, grammar, and structure.

Use this simple guide to edit your own writing.

Step #5. Formatting — format the article

After you edit and proofread the draft, format it properly.

This makes your content interesting and engaging to readers.

Learn how to format your content.

Step #6. Optimising for SEO

Optimising your article for SEO effectively improves the visibility of your content and attracts more readers to it.

See our guide on SEO optimisation strategies to learn more.

5. Learn from feedback.

Share your article with friends or people interested in your growth in content writing and ask for constructive feedback.

Here’s a sample you can use to ask for feedback on your completed article:

This helps you do better and makes you feel more confident.

Join the Simply Moses Community now to access personalized feedback on your writing.

Finally, starting with these small, manageable steps will help you gain confidence as a content writer.

Wrapping up

Content writing is super important to businesses. It helps them attract, engage, and retain their customers.

If you learn content writing, you’ll have many opportunities to earn a comfortable living and be fulfilled.

Content writing FAQs

1. Is content writing still in demand?

Absolutely!

Content writing is still in high demand and continues to grow.

This is because businesses:

• Need high-quality content for their websites, blogs, and social media

• Demand different content types, including articles, social media posts, newsletters, and video scripts

• Want to connect with their audience through storytelling.

So, they seek content writers who can create engaging, valuable content that meets their goals.

2. Why is content writing a good career for you?

Content writing is a good career for you because:

• The high demand for written content across online platforms creates many job opportunities for skilled writers.

• You can make a steady income because businesses are willing to pay for high-quality content to help them market their products and services.

• It’s a flexible job that allows you to work remotely and set your own hours. And if you want to be your own boss, you can even choose to freelance.

3. How many months to learn content writing?

It can take about 6 months to 1 year to learn content writing.

This depends on how much time and effort you put into practice.

Meanwhile, here’s a simple breakdown:

DURATION	WHAT TO DO
1-3 months	Learn the basics — Understand the different types and formats of written content, writing techniques, and simple grammar.
4-6 months	Improve your writing skills — Learn about content strategy, SEO, writing style, tone, and ability to engage readers.
6-12 months	Practice more — Write more confidently and understand how to tailor your content for different audiences, industries, writing goals, and platforms.

And the good part?

The more you practice, the faster you’ll improve.

Join the Simply Moses Community now to get started.

4. Do I need any qualifications to become a content writer?

No specific qualifications are required to become a content writer.

But you need certain skills and knowledge to become a content writer.

Here’s what you need:

• Strong writing and grammar skills
• Research skills
• Understanding of search engine optimisation (SEO).

While a degree in English, journalism, or communications can be helpful, many successful content writers come from other educational backgrounds.

5. What is the difference between SEO and content writing?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and content writing are related but different.

• Content writing is creating blog posts, articles, or web pages to inform, entertain, or persuade an audience.

• SEO is making the content rank higher on Google so more people can find them when they search online.

6. What is the difference between content writing and content marketing?

They’re connected but serve different purposes.

• Content writing is about creating valuable information.

• Content marketing is about using that information to achieve a bigger goal, like
  • Attracting an audience
  • Engaging the audience
  • Or increasing sales.

7. What is the difference between content writing and copywriting?

They both involve writing but have different purposes.

• Content writing is used to inform or entertain an audience.

• Copywriting is focused on persuading the audience to take action, such as
  • Buying a product
  • Signing up for a newsletter
  • Or clicking a link.

I would love to hear from you

Did you learn something new?

Would you give content writing a shot? If yes, what reason inspires you to learn it?

Do you have any questions for me?

Let me know in the comments now.

Take the next step to start content writing NOW!

If you want personal mentorship, join the Simply Moses Community now to get started.

Or talk with me. Be assured I’ll respond to you within 12 hours.