If you’ve ever read a blog post or social media post, congratulations! You’ve read content.

In this digital age, content is the way businesses communicate with customers, education their audiences, and establish trust. It’s also a powerful way to make a living as your own boss, working from wherever you choose, on the hours that suit you. If you’ve ever considered starting an online business like copywriting or freelance writing but wondered exactly what content is, keep reading. This blog post will break down:

• What content writing is
• Examples of content writing
• Why businesses use content writing and
• Why businesses hire content writers
• How much you can make as a content writer
• A day in the life of a content writer
• And how to get started as a content writer (even if you don’t have experience yet)

Watch the video below or keep reading to learn more!

What is Content Writing?

Content writing refers to the process of creating written material for online platforms. This includes blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions, social media posts, email campaigns, and more.

The primary goal of content writing is to inform, entertain, engage, and persuade an audience, inspiring them to make a purchase, subscribe to a newsletter, or share the content with others.

Examples of Content Writing

You likely read content every single day. Some of the most popular forms of content include:

Blog Posts

Blog posts are informative, educational, or opinion pieces published on websites. If you’ve ever looked up a topic online, then discovered a list of blog posts or articles about it, then you know how helpful blog posts can be in learning more about a topic or finding a product or service to fulfill your need.

Social Media Posts

Content writers write social media posts for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For example, if you were writing for a local restaurant, you could write social media posts about its latest dishes, seasonal specials, new chefs, or two-for-one specials.

Email Newsletters

Businesses regularly send emails to their audiences to let them know about sales, new podcast episodes, recent blog posts, or other helpful information. As a content writer, you could help businesses send out a weekly email that re-engages old customers or establishes trust with new ones.

Check your inbox or social media feed right and peruse all the kinds of content that you already consume every day! What do you like or dislike about the various posts? You can use this knowledge to become a better writer—simply by reading up on what other businesses are writing about and observing what works, and what doesn’t.

Why Businesses Use Content Writing

With the rise of the internet, a strong online presence is vital for success. Content writing serves several purposes for businesses, like helping them:

• Become more visible online
• Appear as more of a trusted authority in their space
• Increase customer engagement
• Generate new leads and subscribers
• Convert their audience into buyers

Why Businesses Hire Content Writers

As a content writer, you play an important role in helping a business get their message out and thrive. Think of all the local businesses in your area, from coffee shops to salons, doctor’s offices, grocery stores, bookstores and non-profit organizations. (Let alone all the products in your cupboards or closets!) Each of these is a business that needs content to help them stay profitable and grow.

How Much You Can Make as a Content Writer

The income of content writers can vary based on factors such as experience, expertise, niche, company size, and more. In my programs, I teach writers how to earn $50 to $100 per hour. Starting at $50/hour on a standard 40-hour workweek equals $100,000 per year. For most people, they can make as much or more than their 9 to 5 as their own boss, writing content for businesses online. (Learn more here.)

A Day in the Life of a Content Writer

While content writer’s day varies based on projects, most days involve some mix of researching, outlining articles, writing, and editing, and collaborating with businesses. Occasionally, you may have calls with clients, but most days you can be heads-down doing your writing or creative work.

At the start of your business, you’ll spend more time securing clients. Over time, you may be able to do less of this, since you’ll have your customer base established. For more info, check out my other post on what to expect in your first year as a content writer.

How to Get Started as a Content Writer

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in content writing, check out this free training about 5 steps to build a 6-figure copywriting business (even if you’ve never written professionally before). I share more about my journey leaving corporate to become my own boss, how you can scale your business to 6-figures, how copywriting compares to other online businesses, and what you need to get started.

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Content writing is a powerful tool for businesses and writers alike, enabling businesses to connect with their audiences and writers to create more freedom and fulfillment as their own boss, supporting the products and services they love.

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