Be the Best Content Writer
Learning how to become the best content writer requires more than a computer and strong writing skills. With an average of more than 6 million posts published daily, the demand for exceptional content writers is high.
While industry and technical knowledge are important, what separates average content creators from the best is the ability to craft compelling narratives that engage readers and drive results.
Whether you dream of a flexible work-from-home career or seek to build your own content-writing business, this guide outlines how to start your journey.
What is Content Writing?
Content writers create materials that inform, educate, or entertain specific audiences. Unlike creative writing or journalism, content writing focuses on achieving business objectives while providing value to readers.
Content writing encompasses everything from blog and social media posts to white papers and email newsletters.
According to the Content Marketing Institute’s Outlook for 2025 report, 87% of B2B marketers say content marketing helped build brand awareness in the last 12 months. This increasing reliance on content marketing is why content writers are in demand.
However, you’ll need to master a variety of content writing formats. While blogs are in high demand, a skilled content writer must (eventually) be able to adapt their style across various formats, including:
- Long-form articles and blog posts
- Social media content
- Email newsletters
- Website copy
- Product descriptions
- Video scripts
There is some overlap between content writers and copywriters. Copywriters tend to develop a brand’s voice or focus on creating persuasive content that drives immediate action (like purchasing). Content writers create informative materials that build long-term relationships with audiences.
What Does a Content Writer Do?
As a content writer, your primary task will be to create engaging content that achieves a defined business goal. This could mean writing SEO-optimized blog posts that attract organic traffic or crafting email sequences that help customers explore a business’s other products.
Content writers typically spend at least half of their time on tasks beyond writing, including the following:
- Researching topics
- Analyzing competitor content
- Understanding audience needs
- Optimizing for SEO
- Collaborating with marketing teams
The remaining time is dedicated to writing and editing content.
The Skills You Need to Be a Content Writer
Can you start as a content writer with writing skills alone? The answer is yes, but you’ll want to develop additional skills that add value as you continue.
On-Page SEO
One vital skill is understanding SEO fundamentals. You want to know how to incorporate keywords while maintaining an engaging, reader-friendly style. SEO writing in particular is a valuable skill for digital marketing teams in the age of AI search.
Research and Critical Thinking
Strong research abilities are a big asset because they allow you to quickly become a subject matter expert on a relatively new topic. You’ll need to hunt down credible sources, verify information, and translate complex ideas into content readers can easily digest.
Critical thinking and analytical skills help you evaluate data and identify trends.
Communicating With Editors and Clients
In addition to writing skills, you’ll need to communicate with clients, editors, and marketing teams. Typically, you’ll get a written brief to read carefully and understand thoroughly to produce quality content. Collaborating with different personalities to share institutional knowledge, gather feedback, and manage deadlines is key to maintaining an efficient and consistent content creation process.
Finally, you’ll write a strong byline for your content in business blogs and websites. This is an opportunity to showcase your writing experience and your expertise in your work! The content writing marketplace constantly evolves and changes, so you’ll always have something new to learn or incorporate into your work (and author bio page).
Getting Started as a Content Writer
How to become the best content writer as a beginner? The answer is simple: start by mastering one type of content.
Whether you choose blog posts, social media content, or email newsletters to master, the first step is to focus on one type. As your skills grow, you can expand into other content types.
Each piece you create becomes part of your portfolio. According to popular Reddit threads on r/freelancewriting, building a solid portfolio helps you build credibility and find new clients.
Are you wondering how to become the best content writer from home? Look for remote and freelance opportunities and start mastering a specific type of content. Many beginners try to master everything at once, but it’s better to focus on one content writing format. Choose from one format, such as blog posts, social media content, or email newsletters.
Building your first portfolio doesn’t have to be complicated. You can write sample pieces about topics you know well or create content for your personal blog.
What matters most is showing potential clients you can write clearly and engage readers. Remember, clients want to see content writing examples that relate to their needs, so create samples that mirror the work you want to get paid for.
Where to Find Content Writing Jobs
Beyond the usual job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn, you can find content writing jobs through your professional network, freelance marketplaces, and content marketing agencies like ContentWriters.
Freelance or content marketplaces can get you started quickly but you may be subject to lower rates or weak demand due to the saturated space.
The best way to land a salaried or higher-paying job is to build expertise in specific industries. Specialized knowledge commands higher rates, whether it’s tech, healthcare, finance, or another field. Companies are willing to pay for writers who understand their industry and can write authoritatively about complex topics.
Your Next Steps as a Content Writer
Becoming the best content writer starts with that first piece of content. Each article you write, each client you work with, and each new skill you learn builds toward your success.
The content writing world constantly evolves, but solid writing skills and a willingness to keep learning will always be in style.
Ready to start writing? Whether you’re an expert or learning how to become a content writer with no experience, our blog on writing tips is the best resource. Sign up for our monthly newsletter at the bottom of this page and receive detailed, proven strategies that help you create compelling content.
An earlier version of this post was published in March, 2019 by JoAnna B.
Joan Weisman’s strong research skills, SEO knowledge, adaptability of style and voice, and passion for staying current make her an asset for freelance web content, SEO, and copywriting.
