By: Emily Sykes
Are you considering writing a blog of your own? Has it always been a dream of yours to share your knowledge with others on the Internet? Do you have absolutely no idea how to even get started? Well look no further, here are some media writing basics you should know before you start posting.
Before taking a college course designated to learning about digital media writing, blogs, and online content creation, I had limited experience writing for the media. My range of experience has consisted of creating podcasts and radio segments, editing videos for packages and news stories, and graphic designing logos and infographics. All of which is a source of digital media. However, I never had much of a writing role in those.
Plan Out Your Writing
Discovering the process of successful writing was something that has stuck with me the most on my journey to becoming a professional blogger. You cannot just write up a couple paragraphs, post it, and expect it to receive 5 star reviews. Not to say it couldn’t happen, but becoming a methodic writer can help you with your success.
A smart writer needs to plan time to research, write, edit, rewrite, and proofread to create content that people will want to read and are able to understand. If you cannot write legibly and with clarity, then readers will simply not come back and will not recommend your media to anyone. It is important to give a top-notch first impression of your writing skills, so the reader doesn’t even worry about it.
Be Specific
Another element of successful digital media writing I’ve come to understand is writing for a specific niche. When I first started as a beginner, my writing was too vague. For example, I had been writing about sustainability and recycling. Which at first glance, sounded specific to me. However, I learned that you need to be excessively specific when deciding what to write about.
The general topics can go all over the place. It can get vague and leave the reader with a lot of follow-up questions or thoughts. You need to find a topic inside of that original topic. For the example provided about sustainability and recycling, I ended up honing in specifically on sustainable energy and how companies and consumers can benefit from switching to it.
Spread the Word!
Figuring out how to spread the word about your media content is an important key to its success. If people don’t hear about your content and its existence, then they have no chance of reading it and interacting with you. One way you can connect with other creators and readers is through social media platforms. It is easy to get on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. and promote your writing and content. Simply create a profile that accurately and appropriately represents your content, share posts about updates or how to find your content, and interact with others in the community by following them and joining discussion boards.
Use Searchable Keywords
Another way you can make sure your content is findable is by creating strong long-tail keyword searches. I had no idea what a long-tail keyword search was when I first started. Chances are, you do not either. But, here is where you learn.
When a consumer goes into a search engine and types in various strands of words, they are trying to find content that matches what they search. In order for your content to show up in their recommended search results, you need to include words that are specific to only your writing topic. Include commonly used keywords in your writing, the name of your writing, names of topics, and even the date if it is that specific. Often that is the first way consumers come into contact with information, so making sure your content is findable from search engines is a sure way to rope in readers.
In general, media writing is overlooked because it can seem like such a simple and streamlined task or project. But when you really get into it, it takes time, effort, and patience. You can create a successful blog as a beginning, but using this advice and tips about the writing process, specifying topics, and how to connect with consumers will help you immensely, ideally as it did for me.
Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and any advice in the comments. Good luck on your writing journey!