The place of contents in businesses in the world today can not be overemphasized. Gone are the days when you had to go to a store before you can see a shirt you want to buy. Now, while you sitting comfortably in the comfort of your home, you can surf the internet, shop for shirts from more than ten shops all over the world, make your purchase, and have it delivered to your address. 

This is the power of content and the relevance of high-quality leads. Businesses and Brands are always looking for content that will draw potential clients to their blogs or websites. More traffic means more revenues and business growth. The place of a content writer, is, therefore, essential to businesses and brands. 

What Is Content Writing? 

Content Writing is defined as the act of writing compelling original content e.g. Articles, Email Campaigns, Ebooks, Social Media Posts, Blog posts, and Scripts to market a business or brand on the web. 

Content Writing has become a lucrative source of income for many people in the industry. The great part for many content writers is that you can make it a full-time job, writing in your PJs while lying on your bed, or as a part-time job, creating your hours to suit your day job. 

Millions of business and brand owners go to Job sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Linkedin Jobs, Media Bistro, and Guru.com in search of writers who will write content for their blogs or websites. 

What skills do these clients expect a skilled content writer to possess? What skills will make your resume stand out? 

Skills A Content Writer Should Have 

• Superb Oral And Written Communication Skills

Communication is one of the keys to writing content. To efficiently create content that will appeal to your reading audience, you must be able to speak and write clearly and concisely in the language they understand.  A content writer must know when to dot her i's and cross her t's. Proper punctuation and fluent use of words in the language you speak and write in is a must-have. 

• Ability To Create Catchy And Original Content

You must be able to create content that expresses your understanding of your audience and what you know they are looking for. Write from your audience's perspective.  What would you do if you were on the other side of the fence looking to buy a product or service? How would you make the product or service look worthwhile to the purchaser? Originality is key. Caption your content with catchy headings. Use captivating tones.  Utilizing unique ideas and writing styles hooks your audience and leaves them seeking more of what you have to offer. 

• Ability To Create SEO Optimized Content

SEO Optimization, also known as Search Engine Optimization, is simply the method of using techniques and tactics that will rank websites and blog posts highly on the Web thereby increasing traffic and monetary gains. 

There are millions of web pages on the internet. Most of them will never draw traffic and will stay redundant and irrelevant because their content is not SEO-optimized. 

A Content Writer should know how to use appropriate keywords and key phrases to write content. These keywords will increase leads and traffic. Every time potential customers use search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc to search for a product, service, brand, or personality on the internet, the content that contains keywords will be showcased at the top. This makes the websites easy to find and it puts them ahead of other content. 

• Time Management

We often hear the saying "  Time is of the essence. " These words were coined to depict the importance of time in life and business. 

Knowing how to manage your schedules effectively and efficiently is necessary for anyone who intends to make an impact in his or her business industry. 

Like Victor Hugo says and I quote, " He who every morning plans the transaction of that day and follows that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. "

Meeting deadlines when due is a plus for any Content Writer. 

• In-depth Researching Ability

You need to be able to find whatever you need to express yourself in your writing via research. 

The Online Cambridge Dictionary defines  Research to mean " to study a subject in detail especially to discover new information or reach a new understanding about it." 

Researches are taskful but needful for thoroughness in content writing. It helps in broadening your knowledge of various niches which is a great addition to your abilities. 

•  Great Digital Marketing Skills

Digital Marketing is also known as Online Marketing. It is the process of using technologies and online tools to connect customers to a business, brand, product, or service. 

The world has gone digital. We no longer need to post an ad in a magazine offline before we can sell a house or buy one. Our internet-connected phones and laptops make this less burdensome for us.

Digital Marketing leverages online channels like text messages, multimedia messaging, blogging, social media platforms, Search Engine Optimization techniques, and Email marketing to promote gripping promotional content that creates notable leads. 

As a content writer, you need to be versatile in the knowledge of Digital Marketing to be relevant in the industry. 

In Conclusion

Writing content without increasing leads to a website or blog or creating top ranking SEO Optimized content will make your writing as mundane as an old horse cart in the 21st century. Work at improving yourself and your abilities. 

Write, write, and keep on writing. This is the most important part of being a content writer.