What is a content writer?
Content writer, copywriter, creative writer… We wordsmiths come in many different forms (although we generally all share an appreciation of ‘new book smell’ and sharp fountain pens). ‘Content writer’ is a fairly broad term and can cover lots of bases, but at its core a content writer’s job is to educate or inform readers through a piece of text.
As it happens, copywriters often do this too, and the job titles are sometimes used interchangeably. Really, copywriting is a specific type of content writing (I do both – what can I say, I love words) and you can learn all about the difference here.
What do content writers create?
You come across content writing every day – actually, you’re reading an example right now! Blog articles are a popular option to highlight industry expertise, lead clients towards services, and attract customers onto a website.
But content writing goes far beyond blog posts.
It’s in the museum guide you picked up and the handbook for the training course you attended. It’s in the programme for the pantomime you watched and the instruction manual for that IKEA bed you proudly constructed (well done). A content writer creates the text for signs and information boards, policy documents and white papers, and scripts for video tutorials. Content writing is everywhere.
Does it have anything to do with marketing?
Yes, it absolutely can do! Typically, you go to a copywriter for marketing projects like adverts, brochures and salesy newsletters, but as we know, copywriting is simply a type of content writing.
What’s more, even those guidebooks and information boards I mentioned earlier can serve a marketing purpose. Consolidating a strong tone of voice for your brand and putting out engaging, memorable content to the world are both excellent ways to market your business or organisation.
So, your written content doesn’t have to have a clear sales focus to win over stakeholders, and a good content writer will create text that supports growth regardless.
Why should you hire a content writer?
Content writing is a delicate balance between sharing information and maintaining your audience’s interest. A skilled writer can take a large amount of information and turn it into something both digestible and memorable, so it pays to work with a professional who has experience crafting top-quality content.
If you’re not ready to hire a content writer to your team, then contact a freelance writer to work with you on a project-to-project basis or on regular deliverables like a monthly blog.
And if you’re looking for such a person, you’re in the right place. Drop me a line to start the conversation, and find out more about me and my rates on my website.
