The New Absolute, Must-Have Fundamentals Of Content Writing For Beginners

Content writing isn’t the same as it was a few years ago. With generative AI, misinformation and algorithms in the mix, it’s more than a little bit daunting to know how to make it all work if you’re just starting out as a writer.

So, what should emerging content creators focus on in this frenetic new world? Here’s my take on what fledgling content writers should be focusing on - the new fundamentals, if you will.

A strong conversational voice

Sure, you know how to string a sentence or two together. And clients want you to write fancy blog posts explaining hard topics. But the world is moving on. Generative AI is here to stay, and plenty of businesses will cut marketing budgets as a result.

No, it can’t replace writers (yet). But it is changing the business world already. As AI develops, companies want chatbots and voice assistants for their customers. What does that mean? AI is shifting language towards a conversational style - and that’s the kind of shift that KOs all the old keyword and SEO strategies.

On the face of it, the basics are easy enough. Shorter, snappier sentence structures and a more chilled tone of voice are simple to integrate. But adding personality is a lot harder. Don’t be afraid to splash some paint on the canvas - spill the entire can if you have to.

And think barbecue content, not an SEO-optimised snoozefest.

Understand content’s impact

We live in a content-obsessed world. Bad actors know that, so they weaponised it and unleashed a bomb on society. Now we can’t trust anything we consume.

Okay, that’s a little cynical for an article about content writing. But my point is that misinformation is everywhere, deepfakes are becoming more realistic by the day and fake news can spread like wildfire on social media. Ethical content writing goes beyond fact-checking and plagiarism now: you need a new arsenal.

Here are some starting points: make it crystal clear when your work is an opinion piece, not factual. Be open about any affiliations, biases or potential conflicts of interest you should disclose. And make it your business to understand cultural sensitivities and be aware of new web accessibility laws coming in

It’s wild that we have to spell some of this stuff out now. But it’s the reality, and not going away anytime soon. All we can do as content writers is try not to make it worse.

Algorithmic zen

We all know about algorithms and how they put eyeballs on certain content. But all of these social media platforms have different versions of it, so you need to know how they work to try and please the algorithm overlords.

I don’t mean gaming the algorithm - I’d imagine trying to reason with a charging bull would be less frustrating, fruitless and ultimately, painful. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn what makes each algorithm tick to get more people to see your work. Think algorithmic nirvana, instead.

There are a couple of strands to this. Algorithms make recommendations to users based on past behaviour and preferences. Understanding the target user for your content writing and crafting accordingly means you stand a better chance of getting recommended to the right audience.

Then there’s what each algorithm deems to be decent content in the first place. High engagement is usually the answer if we’re talking about social media. As for search engines, focusing on long-tail keywords might be a better strategy for your content. 

Really stuck on where to begin with algorithms? Keep up with the news, test different pieces to see what sticks and analyse your content’s performance. Rinse and repeat. There’s no right answer to getting in front of the fabled algorithms, but keeping on top of the constantly evolving environment is a good way to shape your content writing for your audience.

Wrapping up

Content writing is still the same at its core: compelling, clear writing will always win the day. It’s simply time to chuck away the old rulebook and harness the power of the new weapons rather than fall victim to them.

Need an agency that’s ready to ride into battle? We’ve got the chariot ready. Contact us for content creation that works with the future, not against it.