Content writing has become one of the most sought-after career prospects for the new generation. Content writing is essentially the process of writing, editing, and publishing any content on a digital platform. This Content writing involves blog posts, video content, audio content like podcasts, press releases, product descriptions, website write-ups, landing pages, social media releases, and much more.
Remember the website details that pop up when you search for something? Yeah, those too benefit from content writing. For example, you are searching up the location and other details of the escape room in Bangalore, and immediately see a lot of articles, news, and business details related to the escape room come up on Google. This information and write-ups are basically one form of content writing or another.
But it is not easy going into the path of a content writer or a freelance writer. Even if you are someone who likes reading and writing, content writing is a lot more than just mere love for words.
What is Content writing?
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Content writing is an umbrella term for a range of writing concerning different industries. The main aspect of these write-ups will have to be about researching and curating engaging content suitable for all readers. The different kinds of content writing include:
- Blog Writing (Blogs, articles, research, interviews)
- Copywriting (product descriptions, copy ads, website copy, sales collateral)
- Academic writing (e-books, school and university guides)
- Technical Writing (technology-oriented content like blogs, product descriptions, etc.)
- Travel Writing (Travelogues, blogs, magazine articles, interviews)
- Ghost Writing (White papers, e-books, website content, etc.)
- Social Media Content (social media posts, PR articles, infographics, captions)
- Email Writing (emails, newsletters, campaigns)
- Script Writing (Video scripts, captions, descriptions)
- White Papers (Hardcore educational or statistical content)
- Research Papers (research journals, magazines, etc.)
There are also other forms of content writing outside these few categories, but these are the most widely accepted categories of content writing at present. You need to be a skilled writer and researcher in order to successfully establish yourself as a content writer.
What are the skills required?
So, you need certain skills to become a content writer. Content writing is a flexible but demanding job. You need to work hard, but you also need to hone your existing skills. Content writing skills include:
• Writing Skills
If you are planning on becoming a content writer, then you must have excellent writing skills. You must have advanced level practice in the language you want to write on. If you are not confident about your writing skills, you should try taking up a writing workshop that will help you evaluate your writing skills, grasp of grammar, and comprehension skills. You must always keep practicing in order to polish your skills.
• Good Research
You must write on a variety of topics concerning different fields while attempting a career in content writing. we must be able to do in-depth research on the web and beyond. You must be able to figure out important details, draw analytical inferences and use these source materials to create your own narrative.
• Grammar and linguistic accuracy
It is a given that good writing skills will involve a good grasp of grammar, and your writing will reflect your linguistic skills. Your writing must be accurate, with proper descriptions, fluent, grammatically sound, and your syntax, vocabulary, and sentence structure must be in order as well. Make sure your comprehension skills are suitable for your write-ups.
• Formatting Skills
As a content writer, you must be adept at handling the digital space. Your content must be formatted in a way that fits the established standards of the industry and results in establishing your content. Your goal is to make your content readable and accessible. Make sure to include brief 3-4 lines, use numbers and bullet points and use relevant multimedia to highlight important details.
• Plagiarism free content
As a content writer, you will be required to make plagiarism-free content. You will have to do research and flag important information but make use of your original unique voice to write your content. Your content will only be able to reach the maximum number of people if your content is interesting and relevant. So, make sure your content is authentic and readable.
• SEO Skills
If you are trying to make it as a content writer, you must have good SEO (search engine optimization) skills. SEO and keyword insertion help you reach a wider and more appropriate audience. You need this boost to promote your content and to become visible in the search engines.
• Time Management
As a content writer, you will be required to write and publish authentic and appropriate content every day. Regular visibility will increase your chances of capturing the attention of a reader. This is why time management skills are a must for all content writers. You will have tight deadlines, hectic schedules, and constant pressure to churn out more content. Whether you choose to be a full-time writer or a freelancer, make sure to practice time management so that you never miss any submissions or deadlines.
What do content writing courses involve?
Pursuing a career in content writing is not easy. There are various conditions and skills needed to become a successful content writer. But taking up a content writing course certainly makes things a little bit easier and approachable. Certain considerations are to be made when choosing a content writing course.
- First and foremost, you must decide if you want to attend an online course or an offline course.
- You must also consider the element of Time. Decide how much you can afford to invest and how much you want to invest.
- Your budget must also be one of the factors you must decide on. Compare the expenses of an offline course and an online course. Look up the coursework and incentive on both sides.
- Then you must also consider the aspect of Commute and distance. Look into the offline places which are convenient for you, and if you do not find any suitable options, choose online courses.
If you are an aspiring content writer looking for online courses to offer you guidance, you are in the right place. Learning and developing skills will ensure a solid career path for your future. A strong foundation is necessary for establishing a career path for yourself. If you have decided on developing your skills in content writing, a content writing course is just the thing for you. Here is a list of 17 content writing courses that will help you kickstart your career.
Top 17 Content Writing Courses to Kick-Start Your Career
Online Writing Lab Course by Purdue University
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab offers 24-hour access to online resources for writing enhancement for both teachers and students. You can learn professional Writing, Technical Writing, and other aspects of the writing process. You can also learn English as a second language and get access to examinations regarding writing style. The course materials will include handouts, digital recordings, and PowerPoint presentations related to the above topics. Professional and Technical Writing provides a list of online resources exploring the techniques of business letters, notices, and other business documents.
You will get to learn audience analysis, equal structures, and correct writing tone. The Writing Process will incorporate text-based resources and activities that cover everything from overcoming writer’s block to editing and proofreading techniques. Other topics include pre-writing, theory statements, outlining, and audience analysis required for any writing activity.
Writing and Communication Centre program by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Writing and Communication Centre of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers free one-on-one interactive sessions from writing professionals and communication experts, including MIT lecturers, educators, and published writers. Through this program, you can download online coursework that covers topics like essay writing, content writing, and Technical Writing. Course activities will include tasks, tests, lecture notes, and video lessons.
You will be required to read and write essays (coursework can be bought online) and attempt other writing-related tasks, including creative writing, article writing, idea and draft development, and even incorporating reader’s diary concepts.
Content Marketing Toolkit Course by SEMrush
Content Marketing Toolkit is a three-hour spanning course offered by SEMrush. This course is designed to help you enhance your content marketing and content writing skills. This course is essentially a series of video lessons supplemented with study materials. There are quizzes following the completion of each video session. In this course, you will be able to brush up on your writing skills to enhance your SEO.
For this, you will need to learn how to use analytical and optimization tools for your content. You will also learn how to leverage free content writing tools, and research techniques to best attract the target audience. You will learn marketing strategies and user engagement techniques and monitor your own performance to enhance their outcome. The content calendar will also help you maintain a strict publishing schedule which is a must for a freelancer.
Essentials of Writing Content by Udemy
This is a short hour-long content writing course offered by Udemy. This course helps you develop and enhance your content writing skills. This course is appropriate for beginners trying to learn the ropes of a content writing career. In this course, you will get to learn the basics of content writing, the formats, and attributes of content writing, and help improve your writing ability. This course will also help determine your writing potential and help you in polishing certain aspects of your content writing to suit different clients.
Secret Sauce of Great Writing by Udemy
This is a 40-minute beginners course offered by Udemy. This course deals with the essentials of content writing and creative writing. The course deals with blogs and business writing as well. Special focus is given to the skillful simplicity, clarity, and accessibility of the writings. You will learn how to improve your writing and increase both their readability and eloquence.
The content must be evocative, and it must stand out to beat other relevant content writings. After learning these skills, you will be able to self-evaluate to enhance your writing skills. E-learning content will be accessible through videos, e-booklets, and interactive Q/A sessions with the instructor.
How to Make a Living Writing Articles by Udemy
This is a 2-hour-long writing course offered by Udemy. In this course, you will learn how to maximize your income from content writing. This course will cover the fundamentals of content research, writing, and tips on how to increase site traffic. In this course, you will get a beginner’s guide to a freelance writing career and learn more about article ideas, article length, article format, and article submission tips.
You will also get tips on how to locate well-paying websites and learn more about their payment procedure. The course aims to give you a collective idea of how to establish a content writing career in such an increasingly competitive space.
Content Marketing: Blogging for business by LinkedIn
LinkedIn offers a 50-minute free beginner-level content marketing course dealing with the process of blogging for businesses. This comprehensive course offers to teach you ways to write highly optimized content and develop appropriate content marketing strategies for them.
This deals with blogging, guest blogging, and also how to build a team for this purpose. You will get to learn more about writing blogs, online marketing, social media promotion, B2B and B2C content marketing, blog designs, blog development, evaluation guidelines, and editorial guidelines. The course is divided into modules, and a quiz is offered after completing each module.
Content Strategy Course by HubSpot
This is a 3-hour long course offered by HubSpot academy. This content strategy course will deal with conceptualising your content to suit your goals or business model and increase online engagement. You will get to learn a long-term content creation plan, identifying content requirements relevant to the target audience and SEO with a focus on topic clusters and pillar pages.
This course will also help you in learning and managing the growth funnel in the increasingly digital reliance in the industrial space. Moreover, you will get to interact with industry professionals and influencers so as to increase content reach and engagement.
Good with Words- Writing and Editing Specialisation by Coursera
The University of Michigan offers a four-month-long set of four content writing courses accessible via Coursera. In this course, you will learn writing, editing, and proofreading skills. The focus will be on creative sentence construction, crafty slogans, a strong grasp of conceptual and practical use of paragraphs, syntax, punctuation, etc. You will also get to learn story writing skills, idea development, tips on revision techniques, deadlines, and how to increase your networking skills. You will also learn how to handle data collection, research analysis, and feedback management.
High Impact Business Writing by Coursera
This is a unique seven-hour creative writing course offered by the University of Irvine, accessible through Coursera. In this course, you will have to follow a particular business objective, and you must follow relevant guidelines appropriate to your business writing. You will learn how to write business emails and press releases, and prepare presentations. You will also need to write, edit and fix errors (if present) in business documents.
Content Marketing Strategy by Coursera
The Strategy of Content Writing is a course offered by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), and this course is accessible through Coursera. This is a 20-hour self-paced course that is designed to help you familiarise yourself with content marketing which is essential for a career in content writing. In this course, you will learn about profitable content writing strategies to help boost customer interaction and website details.
This will also introduce a comprehensive mapping of your content- starting with ideas, developing, organization, and finally, their development. It will teach you strategies for powerful content writing and brand building. Lastly, this course will analyze your content writing strategies to increase their positive outcome.
Content Strategy Professionals Specialisation Course by Coursera
Northwestern University offers a specialization course for content writers accessible through Coursera. This Content Strategy Professional Specialisation course helps you gain tips on content writing, content development, and content marketing strategies. You will learn how to best curate your content to maximize audience engagement.
You will also learn how to best use available techniques and tools for your content writing. Special attention will be given to content writings centered around human emotions. At the completion of this course, you will be able to use this teaching for the Capstone Project and get an idea of your improvement and room for enhancement.
Editing and Proofreading Masterclass by SkillShare
Editing and proofreading Masterclass is a 3-hour-long (flexible) course offered by SkillShare. This course deals with two important aspects of a content writing career- editing and proofreading. In this course, you will learn about professional editing and proofreading techniques, lessons on grammar and syntax, and tips on editing and networking as well. The course has insightful modules with universal proofreading symbols, e-learning tools like videos, and special editing tools. There are also projects and special lessons after the completion of the course.
So, You Want to Be a Freelance Writer? By SkillShare
This is a 50-minute online course offered by SkillShare. This will cover the basics of content writing and how to establish a successful freelancing career. This course will teach you how to build a resume and offer tips on the networking process to ensure a bigger clientele. The focus would be given to audience engagement, deadline management, and content writing skill enhancement. This course will also involve tips on writing more compelling and accessible content.
Content Writing Course by Henry Harvin
Henry Harvin Education offers a 40-hour two-way interactive live content writing course. In this course, you will be able to partake in projects dealing with learning skills, research writing, technical writing, academic writing, and much more. There will be easy access to e-learning with abundant tools and techniques, video content, assessments, and more.
You will be able to obtain a certificate with the global credential of Certified Digital Content Writer and showcase your expertise by using the Hallmark of CDCW next to your name. Moreover, this course guarantees internships that suit your expertise as well after the completion of yearlong coursework.
Technical Writing Course by Henry Harvin
Henry Harvin Education offers a 36-hours two-way interactive live technical writing course. In this course, you will be able to access e-learning with appropriate tools and techniques regarding technical writing. You will be able to engage with projects on the documentation process, technical writing software tools, and more.
There will be interactive boot camps stretched over a12 month period to facilitate your learnings. At the end of the course, you will be awarded a technical writing certificate from the institution with a guaranteed internship as post-course support.
Get Paid to Write by Elna Clain
These offer unique email writing courses offered by Edna Clain. This is a week-long (flexible) course where each day, a new lesson is delivered to your mailbox to help you learn practical skills regarding content writing. This is targeted toward people who aspire to become freelance writers without the constraints of a nine-to-five job but do not know where to begin.
In this course, you will learn how to work consistently on quality content under tough deadlines. You will learn how to create writing samples from scratch, how to land multiple freelancing jobs in an instance, and lastly, how to publish on Medium.
In a Nutshell
Content writing courses are the best way of enhancing your content writing and content marketing skills. Only when you are well-versed in the industry techniques and updated on the trends and strategies will you be able to best choose your career prospects. If you want to kick start your content writing career, have a look at these 17 content writing courses perfect for the budding content writer in you.
