Writing skill is one of the critical skills that we need in different scenarios such as study and work. Many international students dream to be a digital marketer but shun away as they have poor English writing skills.
You probably face many challenges in writing English essays for your assignments. The most common mistakes are awkward sentences, using complicated words that make your articles hard to understand, grammar mistakes, and chunky paragraphs. Those can hinder you from seeking content writing internships.
Therefore, you probably think “With my weak English writing skills, is there any chance/possibility for me to become a content writer?”
YES! A house is not built overnight. Don’t worry, you can still achieve your dream!
Good content writing skill is one of the most essential skills in digital marketing. You know it and probably wonder how you can do it right? I fully agree with you.
For international students with weakness in writing, writing long articles can be a daunting task. In that case, why not start with writing the short script? Social media provides a chance for novice writers to improve their writing skills.
Here are 3 SECRETS to help you kickstart your content writing career while developing your writing skills.
Secret 1: Writing short social media posts as a starting point
Creating posts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and even Instagram can help you hone your content writing skills.
How to write a social media post? What must I know?
Since many social media platforms have different character limits, long narratives, elaborate explanations, or rambling paragraphs are not appropriate on social media. That’s why we need to keep it short but smart when we are writing.
Also, content writing in social media tends to be casual. Just use simple English. Ensure you communicate your message clearly to the readers. Remember the KISS principle: Keep it simple and short. 😁
Moreover, you can gain instant feedback by writing constantly. It would be so exciting to see especially when readers respond to your content! This can boost your interest in writing and confidence in pursuing a digital marketing career.
The content you can write
Now that you have decided to write content for social media posts, you need to plan what to write for your chosen social media platforms.
Here are 3 ideas for you:
Record your daily life. Imagine treating the social media platforms as your diary. Write down what happens to you every day, your feelings, and your attitudes towards life.
Opinion on the news/current affairs. Choose one to two topics you are concerned about and leave comments with thoughtful words. Try to be persuasive. Don’t forget to give your idea or solution.
Tell people about your experience with a product or service. Topics like what you can do with the product, how you are using products to make lives better, and what you feel for the product or service.
Tips From Experts for Writing Social Media Posts
Once you have some content in mind, it’s time to take the next step and how to make your social media posts more attractive than others. Here are some easy tips for writing social media posts from Jerry Potter, a social media marketing expert.
Secret 2: Use/insert Infographic
The impact of infographics
Infographics are very effective in content writing, such as representing your message in a visually pleasing manner, making people enjoy reading, explaining a complex process, and comparing multiple options.
They are suitable for novice writers to step into the content writing area. You can explain ideas and opinions in shorter sentences and simplified lengthy, creatively deliver messages to readers, which make it easier to kickstart your content writing career.
A perfect infographic leaves a significant impact on the mind of readers. Data fromOne Spot uncovered that Infographic could increase traffic by 12%. According to the NN Group’s research, infographics are more liked and shared than any other type of content on social media.
3 common types of infographics
Now that you understand the power of infographics, you need to know the different types of infographics that work for your content.
It is necessary to choose the proper infographics format to communicate visually. There are 3 types of infographics that we often use for best representation and communication.
1. Informational infographic: Text-based information, giving all important content in text.
(Ataberk Coşkun, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
2. Process infographic: Display a process and show points in a linear order. It provides several easy-to-follow steps.
(Mike Wirth and Dr. Suzanne Cooper-Guasco, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
3. Statistical Infographic: Focus on numbers and data to emphasize the content.
(https://www.anzdata.org.au/anzdata/for-patients/infographic-statistics/)
If you want to learn more about all types of infographics and when to use them, watch the video below
4 tips to create the perfect infographic
Before getting started with your infographic, here are 4 tips you need to know to make a good infographic.
1. Know the basic structure of the infographic
The basic infographic structure includes a headline, introduction, main content, and conclusion. A structure makes it easier for readers to follow the story or message you’re trying to convey.
2. Write a captivating headline
The title of your infographic is critical in creating the first impression of you for the readers. Catchy titles also help to attract attention. They need to know if it is worth reading your infographic. Your headline should be clear, useful, attractive and impactful. Ensure every word in the headline keeps readers engaged.
3. Put informative Statistics
If your infographic is talking about numbers, it would be useful to put statistics in infographics. The statistics you choose should be valuable, relevant, and supportive of your content.
4. Use text properly
The infographic needs some words or copies to support the visual content. Avoid too many words too. Try to give one or two sentences with core messages. Also, do not use too many font types which can affect the overall look of your infographic. Use a maximum of 3 font types for your content.
To make a perfect infographic, don't forget to check your grammar. You can use free tools, like Grammarly, to enhance your writing.
Tools Used To Create Infographics
There are two common tools you can choose to create perfect infographics.
Canva is a popular tool for processing images on different social media platforms. It also has an infographics generator. You can create and download infographics templates for free. If you want a more sophisticated design, you can subscribe to it.
Venngage is famous for lots of templates of infographics, which makes the creation process easy. You can pick a template and insert your choice of icons, charts, and graphs based on your needs.
Secret 3: Keep Your Writing Simple
Writing simple is another secret you need to know as a content writer. Readers usually do not like to read long sentences or long posts unless it is a blog. Compared with complex words and chunky sentences, shorter but more familiar words could draw the eyes of your readers.
Here are two things you need to know for simplifying your writing.
1. Use simple words
Choose a simple word or phrase rather than a complex one. Federation University lists a comparison table for words to master simple writing.
2. Avoid long sentences
Long sentences can make it difficult for readers to understand what you are saying, which could distract them from the message. You'll lose out in the end.
Katherine Firth, a lecturer in La Trobe’s Graduate Research School suggested that keep sentences under 25 words. You can split long sentences instead.
Now that you know the 3 secrets to improve your next post, write the content by following the tips and practice, practice and practice! With much practice, you are one step closer to being a good content writer.
What’s Next?
If you are an international student with a passion for content writing, MARKCubator can help you hone your skills with expert guidance.
We are welcome to book a free consultation with us today!
Or you can register MARKCubator's Practical Marketing Training course to help you stand out from others and kickstart your career.
If you can stay on track, you should be able to produce good quality content one day.
Author: Bohan (Sandra) Yu
Date Published: 15 Sep 2022