After setting the strategy, scheduling content, getting the brief, comes the fun part which is creating content.
This we know from long experience. And we indicate that this experience is almost universal from seeing what audiences read on the CMI blog.
People can’t get enough content creation tips. I’m going to make it easy for everyone and load this post with helpful reminders and ideas from the most popular articles in this category (plus links to many more).
1. Context matter when it comes to length
Popularity rank: 1
How many times did you hear notes about the length of your content? That the (article, subject, video, line) should or shouldn’t be that long/short. So, the best advice is to let context guide you.
Mike Murray answered the question that is frequently asked, about how long my blog post should be? She said that it’s strange that a company or an agency would give you a specific length rule. However, there have to be some exceptions. Writers and editors have to agree on how long has the article to be.
There is no word count or length that is ‘magical’ or always right. You cannot just stop writing because you exceeded the word limit. Sure you know that, yet you might forget when clickbait headlines say there is a magic length that will assist you with a better ranking in search, get more emails, or boost your clicks. What is important is how relevant, useful, interesting, or joyful the content is.
We don’t even recommend a specific word count, The only thing writers have to do is to cover the topic completely and for sure, the topic has to be relevant to our readers and has a fresh idea or new angle on a good topic.
If the piece of content is too long, make sure it’s just fine for your audience. Although the myth of the eight-second attention span has been failed, your audience is going to notice (and might skip it) when you go off-topic for example, to stretch the content to stuff more keywords in the article.
Here, Mike offers advice with a motivating upside. He explained that you have to discard information that doesn’t fit the content but always think about the chances that you may always need these removed texts for further content with some modification or additions.
Sometimes shorter really is better
Mike’s post includes so many good ideas, I struggled to pick just one. So here’s one more content creation tip: “You don’t need to write long sentences to make your point. Short ones can work in your favor. It’s the same with words.”
Mike’s post has a lot of great ideas that we don’t know what to pick from them! So, here is another tip, he noted that you don’t need to write long sentences to make a valid point or to explain yourself. Short sentences many times are better than long ones. This also goes with words. For example, We can replace Indicate with show, utilize –> use, In order to –> to, Obtain–> get, and Facilitate –> help
So, if a short word can deliver the meaning, don’t use the long one.
2. Fight filler and stuffing
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Even if you replaced all long words with short ones, your content might still be boring. So, remove any word that adds nothing to the text’s meaning.
For example, literally, obviously, really, virtually, when it comes to.
So, do you need to remove them all? No, you just need to remove what adds nothing to the meaning and wasn’t used correctly. If the sentence has the same meaning after removing this word, always remove it.
Readers will not know why your content is so good, but the editors will thank you later.
3. Don’t shy away from the indirect
Popularity rank: 4
Don’t suppose you know the advice on this topic from the “indirect” heading. She is not giving you blanket permission to use a polite term or passive voice uncontrollably.
The thing she talks about works on quotations. Writers tend to copy what a person stated exactly as it is.
It’s not always what writers have to do. Some people have to speak in a way that delivers their ideas briefly and clearly
Help your readers by rewriting when it explains the point of the person’s idea or make easier transitions that may be awkward. Also, clarify that the paraphrased paragraph came from an interview. The part you will use in quotation marks has to be saved for times the speaker’s explanation, sentiment or language will do.
4. Sweat the headline
Popularity rank: 3
You exerted a lot of effort and time to make your content. Give it more chances to be the top by making good headlines.
By “good,” I don’t mean smart, sensationalized, or funny. They can be parts of a good headline – if a visitor clicks and feels happy the article made the headline’s objective.
To give an example, wonderful wordplay and clickbait titles will not work in the future. The previous may confuse visitors and in the end, might be disappointed.
Unfortunately, there is not a form that works for all purposes. However, Barry Feldman provides a good list of ideas to think about in this article and infographic.
One of the best forms is the teaser. Just write a headline that will tease the reader to the state of ‘I have to know the end of this’.
Note: Although the headline of the writer is a draft except they are the decision-maker, and always write one anyway. If you display a piece to the publication, it may help you dazzle. Again, only if the content performs the objective. If you are writing for an external or internal client, they will like you for making their headline-writing work simpler.
5. Block yourself in
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Almost all writers want to know how to write faster and faster. I think there is no writer who doesn’t want this.
A helpful tip takes advice from experience – Stop continuous time on your calendar to start writing. Then, add some pressure: Schedule some important things at the end of your writing block. If you know you have to stop writing, you are more likely to get it done.
