You've been writing for weeks (maybe months) and still haven't figured out why your content doesn't resonate with your audience.
Maybe you're thinking, "This thing isn't for me, I guess."
You may be right, but you could also just be making a few fixable mistakes that have stalled your progress and made you doubt your potential as a writer.
I don't want you to feel that anymore, so I've done the hard work of finding three big mistakes that you should definitely avoid when writing your next content.
Think of this as your checklist for creating content that not only captures your readers' attention but also keeps them engaged and hungry for more.
Let’s get right into it.
Mistake #1/3: Writing generic content
If you've been in the content writing space for a while, you've probably come across the term "generic content."
And 90% of the time, the term was never explained because many writers don't bother. But here's how I would define "generic content" in three sentences:
A. Content that covers broad topics
B. Content that doesn't offer any unique insight
C. Content that is predictable
Writing generic content is the most common mistake new writers make because they prioritize speed over quality.
The idea that content creation is a game of numbers has led many potential talents down the bleak path of mediocrity.
They see people posting content every day and accept it as the norm.
They think,
"My audience expects me to post every day, otherwise they'll think I'm not consistent and stop reading my stuff."
That's a load of B.S. No one cares how often you post if every time you show up, it's with quality content that delivers mouth-watering value.
But that way of thinking is drowning in the sea of comparison these days.
Another reason this mistake of writing generic posts is so easy to commit is that it is super convenient, and to make matters even sweeter, it does generate engagement.
Engagement, yes.
But quality engagement that may one day turn into a profitable transaction? Not in this lifetime...
Those high-paying clients you strive to work with are growing smarter; they can sniff out generic posts from across the Pacific.
As someone who wrote twelve blog posts for a client without getting paid a dime because they lacked originality, I can tell you it's a waste of effort.
For the sake of context...
Here's an example of a generic post intro I generated with ChatGPT (I would have sourced for generic content online, but I didn't want to ruffle any more feathers, yet).
Whether you're a blogger, a marketer, or an aspiring author, the ability to craft compelling content is a skill worth mastering. Content writing offers a gateway to share your thoughts, expertise, and stories with a global audience. It's an exciting journey, but one that often comes with its fair share of hurdles, especially for newcomers to the field.
Well... Did that make you excited to read more?
It's actually not bad, but it does lack originality. And originality is everything if you want to stand out from the ever-growing heap of content creators.
When you really look at it, there's nothing to gain from posting unoriginal content. But it does prevent you from:
• Standing out from the competition
• Being recognized as an authority in your field
• Delivering unique value to your audience
• Getting the clients you want
Think about it... If the content you post isn't a reflection of the type of content you enjoy producing, no one will know what your original writing looks like.
And if the best-case scenario happens and you land a client, you'll quickly find out that generic content isn't so convenient then.
Fortunately, there's an easy fix for generic content — Simply take whatever content you have written and make it:
• More specific
• Have your own thoughts
• Have a twist and less predictable
There you have it—a recipe for original content that will set your brand apart from the noise and clutter.
To make it more practical, let's have some examples:
Generic title: 5 Ways To Make Your Writing Better
Unique Title: 5 Ways To Write Engaging Captions (ChatGPT doesn't know this)
Generic title: How to Write Compelling Headlines
Unique Title: Stupid-simple headline hacks: It took me 3 months to figure this out!
See the difference? Now you try it!
Mistake #2/3: Not having an objective for your content
Writing original content is all good, but what happens when your content lacks a point of focus?
Randomly posting content is another mistake that causes many writers to take emotional blows from their content blowing up in their faces.
They start to associate their worth with the results of their content. They don't see it as a means to get an outcome. Instead, they view it as a means to get liked.
If you're writing content purely so people like you, you're in for a short trip my friend.
Objective content focuses on solving specific problems and when it doesn't get the results you'd like, you can always change your strategy around your focus (a.k.a — your objective).
Some examples of objectives you can have are:
1. Getting new subscribers or followers
2. Getting a private message from your prospects
3. Or it could even be something as simple as getting a "Thank you" in the comment section.
It doesn't have to be complicated, but having these goals at the back of your mind will help you structure your writing and avoid disorganized messaging.
It can be difficult to separate your emotions from your work, but you also have to realize that content writing is not a hobby, it's a business.
If you opened up a kiosk and started selling physical products, would you stop selling because people don't shower you with compliments?
Would you not think of ways to make your business stand out more so you get more customers?
It's the same with writing online; constant revision and testing are necessary for getting better.
Also, including a call to action on your content is a great way to keep your eyes on the prize. It's also a much better way to get your readers to take the action you want.
Mistake #3/3: Not checking for punctuation or spelling errors
With speed being the trend of the day, proofreading and editing of content often take the back seat for many writers.
And since no one likes to be the douchebag who publicly chastises you for your spelling errors, you may never realize you had some.
On the surface, it doesn't seem like a big deal...
But the quality of the content you post reflects a lot on your character. To you, it might simply be one of many pieces of content you've written and posted, but to a potential client or partner, it could be their first impression of you.
Imagine this...
You're looking to hire a young, passionate writer for your business. You scroll through your LinkedIn feed and a professional headshot catches your eye.
The tagline draws your attention further, so you look up their content.
You read the first few lines, and it's scanty, the words are in the wrong places, and the punctuation is non-existent.
How would you feel about such a writer?
Sure, they may have an attractive personality, but you wouldn't count on them to write great content for you.
The reality is that they're a lot of writers out there, and with AI in the mix, your writing needs to be well-polished and free from all sorts of errors to stand out in your industry.
Luckily, there are free tools to help you avoid these mistakes.
Try passing your content through Grammarly every once in a while (even your short-form posts). I've been using it since my book review days in 2021, and I'm still discovering errors that I would not have noticed if I looked at it ten times.
There's something about consistently posting error-free content that helps maintain a professional reputation (even when you don't know what you're talking about, lol).
Nearly everyone knows how to post written content online, but as a content writer, what makes you different is that you work to improve on the craft.
The more mistakes you can avoid, the faster you can remove those blunt edges and become a writer people turn over boulders to find.
It is with my hands tightly pressed together that I hope you got value from this article.
The next post on content marketing is going to be about some common misconceptions about content writing that affect new writers (and even some veterans), so be sure to bookmark this blog and keep in touch for the next update!
Till next time and to getting better one page at a time🥂 ...✍️
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