3 Tips to Skyrocket Your Content Writing Income

I have to set the expectations first.

The tips below are not a magical pill that will 10x your income as a content writer within a couple of years. Personally, I managed to 3x my income in five years, which is decent. There are plenty of writers who’ve achieved that feat in less time.

To put it simply, it depends on how quickly you improve.

And the three tips below will help you improve your persuasive writing and content marketing skills effectively.

1. Build a workflow around the requirements

The broader steps around writing an article, or creating any content piece for that matter, are identical. Start with an idea, do some research, craft the outline, produce the draft, and make finishing edits before publication.

However, the nuances are different.

For instance, if you are writing a tool listicle, the research process looks significantly different than that of a product feature. Similarly, if you are producing a thought-leadership piece, it’ll be different than that of a guest post.

The degree of research, the flow of the message, and the call to action are all unique. This is expected because each type of article achieves a distinct goal.

Therefore, you must have predefined workflows to accelerate the content writing process. 

Now, if I have to write a tool listicle, I know how to research the software to be mentioned in a time-efficient way. Similarly, when promoting a particular product’s functionalities, I have a definite process through which I learn the tangible benefits.

This means you have to dive into the game of content writing. Dissect the fundamentals of the art of persuasion through written communication, and you’ll be fine. 

To help you in that direction, I’ve developed a comprehensive AI-powered writing workflow that uses ChatGPT, which is quite handy for most, if not all, types of blog posts and articles.

2. The client always wins

The people you write for probably don’t know jack about content marketing. They may have an idea of what they want to relay to their audience, and that’s as good as it gets. The problem is even more dire in B2B environments, where the client is primarily concerned with compliance.

So, it’s inevitable that you will lock horns with your customer. You will recommend something, based on your understanding of content creation and marketing, which will fall on deaf ears and return ultimatums to you.

In those situations, you simply need to keep calm, swallow your ego, and do what they are suggesting. If the situation presents itself, explain the reasoning behind your suggestions just for the sake of it.

You have to detach your emotions from the work you are putting in. It can be challenging for writers as content creation is an emotional process, but with practice, it’s possible.

At the end of the day, your client or employer signs your paycheques. Constant disagreements and adamantly sticking to your points will deem you “difficult to work with.” And people in that category struggle to grow their careers.

Again, I am not advising you to bend over every time and take it. Make yourself heard respectfully and remain stoic when it comes to writing articles.

3. Experiment by writing for yourself

I’ve read articles from more experienced writers in the recent past. They aren’t even close to my drafts. In fact, the arrogant me will get offended if my blog posts are compared with theirs.

The primary reason why I managed to leapfrog my colleagues who started earlier than I is constant experimentation and practice. On average, I have written 2000 words every day, including weekends and holidays, for the past few years.

Not all of them were published. Heck, a huge chunk of them are sitting in my Google Drive somewhere, forgotten forever. Interestingly, the majority of the content I’ve published has zero readers.

However, those pieces have allowed me to stretch my creative mind. I’ve produced drafts with profanity, satire, and rage. The articles leveraged various written communication methods and persuasive paths to encourage the reader to take action.

And that’s where I’ve grown.

The majority of professional writers don’t see the point of writing for themselves unless there is a direct, immediate, and tangible commercial reward. After you are used to making money from typing words, it is hard to motivate yourself to write blog articles like I do.

This is the mindset you need to defeat. Not all growth is measurable through physical metrics, such as money and perceived respect among your peers. Some types of improvement are silent but foundational, like a seed germinating under the soil.

Wrapping up: Choose the right gigs

Initially, you’ll probably take whatever job opportunities you can get. And you should. Beginners should not pick and choose because getting your foot through the door is a priority when you are starting.

As you grow as a content writer or marketer in the industry, it’s better to go after opportunities or gigs that elevate your work-life balance. This will give you the room to dive into the content creation process and build your custom workflows.

Additionally, you will have enough leisure to write what you think on topics that you are passionate about. It will make you a better communicator and set you up for long-term success in the industry.

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Next Chapter: Learn the Philosophies of Content Marketing

Previous Chapter: How Much Do Entry-Level Content Writers Make

Index (Prologue): What is Content Writing