The Seven Wonders of Content Writing: A Witty Exploration of Online Content Types

Introduction

Content is King

They say, but what does that really mean? Well, dear reader, buckle up because we're about to embark on a journey through the seven wonders of content writing. And no, we're not talking about the Great Wall of China or the Pyramids of Giza. We're talking about the seven types of online content that directly grow a brand's presence online. So, grab your explorer's hat, your sense of humor, and let's dive in!

The Foundation: Web Content

A house is only as strong as its foundation

Said someone wise, probably. In the world of content writing, web content is our foundation. 

This includes your home page, about page, and pages about the services you offer.

Without these core web pages, readers can't find the information they're looking for about a business. So, these pages are critical to develop.

And the skills that a good writer needs to write great web copy? SEO writing knowledge and engaging, conversion-friendly writing skills.

Remember, good web page copy should always be about the customer and never just about the brand or product.

To actually write effective web content, you need to:

1. Understand your audience: Know who you're writing for and what they're looking for.
2. Use SEO: Incorporate relevant keywords into your content to help it rank higher in search engine results.
3. Be engaging: Write in a way that draws the reader in and keeps them interested.
4. Be conversion-friendly: Your content should guide readers towards taking a desired action, like making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

The Structure: Blogs

If web content is the foundation, then our blogs are the structure and the rooms in our house

Blogging provides context for an audience, connects an audience to a brand, boosts SEO presence in Google, and gives businesses a way to nurture their leads with fresh, consistent content.

Did you know that companies that blog 11 or more times per month, gain as many as four times the amount of leads as those who blog only a few times per month? That's like having four houses instead of one! 

To write effective blog posts, you should:

1. Choose a relevant topic and write in a conversational tone: Pick a topic that's relevant to your audience and your brand, and engage your readers with a conversational tone.
2. Use headers, bullet points, short paragraphs, and include a call to action: Make your post easy to read and guide readers towards the next step with a clear call to action.

The Supporting Player: Social Media

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players

Shakespeare might not have been talking about social media, but he might as well have been. Social media is a supporting content player.

It's not enough for a company just to have a social presence or only to blog. Social media complements the content that you do on your site.

And on the flip side, companies that have no social media presence really aren't going to get far in today's social media dominated world. 

To effectively use social media as a content platform, you should:

1. Choose the right platforms: Not every social media platform will be right for your brand. Choose the ones where your target audience spends their time.
2. Be consistent: Regularly post content to keep your audience engaged.
3. Be interactive: Respond to comments and messages, and engage with other users' content.
4. Use visuals: Images and videos tend to perform well on social media.

The Curb Appeal: Ad and Sales Copy

You never get a second chance to make a first impression

This is where ad and sales copy comes in. This kind of copy is created to get your house, your presence online, to appeal to the people you're trying to bring in. Advertising and sales copy applies to almost every business in every industry and it can take on a variety of shapes from a long-form course sales page to a short form Facebook ad. 

To write effective ad and sales copy, you should:

1. Understand your audience: Know what they want and need, and how your product or service can provide that.
2. Be clear and concise: Your message should be easy to understand and get to the point quickly.
3. Use persuasive language: Your copy should convince readers that they need your product or service.
4. Include a clear call to action: Tell readers exactly what you want them to do next.

The Fine Art Collection: Expert Copy

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see

At some point or another, businesses that are trying to reach an elite or high-level audience need that expert copy to bring them in. This is where our expert copy comes into play. Writers that create expert copy usually have three to five years of experience in that industry.

To write expert copy, you should:

1. Have deep knowledge of the subject matter and be able to explain complex topics: This usually comes from years of experience in the field and the ability to simplify complex topics for your audience.
2. Use a professional tone and stay up-to-date: Convey authority and credibility with a professional tone, and keep up with the latest trends and developments in your field.

The Newsroom: Journalism and Press Release Writing

The first draft of anything is sh!t 

Ernest Hemingway probably wasn't talking about press releases, but the sentiment still applies.

If you want to get the news out about what you're doing, launching a product, launching a new business, launching a platform etc., then you want this type of writing.

To write a press release, you should:

1. Use a formal tone: Press releases should be professional and straightforward.
2. Include all the important details: Who, what, when, where, why, and how.
3. Use quotes: Quotes from key people in your organization can add credibility to your press release.
4. Include contact information: Reporters who are interested in your story need to know how to get in touch with you.

The Creativity Corner: Creative Writing

Creativity is intelligence having fun 

Albert Einstein probably didn't know about content writing when he said this, but it fits perfectly.

Creative writing is a genre that encompasses the super creative projects that companies create content for and it supports almost every one of the formats we've talked about so far.

Creative writing is blending the best of a writer's storytelling abilities and using that in the other formats. 

To do creative writing, you should:

1. Let your imagination run wild: Creative writing is all about thinking outside the box.
2. Use vivid descriptions: Paint a picture with your words to engage your readers' senses.
3. Experiment with different styles and formats: Try writing a poem, a short story, or a script.
4. Edit, edit, edit: Creative writing often requires multiple drafts to get it just right.

Conclusion

The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time

T.S. Eliot might have been onto something there. After exploring the seven wonders of content writing, we come back to where we started, understanding that content is indeed king. But now, we know why.

We know that each type of content plays a crucial role in building a brand's online presence.

And we know that a good content writer is not just a writer, but a builder, a player, an artist, a journalist, and a creative genius. 

So, the next time someone tells you "Content is King," you can tell them, "Yes, and I know why."

Because content isn't just about filling up space on a webpage. It's about building a house, a stage, a fine art collection, a newsroom, and a creativity corner.

It's about creating a world that your audience wants to be a part of. And that, dear reader, is the power of content writing.

In the end, the art of content writing is about more than just putting words on a page.

It's about using those words to connect with your audience, to tell a story, to persuade, to inform, and to entertain.

It's about creating content that resonates with your readers and leaves them wanting more.

So, whether you're writing web content, blogs, social media posts, ad copy, expert copy, press releases, or creative writing, remember to always keep your audience in mind and strive to create content that truly speaks to them.