When you’ve got deadlines to meet, ideas that just aren’t coming together, or you feel overwhelmed, the idea of content writing can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Whether you need to write a convincing email or you need to meet deadlines on content for your website, there are always ways to make it all a lot easier to process. With that in mind, let’s explore some ways to make content writing easier.
Have a plan
When you’ve got thousands of words you need to write, it can be really tempting to dive straight in and get it out of the way. However, a little planning could make things a lot easier. Before you dive in, think about what you’re trying to achieve with your content. Are you informing, entertaining, or persuading your audience? Once you know your goal, it’s much easier to find your groove and the right tone of voice earlier on. Not only that, it helps you outline the points you want to make and eliminate the chance of forgetting it altogether. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy either, just some simple bullet points that you can check off as you go.
Break it into smaller tasks
For some people, the idea of writing “X” amount of words all at once can feel very overwhelming. If this sounds familiar, consider breaking it down into smaller sections and focus on writing one part at a time. Whether you focus on the introduction, the main body of content, or even the conclusion, focusing on one section helps you feel like you’re making progress without getting overwhelmed by what’s left.
Use a timer
If you’re someone that finds themselves easily distracted, then using a timer can help keep you on track. If you set a timer for say, 20 or 30 minutes, you can work non-stop until the timer goes off. You’ll actually be surprised at how much you can get done in a short space of focused time. It also helps to keep your mind focused on what’s at hand instead of being tempted into using your phone or wandering off. Then once the timer goes off, you can take a quick break.
Get rid of distractions
If distractions really are a big issue when it comes to staying on track, then you need to get rid of as many as you can. If you have a landline on your desk at work, put your phone on silent in your desk drawer to remove the temptation of scrolling TikTok instead of working. You can let people know that they can get in touch with you using your landline if it’s business related.
Alternatively, you can download apps like “freedom” to block certain websites and social media when you need to be focused. Once your working area is free of distractions, you’ll notice your productivity levels rise exponentially.
Recycle content
Sometimes writing content can be difficult because you’re feeling pressured toi always come up with something new, but that doesn’t always have to be the case! Don’t always feel like you need to come up with new content as you can recycle old blog posts and articles with new information. Repurposing content not only saves you time but also helps you turn your already available content into something that’s much more valuable. Plus, it’s great for reaching audiences that may have missed your original content.
Sometimes, you might find yourself staring at a blank screen unable to get the words flowing. This is where recycling content comes in handy again. You can use an AI paraphraser to help refresh old content that might be feeling a little stale. You don’t have to use it to rewrite entire pieces of content either, you can reword sentences that sound clunky or add in some keywords that were missing.
Keep your writing simple
One of the easiest ways to make content writing easier is by keeping it simple! You don’t need to use fancy words or complicated sentences to write good content. Instead, aim for clarity. Focus on getting your message across in a way that anyone can understand. If you need to, go back and simplify your writing even further once you’ve finished the first draft. If people are confused by what they are reading, they’re likely to click away.
Have realistic deadlines
Having a deadline is great for motivation, but unrealistic ones can just add unnecessary pressure onto yourself. Instead of setting yourself up for a stressful day by aiming to finish a huge piece of writing in a few hours, set some smaller goals instead. If you’ve got a long-form piece of content to write, break it into sections and set deadlines on the smaller sections. You won’t feel as rushed, and you’ll find that you’re doing a better job overall.
Leave editing until later
It’s easy to give into temptation and self-edit as you go, but it can really slow you down. Instead, try getting the content written first (even if they’re not perfect) and then doing a mass-edit later on. This will allow you to get all of your creative ideas down without worrying about spelling or grammar and ensure that you’ve got everything down you wanted to write about. You’ll also find that editing doesn’t take as long as normal because you’re doing it all at once, instead of a few minutes here and there.
Use templates
If you’re writing similar content on a regular basis, having a template can save you time and mental energy. Spend some time creating templates for your articles, emails, social media posts and even your blog posts. It’ll instantly feel easier because you’re not starting “from scratch” every time, and you’ll already have key bits of information written down like hashtags and emojis you might use for social media.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Finally, if you’re really struggling with a piece of content, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Whether it’s asking a colleague for some feedback or delegating some of the work to someone else, someone else’s perspective can give you clarity and the push you need to write great content. Outsourcing to a SaaS content agency can also help you out, because then you can get your content strategy under control and your content written and managed for you. It’s OK to ask for help if you’re struggling with content. It’s not the easiest thing to do, even if you’ve already tried the previous strategies mentioned.