“ How can I become a web editor if I don’t know the writing techniques ?”
“What if I don’t have the qualities to create my business?”
“I would love to work from home, but am I really capable of it?”
I asked myself all these questions before becoming a web editor . Changing careers to start freelancing when you are a stay-at-home mom is not an easy decision. Because we are afraid of venturing into something that does not suit us. Because we are afraid of failing…
As for me, I started with SEO writing before branching out into copywriting and content marketing. And today, I’m having a blast in my job.
If I could do it, you can too! But before you make a radical decision that could change your life, I would like to share with you some food for thought to find out if this job is really for you .
Today, I’m giving you the 9 qualities I believe are required to start your career as a professional content writer. Let’s go!
Quality #1 of the web editor: loving to write
Loving to write… it may seem obvious when you want to become a web editor . However, I want to sound a little alarm.
Some people think that writing articles is easy. They tell themselves that they can do it, even if they don’t like it very much.
For me, clearly, it’s a no-go. If you do this job just to fill your fridge, you won’t last in the long term! Web writing is not a “catch-all” job that you do by default.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Beginner web writers write about topics that don’t necessarily excite them. And to succeed, you’re going to have to write content (a lot)… because you have to develop your experience, build a portfolio and a network to make yourself known.
Under these conditions, if you don’t like writing even a little bit, you won’t last long. I know it’s hard to hear, but I’d like to warn you so that you know what you’re getting into. If you really want to succeed, you’re going to have to wear out your fingers on the keyboard, without getting tired.
I’ve been there too (by the way, I talk about it in this article ). And to succeed in my web writing business project , I had to invest in training that I found expensive. But I did it anyway because I’ve always loved writing and despite my doubts, I believed in my project.
And you want me to tell you? If you are reading me today, it is because I regret absolutely nothing! My passion for writing is still present.
This training in web writing allowed me to radically change my life
( knowing that I was able to repay it in less than 30 days thanks to the lessons learned ).
And it could change yours too…
I am training in web writing
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Quality #2 of web editors: being curious
The first paid content I wrote as an SEO web editor , I found it on a platform ( Textbroker ). It was a legal article. Since I had studied law, I felt very comfortable with this subject… except that it was Belgian jurisdiction. How can I say…? I knew absolutely nothing about it! Luckily I am curious because I had to adapt and do a lot of research.
When you are an editor, you must have a good general knowledge and/or demonstrate curiosity in the broad sense. You must like to learn, understand things, and be interested in new worlds.
At first, you write on topics that you don’t master. You do research to write your texts. And when you don’t like searching, it’s complicated!
But curiosity doesn’t stop there. Your client’s universe must be read in the texts you write. We must really immerse ourselves in the DNA of our client and their values to write articles that will correspond to them and that will please their audience.
Quality #3 of a web editor: knowing how to write correctly
If you ask me whether to put an “it”, an “is” or an “i” at the end of a verb, I will be quite incapable of giving you a definite answer! Even if it is far from being catastrophic, it is clear that I am far from being the best in spelling and conjugation (some after-effects of primary school certainly…).
I am less vigilant when I write for myself, on my social networks (where I leave a few typos lying around) and in my emails because I don’t always have the courage to proofread.
Now I know my shortcomings and of course I pay 10 times more attention when it comes to writing for my clients. I reread myself several times and I use proofreaders ( like Scribens which is free and Antidote which is paid).
However, I always advise to be very attentive on these points. Even if in some cases, like mine where everything is not perfect (I don’t make gross mistakes every 2 words either), you always have to remain vigilant. As far as I’m concerned, it’s my editorial style in copywriting that has allowed me to retain my customers.
When writing for the web , it is important to know the rules of spelling , conjugation , grammar , syntax and typography .
The goal is to deliver 100% flawless texts to your customers.
Quality #4 to become a web editor: knowing how to structure and summarize your ideas
Afterwards, spelling is all well and good, but it’s not everything… If the substance is not there, with the right emotions, a text will not have as much power.
Your goal as a freelance web editor is to make the reader read your articles to the end. You are not writing an essay for your philosophy teacher. You must capture and keep the attention of the Internet user who has no time to waste.
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Knowing how to structure and synthesize ideas is one of the essential qualities for a web editor.
Personally, I got used to it in law school when I had to write essays structured in paragraphs and subparagraphs . These automatisms have remained anchored in my way of writing content and structuring it. And I must say that it has helped me a lot.
But if you are not used to breaking down your ideas and dividing them into balanced parts, don’t panic! You don’t always write relevant articles the first time. You have to practice and practice. It is something that is learned and refined with practice and experience.
Quality #5 to be a freelance writer: be autonomous
When you’re a copywriter, you don’t have a boss. On the other hand, you have clients who expect impeccable work. If they call on you, it’s because they don’t have the time to do it themselves, or don’t have the skills or just don’t want to. Whatever their reasons, they need you! And you have to deliver on your end.
You have to be organized to manage everything when you have a lot of orders coming in at the same time. But your job doesn’t stop at completing missions on time… Because customers aren’t going to call on you if they don’t know you exist.
You have to find clients, meet their expectations, anticipate their needs, manage your accounting, your schedule… all this without anyone at your side to help you. If you are not resourceful and you cannot convince your future clients to trust you, things may become complicated for you.
Not to mention the fact that working from home is not always
an easy task. You have to make those new york housing market trends and issues 2024 around you understand that when you work from home it is not “just” to do your housework and surf the Internet all day.
If you anticipate all these aspects, you will get through it without too much difficulty.
And that’s what I (also) appreciated in the writing training that I bought when I started. Lucie Rondelet (the trainer), prepares you for all those business aspects that we don’t necessarily think about when we start out.
Quality #6 to be a good SEO copywriter: be responsive and adaptable
Effective copywriters adapt to all types china phone numbers of situations. There is a very common “species” of clients who always make their requests for yesterday. On your side, you will have to ensure these “ unforeseen ” or propose alternative solutions to satisfy your clients.
When you have requests for quotes for example, you have to be reactive and adapt, otherwise you risk losing potential customers. And it’s the same for those who ask you for the moon in record time.
Of course, it’s also up to you to set your own limits . You manage your business as you see fit and you can refuse clients who don’t inspire confidence or with whom you don’t feel comfortable.