Content writing has become one of the most in-demand skills in the modern workplace. As digital publishing and e-commerce have continued to proliferate, businesses across all industries have come to recognize quality content as a crucial element of marketing, customer acquisition and retention, and overall brand visibility. This has created new content writing opportunities across various sectors and specializations.
The growth of content marketing has led to opportunities for writers across experiences levels, from entry-level jobs to senior content strategist roles. Content writing can be done either as a full-time position in-house at a company, or on a freelance/contract basis. Let’s explore some of the major types of content writing opportunities that exist today:
Blog Writing
Company blogs are one of the cornerstones of modern content marketing strategies. Nearly every business maintains some kind of blog to generate and distribute regular articles, guides, case studies, interviews and other long-form pieces. Blog writing jobs exist both in-house at companies and from content production/aggregation firms. Writers develop, research, write and edit blog articles on their client’s industry, products/services and targeted topics.
Freelance blog writing is also very common. Writers can take on blog writing projects from various clients and publications on a contract basis. Technologies like WordPress have streamlined the process of publishing blog content for both in-house and freelance writers. Experience writing for specific industries, verticals or topics makes writers attractive candidates for blog writing projects.
E-Books/Guides
In addition to blogs, many companies produce in-depth guides, white papers, workbooks, how-to’s and other long-form, educational downloadable content. This makes e-book and guide writing another great content writing opportunity. Like blog writing, these projects can be taken on in-house or as freelance work. Key skill sets include conducting research, distilling complex topics into easy-to-understand formats, writing engaging prose, and knowing how to structure long-form digital publications. Industries like technology, finance and healthcare often have demand for explanatory guide content.
Copywriting
While blogs and guides focus on educational content, copywriting involves crafting persuasive marketing messages. Copywriters create product descriptions, website copy, email marketing emails, social media posts, ads and other sales-focused content. Copywriting draws on skills like understanding customer psychology, crafting compelling value propositions and calls to action, and having a solid grasp of marketing strategy and goals. Copywriting can be done both in-house in marketing departments or as a freelancer for various clients and agencies. Experience in specific industries is valuable.
Article/Feature Writing
Online and print publications hire freelance writers to research and develop various types of articles and features. Topics may include anything from industry trends and profiles to lifestyle stories and event recaps. Writers pitch ideas to editors and, if accepted, research and draft the articles within the publication’s style and formatting guidelines. Technical writing skills along with journalism experience are beneficial for article writing opportunities. Freelance rates vary by publication and article length/complexity.
Content Strategy & Management
As the scope and scale of digital content grows for many businesses, dedicated content strategy and management roles have emerged. These involve analyzing metrics, tracking trends, developing editorial plans and calendars, assigning and editing contributor work, and overseeing full content lifecycles. Experience with content management systems, analytics tools, and content creation strategy is necessary. Opportunities exist both as in-house managers or consultants. A content strategist helps ensure content initiatives are aligned with business goals.
Product Content
For e-commerce companies and manufacturers, producing detailed product descriptions, specifications sheets, installation guides and other materials is essential. Product content writers conduct research to thoroughly understand the ins and outs of a company’s diverse offerings. They distill technical information clearly for customers and ensure all materials support the sales process. Experience in specific industries, a technical mindset, and strong research skills make one qualified for product content jobs.
Many companies also work with freelance technical writers on a per-project basis to develop or enhance their product literature libraries. Meticulous proofreading is also important for maintaining accurate product information.
Content Editing/Proofreading
Almost all businesses rely on high-quality, error-free content. As such, there is ongoing demand for skilled content editors and proofreaders, both full-time and freelance. Editors review content for grammar, punctuation, clarity, structure and consistency with brand/industry style guidelines. Strong writing, editing and attention to detail abilities are paramount in these roles. Editing remote content across different channels is common. Backgrounds in things like publishing, journalism or corporate communication are applicable.
Video Scriptwriting
With video now a primary marketing medium, scriptwriting for various video types like tutorials, testimonials, explainer videos and more is a growing content niche. Scriptwriters plan video concepts, conduct research, draft scripts and work with video producers on projects. They gain experience in storytelling techniques, script formatting, and how to distill concepts visually. Freelance video scriptwriting portfolios often include working with agencies and corporate clients from various verticals.
Among all these opportunities, content writing remains a useful and versatile remote career prospects. The ability to work both as a freelancer and on full-time project/contract basis gives content creators flexibility. Staying knowledgeable about current industry trends also helps writers pivot toward developing specializations within areas like health/wellness, finance, technology, or others. Overall, content marketing growth ensures ongoing demand for talented writers who can engage and educate audiences through various digital mediums.
Andrew Stroud