When you log on to social media platforms like Twitter, you will notice that much of the content is written by others. You are not alone in this; millions of people around the world write content for social media platforms.
You are most likely familiar with the concept of ‘chaining’ when it comes to buying products or services on your phone or online. If you see a product that you like, you can usually find it linked to a store or a website where you can buy it. If you click on the link or the product’s name, you will usually be taken to the retailer’s or brand’s website.
Writing online has become so popular that many people now do it as a side-hustle or a full-time job. Platforms like Earnest, Upwork, and Freelancer have created a completely new market for online content creation.
What is intriguing is that, as a society, we are finding increased value in the way we consume content. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 66% of consumers believe that ‘reading something helpful and informative’ is an essential part of their daily routine. Likewise, 62% of consumers feel that ‘learning something new’ is also important.
This suggests that all content, whether it comes in the form of a tweet, an article, or a video, has the potential to be educational. Even the seemingly silly tweets that we follow on social media can teach us something new about ourselves or the world. For example, when we followed the account @LOLGASM, we found out about a whole new language that people used on social media platforms – LOL gasmspeak. After discovering this language, we began searching for more information about it, and we found out that it is a combination of ‘l’ (laugh) and ‘gasm’ (explode). So when someone tweets about how funny this joke is, it actually teaches us about a new language that we did not know existed!
The Advantage Of Writing
When you write an article for publication, you have to bear in mind the medium you are working for. For example, a magazine could be considered a print media outlet, and you have to take into account the size of the magazine when deciding how much to charge for your writing. Similarly, the New York Times considers online content to be “a hybrid form, combining strong journalistic standards with interactivity and cultivating a global audience.”
While this may be the case, you can also publish your work on a smaller platform like your own website, and you do not necessarily need to charge for your content. You can opt-in to a paid membership program or sell individual articles on a per-use basis.
One of the biggest advantages of writing is that you can often publish your work independently, without needing to ask for sponsorships or funding from larger platforms. Large platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram do offer some form of sponsored content or advertising, but you can usually opt-out of this type of content if you do not want to participate in the scheme.
The Disadvantage Of Writing
While there are many advantages to writing, there are also some disadvantages. One of the biggest is that sometimes you can end up with content that is simply not good enough. Even if you do your best to write the perfect piece, you will probably end up with some editing required before your article is published. For some, this may be completely unsatisfying, and they may simply decide not to publish the content at all. If you are worried about this, you could always consider self-publishing where you can take more control over the process, from writing and editing to design and distribution.
Another disadvantage of writing is that you may not find the audience that you are looking for. When you write an article or a blog post, you usually need to think about who your target audience is and what they want. You can use a tool like Google Analytics to informally identify this. For example, if you are writing about lifestyle trends in New York City, you may want to target audiences based in New York City. Similarly, if you are a fitness buff, you may want to write for audiences that are interested in fitness. By understanding who your target audience is, you can craft content that they will value and benefit from.
The Difference In Purpose
Above we discussed the advantages of writing, but what is the difference in purpose between journalism and blogging?
We already discussed the fact that online content is varied, and you do not always need to write for a living. However, if you are looking for a way to make money, you can explore a variety of opportunities in the form of freelancing or consulting, or via affiliate marketing. If you are looking for a way to make a difference, you may want to consider taking on a cause or an issue that you are passionate about. If you want to write to inform, you may want to explore in-depth research projects. If you are looking to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, you may want to consider creating a blog or vlog where you can teach others about your area of expertise.
If you decide that you want to write, you should probably begin by considering what type of content you want to produce. Do you want to write for publication or simply to inform your audience? Are you looking for a way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry? Are you worried about your writing skills? There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to becoming a professional writer.