How to Become a Professional Content Writer in Nepal: A Beginner’s Guide to Content Writing

A Career in Content Writing: Follow these steps to get rolling

Have you ever been accused of being a Grammar Nazi? Do your peers and family take you as a reference for anything that requires the perfect use of vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling? In any social situation, do your peers nominate you to make a speech or write a script? Do you love reading, writing, and sharing your ideas on various topics?

This is exactly how I got into content writing and five years down the line I am having a blast! If your answer is “YES!” to all the questions asked above, you too like me can reap all the benefits that come with the ability to write well.

Businesses are now starting to realize the importance of good content. Good content is what separates your website, blog, social media page, etc. from your competitors and helps you stand out from the herd. Today, everyone knows that its content that wins the wallet of customers.

A recent study has shown that the amount of information in the world doubles every two years. Half of that information becomes obsolete in about one year. As long as there is information (content) being created at this rate, there will always be a good demand for people (content writers) to manage such information.

Great content is undeniably important for businesses. If you look at merojob.com, hamrojob.com, and even jobs on Facebook or any other online job portal in Nepal, you will find many ads for positions of Content Writer, Blog Writer, Travel Blog Writer, Team Leader – Content Writing, Copywriter, and even Content Manager. The number of such positions will only keep increasing. With the increase in demand for quality content writers, the rise in incentives for these kinds of roles will increase for sure. Don’t let a lack of expertise in writing hold you back from exploring content writing opportunities.

What does a content writer do?

What does content mean? And what does a content writer do? How is it different from regular writing that people do every day? Being a Content Writing Trainer, I get these questions a lot. To put it simply, content writing is wordplay. If you can play with words in a way to present them as readable, engaging, informative, and consistent, you are on your way to becoming a great content writer.

Content writing is like any other form of writing that requires in-depth knowledge of the subject, complemented by great writing skills. Content could be anything, texts you see on a website, advertisement, blog, email, etc. to words you hear in a speech, movies, podcasts, and so on. The success, however of any write-up depends largely on the quality and authenticity of the content. Content writing doesn’t necessarily follow one specific format, but it is governed by certain fundamental principles.

A balance of proper research, wordplay, and good knowledge complemented with sound vocabulary and grammar contribute to a good content piece. Not just that, a lot of perfectionist writers believe that they should be able to create a perfect piece in one sitting. But in fact, the magic lies in the editing. Rewording, rephrasing, restructuring, and fine-tuning are ways to ensure that every single word you write is on point.

How to become a content writer in Nepal?

To be honest, the mode of entry into content writing in Nepal is vague. One moment I was a Financial Analyst at Australia New Zealand Bank (ANZ Bank) and the next moment I was writing content for some of the leading brands in the Nepalese market. What I have learned is that there is no definitive path or qualification necessary to get into this profession. Although this may seem a little daunting in the beginning, the best part about this profession is that you can take it up at any stage of your life professionally or personally, through any path, and in different ranges (freelance, full-time, or part-time).

However, I do not mean to say that there are no formal steps to entering this field. A degree in literature, marketing, journalism, IT and mass communication are preferred degrees, while for technical writing you may need a Master’s degree or higher in a specialized field like aeronautics, engineering, finance, HR, physics, history, etc. Whatever the case, an analytical mind complemented with good writing skills is something you cannot do without as a writer.

Any business in Nepal that is smart wants to have an online presence today. To have an online presence, a business needs content. The Internet will be here for many centuries to come and penetrate our lives more & more through hand-held devices. In Nepal, this is becoming a booming sector.

Here are some ways in which you can kick off your content writing career:

• Blogging
  There are bloggers as young as 12-13-year-olds who are making thousands of dollars in blogging. Setting up your blog is the first step in content writing. It helps you improve your credibility as a writer. You could do both i.e. earn as well as build a reputation online. Moreover, your blogs are great references for potential employers or companies who seek to outsource their content writing jobs. The best thing about starting with a blog is that many people will read and give their feedback on your writing. This will help you gradually improve your writing, find out what works and what doesn’t, and ultimately help find your unique style which is what makes a writer stand out. When you begin blogging, do not focus on the ‘earning’ part, rather try to reach your blog to a wider audience so that you can get better and gain a good reputation for prospective job offers.
• Freelancing
  Although not easy to begin with due to a lack of credibility, freelance writing is a great way to step into the content writing pool. Writing or content creation isn’t necessarily something that many companies do every single day. While the trend to have a full-time writer has started, there are many content writing jobs outsourced to freelancers. Therefore, freelancing is one of the best ways to get into the field of content writing. You could start small, perhaps write something for a local restaurant, departmental store, etc. and gradually build a portfolio while looking up freelancing jobs on various online portals.
• Internships
  If you open online job portals at this very moment, you will find plenty of internship opportunities for people who want to build a career in writing. Writing internships give you hands-on experience in writing. You get to learn about the client’s demands and understand what it takes to become a professional writer by working in a professional setting. If you work hard to make the most out of your internship, you can boost your writing skills exponentially. In the end, you will receive an internship certificate which will add some value to your CV as a writer.
  Not all internships are without pay. Some companies do offer some incentives for writing interns. Choose what works best for you.
• Training programs
  Content writing isn’t easy and involves a tedious process of trial and error. However, certification or training programs can help you speed up your learning curve. I recommend learning from a proper institute where you can get immediate feedback rather than taking up online courses. Many of the people I talk to on a day-to-day basis in this field complain that online courses do not significantly help in improving their writing skills and the majority of them have considered them a waste of their money due to low ROI (Return on Investment). Therefore, you could top up your regular university degree with a certification program in writing and digital marketing which may include blogging, copywriting, creative writing, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), content marketing, etc.
  I would highly recommend attending certified training programs by going to an institute as it helps you learn how to write in a structured manner and also gets you interested in other skills that might help boost your career. However, it is not advisable to go to any institute just for the sake of it. Do proper research and analysis before enrolling in any course. You would want to check out: www.tdm.com.np
• Added qualifications
  A specialized degree or course in any particular field can do wonders for you as a writer. E.g. a hydropower plant construction company would want to have an engineer or a project manager writing for them. Higher qualifications will enable you to analyze information in a more effective and add your expertise to it. This could help you establish yourself as a technical writer which would put you in a very high position in terms of your writing portfolio.

Scope of Content Writing in Nepal

Every business in Nepal wants to have an online appearance to share information about their company, product, services, or any other activity. The internet has revolutionized our life as well as our purchasing habits and will continue to do so for many years to come. In Nepal especially, this is a flourishing sector. But rather than running after “what is the scope” as a writer you should focus on what value you can add to a company’s business and therefore “create your scope” as you go along. There are plenty of opportunities that already exist for content writers. Some of them are:

1. Content Executive
2. Content Writer
3. Content Associate
4. Content Specialist/Strategist
5. Senior Content Associate
6. Content Marketing Manager
7. Content Manager
8. Content Editor
9. SEO Copywriting
10. SEO Copyediting
11. Website Writer
12. Press Release Writer
13. Social Media Writer
14. Advertisement Writer
15. Proofreader
16. Video Content Writer
17. Screenplay Writer and many more

Tips for aspiring content writers

There are many processes or approaches one can take to become a content writer. One needs to keep in mind that there are no ‘hard and fast’ rules that need to be followed to become a successful writer. However, there are certain fundamental principles associated with it. Here are a few tips (not exhaustive ones) that in my experience work best for aspiring content writers:

• To write well, you need to read extensively
  I have often heard trainers in my professional career advising aspiring writers to just write and keep writing to get better at it. But I would like to suggest otherwise. Of course, there is no harm in writing but you need to expand the horizons of your language and knowledge for which you need to read every day. I am not suggesting you read a whole book every single day. Read 10 pages or just for 10 minutes but keep reading every day. Many times when I suggest this, people tend to read only one type of genre. Get out of your comfort zone, and read on diverse topics like Shakespeare, non-fiction, self-help, modern literature, or anything that helps you improve language in addition to getting information on multiple topics.
• Stay in research mode at all times
  To fill your mind with great ideas, you need to stay in research mode at all times. Don’t research only to write on one particular topic. Have an open mind and whenever you find any information that could be helpful later, make a note of it. Keeping a journal for ideas and pieces of information is a habit that great content writers have. Perhaps your journey to becoming a great writer could start with this.
• Network and Maintain a Social Media Presence
  You should always attend seminars, workshops, and other events related to your interest i.e. writing in this case. Do not underestimate the power of networking. You do not necessarily have to be an introvert to write well. Meet new people, talk to them about their interests, and share your ideas with them. You never know when you could be of help to each other in the future. This will also significantly increase your relevance in the professional market. Also, just as important as networking is your social media presence. Try to be active on various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., and consistently share your writing there. This will help you create a personal brand and get eyeballs for your content.
• Optimize your digital content
  If you are planning on publishing your content online, you need to make sure that it is per the best SEO (Search Engine Optimization) practices. Your sentences need to be concise and structured in a way that complements your SEO strategy.
• Use content writing tools
  You don’t have to work too hard or do everything manually to write well. Today, there is enough technology at our disposal that will make the writing process a lot easier. You can use these tools for brainstorming, research, note-taking, and collaboration as well as editing and proofreading. I will be writing a separate blog on different tools you can use not just for writing content but to make your everyday writing a lot easier.
• Edit your work
  It isn’t great writing skills that make a content writer great. Sure, the best content writers are good writers but they are even better editors. I normally spend almost half of my time on an article editing my writing. If you want to become a professional writer you need to:

“Write without fear, edit without mercy.”  – Rogena Mitchell- Jones

To be honest, editing contributes the most to the quality of your writing. Remember how many mistakes you find when you revise your answer sheet in an examination?

Finally, my biggest advice to aspiring content writers is to keep evolving. Writing is a dynamic profession. Things change and new trends keep coming up. What works for me may not work for you and what works today may not work tomorrow. Therefore, you must find your unique style of writing and keep experimenting until you start seeing results. Words can be your best friend or your biggest enemy. Use them wisely!

Courtesy: Trilogy Digital Pathshala – Best Content Writing Certification Training Course in Nepal