Freelance Content Writing for Websites

The exponential growth of Internet websites has fueled the demand for cogent, grammatical copy. While much effort goes into the bells and whistles decorating fancy websites, the truth is that poorly written copy will undermine a site's ability to foster respect for a product or service. Even though most people would not want to hold up their own writing to public criticism, they can and do differentiate good writing from bad, and woe to the latter.

This need for literate website material has created the website content writing industry. Not to be confused with website development or web mastering, website content writing focuses on copy - good, punchy copy.

Website copy differs from that seen in the print media in several ways. The most important difference is impact. A good freelance writer can draw readers to the site's message quickly and with interest. Once enticing the reader, a writer has only a few seconds to reward the reader for engaging with the site's material. This transaction requires writing that propels the reader forward towards the central goal of the site: to sell something! Often it's a good or service, but just as often it's an idea or cause. All efforts by the author, editor, web developer and webmaster are wasted if the reader isn't at least open to engagement.

Besides enticing readers, a web content writer must also craft copy to facilitate search engine optimization. Keywords and backlinks must be incorporated seamlessly. Artificial constructions that exist only to support SEO are easily recognized and are a real turnoff to readers. Unless they're under the radar, SEO artifacts that clutter copy are a detracting distraction.

Successful web copywriters have mastered writer's voice, or more pointedly, flexible voicing. This is the voice you hear in your head as you're reading. It's there, trust me. Compare the same thought in two voices:

1. Giving flowers is a perfect way to excite deep emotion within those you love. If you order flowers from a floral source, you are sure to please the recipient.
2. Look, everybody loves flowers – give them now, reap benefits later.

A freelance writer has to understand a client's viewpoint, have the ability to express it in the appropriate voice and be able to change voices on a dime.

The U.S. has tens of thousands of freelance writers. Those who make a living from writing web content have more options than ever. Content farms such as Demand Media Studio and About.Com churn out endless pages of material. Corporations are constantly updating their websites with new marketing initiatives. And SEO firms need to generate volumes of authoritative online articles with backlinks to client sites. In truth, web content writing is currently in a golden age. I, for one, wish it the best.