Content Writing also known as Content Marketing is one of the top remote jobs for Africans. By “top,” I mean: content marketing has an overwhelming supply of remote jobs suited for Africans. This is evident in our Remote Jobs Africa job board.
In addition, contrary to what the majority of Africans think, content writing can be very lucrative. For example, the starting rate for a complete beginner is approximately $0.05/word, and the standard length of an article is 2,000 words. If you write a minimum of four articles a month, you can earn more than most entry-level corporate jobs in Africa.
In most cases, you’ll be required to write more than that, and you are free to work with multiple clients. In this article, we will dive into content writing and how you can go from complete beginner to earning a living from it. Let’s dive in.
Join a growing community of African remote workers helping each other figure out remote work.
What is Content Writing?
There are different categories of content writing online. There’s academic writing, essay writing, technical writing, social media posting, copywriting (sometimes used interchangeably with content writing), and more.
Here, we are specifically referring to SEO Content Writing/Content Marketing/Blogging. In this case, content writing refers to writing and publishing written material on blogs intending to build a brand, increase website traffic, educate readers on a certain topic, and establish credibility and authority.
For example, this article intends to accomplish all four of those goals. In a broader view, every single answer you’ve gotten from Google was written by a content writer. If you have a website for selling cars, writing content about cars will make potential buyers discover you, build their trust in you, and increase the chances of a sale.
That said, for websites to stand out from the competition and get indexed by Google, they need to constantly publish relevant articles. Websites like Forbes and HubSpot have thousands upon thousands of published articles.
Learn the Fundamentals of Content Marketing
Content marketing is composed of two main parts: writing content and optimizing the content for search engines.
- Writing content: You’re writing an article to be read and understood by another human.
- Search Engine Optimization(SEO): Refers to optimizing the article (and website) by following certain guidelines to increase the article’s ranking on search engines like Google.
Writing an article and hitting publish is not enough. You need to optimize your article so it can appear as high as possible on Google to increase visibility and drive clicks to your website.
Best Resources for Learning Content Marketing as a Beginner
There are several resources for learning content marketing. I’ll highlight the ones I’ve used and others that come highly recommended based on my research.
- Income school: A great and free resource for learning SEO and blogging in general.
- Moz: Moz will teach you the basics of SEO.
- Ahrefs: Ahrefs is an SEO tool used for keyword research, link building, and more. They have a fantastic blog that will teach you the basics of SEO.
- Copyblogger: A fantastic resource for learning how to structure an article and how to write different parts of the article effectively.
- HubSpot Academy: Has great courses on content marketing that offer certificates you can show potential employers.
- Semrush Academy: Another fantastic free resource for learning the ins and outs of content marketing. It covers everything from SEO to social media marketing.
Pick a Niche
Since there’s a wide variety of topics you could write about, it’s a good idea to pick a specific niche and focus your writing on it.
How to Pick a Niche
- Profession: Are you knowledgeable in a certain topic or field of work? This could be a fantastic starting point for picking a niche.
- Hobbies: If you have a hobby that you’re passionate about, you could start sharing your knowledge and experiences online.
- Curiosity: Topics you’re deeply curious about could turn out to be great niches to write about. For example, I was curious about AI, so I started a blog to keep up with the latest AI developments.
Newbie content marketers are always tempted to write about anything and everything, but you’ll quickly realize it’s counter-productive.
Clients want domain expertise so they’ll go for writers with niche experience over general writers.
However, this can and mostly will change once you gain experience as a content marketer. You’ll naturally gravitate towards other niches.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Once you’ve narrowed down your niche, it’s time to practice. There are multiple ways to go about this:
- Google Docs: Identify topics in your niche that you would like to write about and write them.
- Blog: You can start writing on Medium, Substack, or a personal blog.
How do you find topics you’d like to write about? Identify blogs in your niche and study them. Then pick the topics that stand out to you and write about them.
For example, if your interest lies in the pet’s niche, specifically dogs, you can google a general topic about dogs, such as “best dog food.” Visit the top websites that come up, and study their blog. Observe the topics they’ve written about and write them yourself.
Another good starting point is writing about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). You could start with topics such as What is SEO?, link building, keyword research, and other main SEO topics on Moz.
Besides practicing writing, the goal is to build a portfolio to showcase to potential clients.
Build a Portfolio of Writing Samples
A writer’s portfolio is crucial for their success. For this reason, your portfolio should be high-quality and showcase your niche and strengths as a writer.
Once you have a few samples ready, it’s a good idea to host them online for the sake of professionalism. A great site (and one I used earlier on) to showcase your portfolio is clippings.me.
Connect With Other Content Marketers
Whether it’s on LinkedIn, X, or WhatsApp communities such as Remote Jobs Africa, it’s crucial to connect with other writers for a variety of reasons:
- Feedback on your work: Writers who are more skilled than you can be instrumental in providing feedback on your work.
- Clients: Networking with other writers can help you land clients. Writers tend to refer clients to other writers they are familiar with and know their work.
- Advice: Freelance writing has a lot of nuances. Having a network of experienced writers you can tap into for advice can save you time and frustration.
Seek Clients
Now the fun part – making money! If you choose to become a remote African freelance writer, understand that you’ll also need to learn sales and the sales process. Prospecting for clients is a full-time job since clients come and go, so you have to consistently keep your client pipeline full.
The approach to getting clients is to scan relevant job boards such as Remote Jobs Africa, cold email clients you would like to work with, reach out to your writer network for opportunities, and keep an eye on your writing communities.
Conclusion
Becoming a remote content marketer in Africa requires a strategic blend of education, skill development, and practical experience. Start by acquiring foundational knowledge through courses and certifications in digital marketing, SEO, content creation, and social media management.
Building a robust portfolio through internships, freelance projects, or personal blogging will showcase your abilities and provide practical experience. Finally, staying updated with industry trends and continuously refining your skills is crucial in the dynamic field of content marketing.