Writing is essential to your job. Writing helps us become better communicators and thinkers. Let’s discuss some tips to help you improve your writing.

“Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well.”

David Ogilvy, the creative force behind the advertising agency, Ogilvy & Mather

Ogilvy understood the power of writing and its potential.

“The better you write, the higher you will go. People who think well, write well.”

David Ogilvy

Writing has become the foundation for everything a digital marketing professional does today.

All marketing tactics need excellent writing. These include writing blog posts, ad copy, social media posts, news releases, and emails.

Writing and communicating a marketing strategy and plan have become just as important as developing and implementing it.

The rise of longer-form content

Blogging and content marketing have become integral parts of today’s digital marketing mix. This evolution puts enormous pressure on marketers. They need to increase their written output.

Why?

Longer format content performs better online. Long-form content, or content with more than 2,000 words, ranks higher in search results.

The average content length of the top 10 search results is typically over 2,000 words.

It is more likely to generate more social media shares. There is a correlation between longer content and increased social media shares.

How well do you write?

Writing is easy. Most people like you can probably write. But can you write well?

• Does your writing really connect with your audience?
• Is your writing engaging your audience?
• Is writing compelling enough for them to keep reading?
• Most importantly, does your writing inspire your audience to take action?

7 questions to ask yourself

When you are writing your next blog article or piece of content, you should ask yourself:

1. Does this blog article tell people something new?
2. Is your article insightful and helpful?
3. Is it entertaining?
4. Are you addressing a topic that is often overlooked?
5. Does your writing make people think differently?
6. Do you make your audience feel smart?
7. Will your writing stand above others who have written about the topic before?

To help you answer these questions, let’s discuss what good writing looks like and how you can improve your writing.

10 simple tips to help you improve your writing today

Here are 10 tips to help you improve your writing, a critical skill for today’s modern digital marketer. These tips should help you significantly improve your writing and career.

1. A good writer is a good reader

Stephen King, an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy, once said:

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write.”

Stephen King

The best writers are avid readers. Read a lot. It is good for your brain. Good writers have extensive vocabularies.

Good readers are aware of what makes a story interesting. Both good writers and good writers have a solid understanding of cadence and flow. Read as much and as often as you can.

Every writer is a reader first.

It is essential to read books across different genres and formats. Read fiction and non-fiction.

Also, read poetry, magazines, blog articles, and marketing books. The bottom line is that you should read as much as you can, every day.

Why?

Because you will see great examples of how people write, communicate, and express their thoughts.

When you read, your vocabulary will naturally expand, and this will improve your writing.

Key takeaway: Good writing is the product of good writing.

2. Read aloud what you wrote

“Good writers of prose must be part poet, always listening to what they write”

William Zinsser, an influential writing coach

Do you read your writing out loud? It will improve your writing.

You will most likely hear errors in your sentences that you don’t pick up when you read them normally. Sometimes you may leave out a word without realizing it. You could copy and paste text wrong. Or you may make a grammatical mistake.

You are more likely to hear your mistakes when you hear them rather than reading them. This includes errors like run-on sentences. You might also catch duplicate words and missing words.

Reading aloud can help you decide whether your writing flows smoothly. Does it sound choppy? Then, you should add longer sentences to break it up slightly.

If you find yourself stumbling over your writing, you probably wrote a complex sentence that needs a rewrite.

Key takeaway: Your writing needs to be heard.

3. Trim sentences

Take a look at each one of your sentences and see how many words you really need. Can you say the same thing in fewer words?

A sentence of 10 words can probably be written in 5 words. 15 words can often be written in 7; 20 words can be written in 12.

You get the point. Less is more. Less is better, so be thankful for words that you can get rid of.

• Does every word serve a purpose? 
• Are your thoughts clear?
• Can you say it shorter?

Simplify.

The point of your writing should have one goal: to save the reader time.

Remove weak or redundant copy. Cut. Try to cut again. Cut even more. Sand it down to the essential parts.

Take out words like “little,” “very,” and “that,” which add nothing to the meaning but still make sense. You will likely have multiple revisions of your writing to make it as concise and compelling as possible.

Key takeaway: Get rid of clutter in your writing.

4. Avoid passive voice

Use the active voice whenever possible. Why?

Passive voice uses more words. They can be vague.

Passive voice can lead to the use of prepositional phrases.

Using an active voice results in shorter, sharper, and easier-to-read sentences for your readers.

Active voice helps your reader understand your words, especially for those who are not familiar with English.

Be in the moment. Gain a stronger connection to the action. Turn your call to action into a command.

The bottom line: active voice sentences are easier to read and hear when read aloud. If your sentence sounds awkward, you are probably using passive voice.

Here are some examples of passive voice and active voice, provided by Lynda.com, to illustrate the difference.

Your sentences flow better when you write in an active voice. This style also increases readability and has energy. It keeps your readers wanting to read more.

Using the active voice emphasizes the subject and makes the sentence more concise.

Passive voice is harder to understand

Sentences in the passive voice are harder to understand. The sentence structure is unwieldy.

It is not apparent who is acting in the sentence.

At a fundamental level, the active voice emphasizes the person or agent acting.

But the passive voice emphasizes the recipient of the action.

In a sentence written in active voice, the subject acts. In a sentence written in passive voice, the subject receives the action. Example:

Active: The dog bit the man.

Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.

The active voice is stronger and always preferable. It is cleaner, more precise, and more concise. It clearly states what the authors have contributed to their article. The passive option is unnecessarily wordy and clunky.

Observe your writing for the use of verbs like “has”, “do”, and “go.” Replace them with active verbs.

Readers prefer the active voice:

Subject, Verb, Object.

When you reverse the active sequence, you have a passive voice:

Object, Verb, Subject.

You can’t always use the active voice, but you should use it as often as you can. Think: strong nouns and verbs. Your readers will thank you and read more of your blog posts or other content.

Key takeaway: Be active, don’t be passive.

5. Give it a rest and then self-edit

When you write, write everything you can down. Then, leave it alone for a while. You can let it sit for an hour, a day, a week, or even a month.

Revisit it when your brain is ready, and tackle it with vigor and freshness. Pay attention to what jumps out at you as awkward.

Trust your feelings. They are usually right. Good writing has more to do with good self-editing than anything else.

When you are self-editing, remove or replace any words that are more than an 8th-grade reading level.

Why?

Most U.S. adults read at an 8th-grade reading level.

This grade level can present complex ideas to readers at a lower reading level. An 8th-grade reading level ensures readability.

Google will rate your website higher in search results if it is more readable and user-friendly. Figure out how well your content reads by using the readability score tool.

Key takeaway: It’s “okay” to take a break from writing.

6. Write a lot

Make writing a daily practice. Make time for it. This is one of today’s most valuable skills.

You will not be capable of writing 2,000 words a day. The only way to get better at writing is to practice. Make time for it somehow.

I love this graphic from Brian Clark at Copyblogger:

Write. Then, write more. Finally, write even more, and keep writing. Writing is a process, not a product.

The key is to understand your audience truly and what resonates with them. It is an art and a science. Take a look at what others are writing about and see what catches your eye.

What makes you want to read the blog article? Write about that topic. Just write!

Key takeaway: Write, write, and write more!

7. Use shorter words, sentences, and paragraphs

Examine a news media source, such as a newspaper, and note the brief paragraphs.

Why are they short?

To make reading easier. The traditional five-sentence paragraph form is fatiguing. Our brains absorb information more effectively when it is broken down into smaller pieces.

Reading is challenging because it requires mental effort. It takes concentration. Break your sentences into smaller ideas and remove what you don’t need.

Each sentence should have a straightforward thought. Don’t use words like “therefore,” “as a result,” or “having said that.”

Hemingway was famous for a minimalist writing style that eliminated flowery adjectives and got straight to the point. One of his most significant and shortest sentences is six words:

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Don’t write more than is necessary on a topic. Also, your readers are using their mobile devices. Keep your sentences and paragraphs concise and straightforward.

Key takeaway: Effective writing gets to the point quickly and simplifies complex ideas.

8. Avoid jargon

Don’t use jargon words like “leverage,” “synergies,” and “bandwidth.” Jargon increases the chances of confusing your readers.

Jargon makes your reader feel unintelligent and hides the fact that you don’t understand what you are saying.

As Albert Einstein once said:

“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” – Albert Einstein

Avoid jargon that your mom won’t understand. Imagine talking to her and explaining what you mean in plain English.

Jargon disconnects your readers from your message. As a writer, you have a small window to capture your audience’s attention.

Don’t squander that slight chance by using jargon your audience doesn’t understand.

Key takeaway: Good writing is easily and quickly understood. 

9. Get an editor

Most people don’t write well on the first draft. It takes time and effort to get your words out of your head and put them on the page.

Write everything down. Your writing will be messy to start. That’s okay. That’s why you will need to get an editor to help you clean it up.

If your name is on it, it is crucial.

Every word counts toward your reputation and legacy. With so much on the line, you should have an insurance policy. That insurance policy is an editor.

Key takeaway: Good writing needs good editing. 

10. Have a purpose and be positive 

When you write with a purpose, it makes writing easier and faster. When you have nothing to say, you are forced to write sentences that fall flat. Your sentences don’t sound meaningful.

How do you make sure you have a purpose? Start with your call-to-action first. Then, your writing can fill in what you want your readers to achieve.

Also, ensure you write in a positive tone.

Why?

Positive and happy emotional content drives more social media shares.

The anticipation of positive benefits and emotions causes us to share. Most people expect happy experiences.

Key takeaway: Good writing requires a good, positive direction.

Bringing it all together

To improve your writing, keep it simple.

Writing is hard work. There’s no way around it.

But it’s also gratifying when you lean into the process.

The more you write, the more you’ll find that words start to flow naturally.

What once felt like a chore becomes a habit you actually look forward to. It becomes a daily practice that sharpens your thinking. This practice also strengthens your voice.

The secret isn’t to make your writing more complicated; it’s to strip it down.

When you keep things simple, concise, and direct, your ideas have a greater impact.

Clarity always beats complexity. Your goal isn’t to impress with big words or endless sentences; it’s to connect.

One of the fastest ways to improve is to read more. Every book, article, or essay you consume sharpens your instincts for language.

Aim to write at an 8th-grade reading level—that’s not simplifying things down, that’s making your words accessible. The smartest thinkers know how to explain complex ideas in plain English.

A practical trick? Read your work out loud.

You’ll hear what flows and what falls flat. Pay attention to the rhythm—good writing has a natural beat to it, like music. If you stumble while reading, chances are your readers will too.

Most importantly, ditch the jargon. Use active, straightforward language. Speak to your readers like you would in conversation.

When your words are plain, sharp, and human, your readers won’t just understand you—they’ll want to keep reading. And that’s the real mark of a good writer.

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