Believe it or not, many people are out there looking for a guide on how to start content writing from home with just their phones. If you’ve been paying attention, you will notice that people are fully turning towards the internet for their livelihood.
Content writing jobs and other internet-enabled businesses sit at the front of this earning online reality. So, it’s not out of place to see people, armed with their phones and seeking ways to begin their content writing business from the comfort of their homes.
With this post, I will walk you through the murky waters of writing from home with just your phone. When the time is right, you can migrate to a laptop or a PC.
Before I get the ball rolling, I’ll define what content writing is to ensure that we’re all on the same page.
What is content writing?
Content writing is the art of combining different text-based information to communicate value through reading. I defined content writing more in-depth here, where I talked about how to write great content.
Content writing takes on many forms; it’s up to you to decide where you comfortably fit in and quickly pitch your tent there. What makes the difference is that you wrote what is readable and shared value while at it.
That said, someone may wonder why anyone would want to create written content from home. So let me clear the air on that quickly.
Why start content writing from home and with your phone?
Look around you; people are finding easier ways to do big things. The internet has massively made life much easier and helped us work smarter instead of harder.
Starting content writing from home has helped people heave a sigh of relief because they can accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously.
For example, a stay-at-home mom working from home. She’s nursing her baby, looking after her kids, or watching after the home front while working.
Having her write from home for her clients or company while doing all these has taken away a significant burden on her shoulders.
The same goes for other types of people who, for some reason, can’t function in an office setting or do not have white or blue-collar job employment. Again, thanks to the internet for creating an all-inclusive digital space for everyone to thrive.
Secondly, a smartphone is built to do many amazing things, like creating content. As a beginner without much money, starting with your phone and making your way up is OK. It’s your ‘days of little beginnings,’ so embrace the moments.
Who can start content writing from home?
First, learning content writing and seeking knowledge to start content writing from home with your phone are two different things.
The former means you are still learning; you can’t possibly write for a client because you are not grounded yet. The latter means that you are a content writer seeking a better way to stay home and write content.
Therefore, to answer the question, anyone can start content writing from home, including:
- Freelancers
- A stay at home parent
- Students
- Graduates
- Remote workers
- Ghostwriters
No one is exempted. If you want to start creating written content from home, you can.
However, there are some steps to take and skills to acquire before you can succeed in this goal. Let’s look at them below.
Skills you need to start content writing from home
Why two people can do the same thing but one person excels better than the other can be traced to how they honed their skills. If you must master how to start content writing from home with your phone and succeed, take your time to hone these skills.
- Time management skills
- Communication skills
- Adaptability skills
- Research skills
- Editing skills
- SEO skills
Time management skill
You need to be properly disciplined before you can successfully acquire and hone time management skills. Working from home as a content writer means you won’t be monitored constantly.
Various distracting things can eat up your time, knowingly or not. Discipline helps you know when you must do away with any form of distraction and focus on work.
Time management skills help you to know when the time is up for research, when you need to take a quick break, and schedule yourself to deliver right on time.
Communication skill
Your communication begins with your clients and ends with the audience you’re writing for. In places like Upwork, which is a great platform to get clients from, you can see some reviews saying things like;
“lacks the ability to communicate. Unresponsive. Not always reachable.”
Reviews like this mean the person involved lacks good communication skills. Not clearly communicating with your client can make your work difficult.
More so, while writing, from the topic, you can deduce the kind of audience you’re trying to reach. Write clearly and concisely and convey your message so your audience will understand you.
Research skill
We always emphasize research because we do not want to pass on the wrong information. Research helps you to understand what you are writing about and also pass on the correct information in a written manner.
It makes you come off as credible and earns you trust. Therefore, direct your research to viable sources and updated channels.
Adaptability skill
What makes a good content writer is the ability to transition smoothly to your client’s writing style and tone. As a content writer who works from home, you are bound to write for different people.
Learn how to adapt to different unique voices and carry the audience along. Even as a niche-based content writer, writing for clients in the same niche, everyone has what works for their audience. This skill will help you stay highly relevant among your competitors.
Editing skill
It’s one thing to write; it’s another to know how to edit your work. Editing your work is as vital as writing well-detailed and informative content.
One thing to help you scale this skill is mastering how to pay attention to detail. Good thing we have editing tools like Grammarly or even Pro WritingAid to help you catch different kinds of errors.
You know you’ve entered a higher level in your content writing skills when you can submit error-free content.
SEO skill
These days, we view SEO writing as a skill. Except you do only creative writing for short stories that will go for publishing instead of the internet.
However, as a content writer for blogs or social media, understanding Search Engine Optimization (SEO), especially On-Page SEO, will be an added advantage for you.
See how I’ve listed the important skills you need to succeed in your content writing from home. Now that it’s out of the way, what can you put in place to start your journey of writing from home? They’re just on the following line.
How to start content writing from home with your phone as a beginner
You just finished learning content writing and can’t wait to unleash all you’ve learned. You are pumped with knowledge and skills but just don’t know how to release this energy and show the world what you’ve got. Let’s get you started.
- Have a reliable internet-enabled phone
- Create a timetable or to-do list
- Create a comfortable workspace
- Know when to take long and short breaks
- Join online writing platforms
- Have a backup plan
- Have a support system
- Promise to deliver
Have a reliable internet-enabled phone
You are starting content writing from scratch, I get that, and it’s how many of us started. However, you must start well by getting a good enough phone. Your phone must have a good battery and space to avoid hanging unnecessarily.
Here’s why: Once you begin writing, you must save different documents from your research. Doing this will take up space, but this should not be a problem if you have a good phone.
Your phone must match your writing energy and capacity, else you will become frustrated. So check off this box as you plan to start.
Create a timetable or to-do list
Do not neglect the power of a to-do list or timetable. Having one will help you separate your work from your home life.
This part brings your time management skills to the front. Divide your time according to priorities. Discipline yourself to abide by your schedule. This will help you deliver on time and still participate at home.
Create a comfortable workspace
If your idea of starting content writing from home is to lay on your bed all day, you need to rethink. Yes, you can do a little writing on your bed, but you need a workspace.
A workspace gives you that feeling of working from the office. It should be a space free of distractions but comfortable enough to help you focus and work.
Whether it’s a well-made workspace or a make-shift workspace, let it help you do your work.
Know when to take long or short breaks
Breaks are an essential part of a work-from-home setting, too; they are not reserved only for office work settings. You can time yourself and know when to take a quick snack, nap, stretch, or toilet break.
Breaks help the body and brain to recharge and get back in the mood for more work. Do not allow yourself to break down because you want to prove a point.
Join online writing platforms
If you are starting out and still looking for clients, an online writing platform is your secret code. You can join many free online writing platforms from anywhere in the world.
One of the best online writing platforms is UpWork. You can see many content writers like you trying to bid for jobs.
One remarkable fact about the UpWork platform is that it has entry-level jobs up to advanced levels. So, you can go for jobs in your writing capacity. You can get as many clients as you can handle.
Fiverr, Freelancer, Flexjobs, and other platforms are free. You can join as many as you wish.
If you are not looking for clients but motivation and a safe space to ask writing-related questions and get answers. There are tons of writing communities on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Join and stay visible and active. Clients also join those communities to look for content writers.
Have a backup plan
Should you experience power failure that lasts longer than necessary, what is your plan B? This part is personal to everyone, depending on your environment. If you experience a lot of power failure, a power bank can be your plan B. A standby generator, solar energy, or even a second phone can be your backup plan.
Have a support system
You’re not an Island, you can’t stand alone every time. At some point, you may wish to vent, need encouragement, or clarity. A good support system is vital for you to stay on top of your game.
Promise to deliver
You do not only need to know how to start content writing from home. You also need to know how to sustain writing from home and become successful at it.
How do you achieve that? Deliver.
Not just on schedule but with your writing, too. Ensure you do an excellent job for your clients and even exceed their expectations.
That way, you can never be out of clients because they will return and refer you.
Conclusion
I believe you will go ahead and implement all that you’ve read and successfully become a full-time, work-from-home content writer. Please leave your comments and questions in the comment section. I’d be more than happy to assist.