The combination of millions of underemployed and unemployed people seeking work and the large demand for online content of all varieties has led to many considering whether or not content creation could be a suitable full-time occupation. From e-books and technical manuals to blog posts, reviews and infographics, there is a huge amount of variation that can be explored by any budding content creator. Those who have just started creating content for themselves or others may not have a consistent formula for how they brainstorm, craft and disseminate their work, but a few simple tips are universal. Below, we will discuss these basic ideas and how each can help make your content more creative and desirable.

Produce Relevant Material

Whether you have just started your own blog in the hopes of constructing a powerful web presence or are fulfilling the needs of clients, it is imperative that you first understand your audience and its expectations. If you are pinging your blog to search engines with the goal of being exposed in a few select search queries, then it only makes sense that all of your content appeals to that niche. A broader approach is generally not a good idea in the beginning stages of blogging, but you may find this to be less of a concern if you are being assigned specific topics on which to write by various clients.

Incorporate Imagery

Depending on the type of content you plan to create, you may have no choice but to use lots of graphics in its development. Many writers and bloggers, however, fail to incorporate imagery into their articles and posts. This is a big mistake, particularly for newer writers who will need to stand out to their audiences in order to gain any traction and encourage interaction. Images, video and other aesthetic elements can tell a story independently from the content, or it can be used (in most cases) to paint a mental picture that complements the story. It has also been shown that content with imagery is nearly twice as likely to be shared as content without imagery.

Stir Things Up

Depending on your topic, whether or not your client is amenable to it and the type of content you create, it may be an excellent idea to utilize some form of controversy in your content in order to breed discussion and sharing. Controversy can get you noticed – for better or worse – but the key is to utilize the content in such a way that you do not directly offend others, but rather initiate a dialogue between opposing viewpoints. This subtle act of trolling can be absolutely successful when coupled with well-written or crafted content.

Tap Into Emotion

Finally, when pinging your blog with or creating for clients new content, you should try to employ emotion whenever possible. Some subjects may not be suitable for this approach, but even reviews and infographics can elicit certain responses from readers when coupled with personal stories and creative imagery. Just like controversy, emotion in general stirs readers to comment, share, debate and discuss various details of the content in question – when readers go crazy over your content, you can be sure that your blog and/or clients will remain satisfied.