Book Review: Content Writing Step-by-Step by Dale Kennedy

A book that changed how I write content.

I picked up Content Writing Step-by-Step by Dale Kennedy with the hope of brushing up my skills, but what I got was a shift in mindset.

One of the most important lessons I took from this book was around research. I’ve often skimmed the surface, done the bare minimum, and jumped into writing. This book made it clear: that's a mistake. Kennedy stresses that research is the backbone of strong writing. He calls it the “secret sauce” for a reason. You’re supposed to fill your head with way more information than you’ll actually use—and it shows in the final output. Now I get why my writing felt scattered sometimes: I was starting before I was ready.

Another area where the book really helped me was in understanding the difference between content writing and copywriting. It’s something I’ve often blurred in my mind. Kennedy explains it so well, I don’t think I’ll ever confuse the two again.

There’s also a very honest section about freelancing—something I could relate to. He talks about clients who may not pay you well, or disappear halfway through, and others who support you and help build your credibility. It's a good reminder of what to expect in this line of work.

One gem that stayed with me? The 70/30 rule. Spend 70% of your time reading and researching, and the remaining 30% writing. I’ve already started applying this—and it works.

If you're a writer at any stage, I’d recommend this book. Not just for the tips, but for the clarity it brings.

Image from Amazon.com

Comments

How to Find Target Audience for Social Media

You’re eager to create content on social media, and then you come across this advice: “Know your target audience!” For a beginner, how to find target audience for social media can feel like an unsolvable mystery. You’re probably wondering: “Who and where are these audiences sitting?” “How can we reach them?” The truth is, as a beginner, you don’t need that perfectly defined audience before launching your digital presence journey. It’s all about taking that first step, creating content, and discovering your audience as you go. Now that you have removed the elephant in the room, let’s work on the essentials. Step 1: Start with Yourself Your first step is to put a pause on “the audience” and think of creating content that excites you. Your Passion: Zero in on topics you are passionate about – interests that inspire you, or something you love discussing. Trust me, your passion and enthusiasm will reflect in your posts and attract like-minded people. Problem solving: Content that offe...

Easy Steps to Understand Cluster Content

The discussion around content is constant, and everyone has an opinion and their own experiences to share. A few fundamentals are essential for organizing the content you plan to create, and content clusters are one of them. If you are a content creator, then you cannot do without creating cluster content. Next, we’ll analyze what it takes to create and build a cluster. Let’s look at the steps. Creating Cluster 1: What is Cluster Content Cluster, as the word suggests, is a group of something that revolves or attaches itself to a central point. In content creation, a cluster attaches itself to a pillar, the central idea or theme. What is the pillar, then? Pillar Content Let’s assume you own a flower shop. Your central pillar theme will be ‘Flowers’. Your pillar content piece would be a comprehensive guide like: The Ultimate Guide to Flowers: Everything You Need to Know. The cluster content that supports and links to this pillar will include: Different types of flowers: (e.g.,...

LetsWrite

Search This Blog