Writing online has helped me build a copywriting career, share my experiences, and give me the chance to meet incredible people.
That’s the power of showing up online over and over again.
While writing online has done so much for me, there are still a few things I wish I had known before writing online.
1. You Don’t Need a Master Plan
When I started writing online, I thought I needed a master plan.
Nope.
You don’t need a master plan. You need to get started. You figure it along the way.
Creating a master plan can help you in some ways, but don’t let it derail you when something knocks you off course.
2. Be Passionate About Your Ideas, Not What Other Creators Are Doing
It’s easy to fall in love with what the top online writers and creators are doing.
We want their audience, their income, and their success. But we shouldn’t fall into the trap of copying their approach. It’s worked for them, but it shouldn’t work for us.
Find passion in your ideas. Lean into what excites you. Write about the stuff that wakes you up in the morning.
3. Systems Are Everything
Systems are everything.
Waking up and deciding what to write an article about or post on LinkedIn isn’t a system.
Create a system that makes you more productive. Create a content system. A library of ideas. Create a schedule around when you write.
Systems give you leverage. They empower you to write online.
4. You Don’t Need to Be the Most Likeable Person on the Internet
The worst trap you can fall into is trying to be the most liked person on the internet.
Your writing doesn’t need to appeal to everyone, and you don’t need to be liked by everyone. In fact, it’s good if people disagree with you because your ideas are what make you unique.
When you start writing online, being yourself is the hardest thing to do. Don’t worry about likes or if people like you as a writer.
Just be yourself. Follow your passion.
5. Embrace Experimenting
When I started writing online, I decided to take this semi-serious approach and be a methodical thinker.
Today, I love experimenting with satire writing. I love trying different writing formats. I experiment with what works. When you start writing online, you should embrace experimenting. Try things you’re afraid of trying.
You might surprise yourself and discover a form of writing you truly love.
6. You Don’t Need a Techstack
Tools don’t make the writer.
The writer makes the writer. Your brain and unique voice make you worth following as a writer.
I used to think a specific tool would give me explosive growth. I thought it would be a game-changer for my writing. Sure, it helped a bit. But my ideas and my unique writing voice are what stood out.
Your ideas are what resonates with readers. Readers don’t care about the tools. They care about what you have to say.
7. Focus on Showing Up More Than Anything
Consistent writing requires preparation.
I used to struggle with consistency before I had systems. Then, I started using Buffer.com to schedule my LinkedIn posts. I started planning out my Medium content.
While consistency is important, you also need to protect your mental health. Take breaks when you need them.
8. Your Readers Will Like You for Who You Are
Getting feedback from your readers is the best feeling ever.
When I started writing online, I worried about who I sounded like. I didn’t know what direction I was going. I didn’t know who I was as a writer.
Yet, the more I wrote online, the more my readers gave me feedback. They liked my copywriting examples. They liked my stories. They liked what I had to say.
Your readers will always give you direction, even if you feel a bit directionless. That’s the power of having people who love your writing for what it is.
9. It Takes Time to Build Something Great
Writing online takes work.
It’s not about virality. It’s not about growing as fast as you can. It’s about writing about your interests. It’s about showing up over and over again.
Writing online creates new opportunities. You can build an audience of fans, find job opportunities, and unlock a world of possibilities.
Writing online isn’t easy. But it’s worth it.
It’s given me endless opportunities