How To Become A Content Writer in India

HOW TO BECOME A
CONTENT
WRITER
IN INDIA
A Practical Guide By
SANJAY SHENOY
DANCE LIKE
NO ONE’S
WATCHING,
WRITE LIKE NO
ONE’S READING
- Sanjay Shenoy
On a lazy Sunday Hello Sanjay Sir,
afternoon, while I I am Arun aged 48, have enrolled in the Digital
was preparing for
marketing course. I was just beginning to go
the week ahead,
through your Content marketing mastery videos, I
my inbox pinged
with this email:
am thankful for your lessons.I wish to clarify a
few points, I had been in healthcare BPO, for 18
years and due to night shifts, and my mother’s
cancer and the need to take care of her arose, I
was out of the job that I was doing regularly.In
this situation, I would like to be a content writer.
Is it possible to get a work from home job as a
content writer and side by side pursue digital
marketing? If so, where should I be pitch myself,
or start as a freelance content writer? Can you
suggest a website where I can get regular
content writer jobs? I do not expect a very big
income, but to support myself, I am expecting
around Rs. 15-20k per month.
03 www.sanjayshenoy.com
I was honestly very moved and grateful by this email, to be honest.
Moved because imagining someone in such a situation is
heartbreaking and grateful and happy that I have had the
privilege to impart a skill like content marketing.
While I composed myself to respond to this email, I thought to

myself that there might be many more who might be in such
situations and content writing as a skill can truly help them to a
large extent.
So here I am, with a practical guide on becoming a content writer

in India. I emphasize practical because I noticed that most
“guides” out there on becoming a content writer usually give
extremely shallow advice; if you can call it that.
To understand how to become a (great) content writer, it is

important that you understand what content is.
CONTENT IS NOT
ABOUT CREATIVITY;
ITS ABOUT UTILITY
- Sanjay Shenoy
WHAT IS CONTENT?
First of all, it’s not cun-tent, it’s pronounced con-tent. Cun-tent is
also a word but it means satisfied and also sounds very funny
when you write it like that. Moving on..
Content is any kind of information that will educate, inform,

entertain, motivate, inspire, convince or persuade a specific set of
audience.
In other words, content writing is all about solving problems for a

specific set of audience. Since you are solving problems, you are
actually adding value to this set of audience. And when you add
value to this set of audience, you build trust and trust is a key
ingredient in building a brand.
This is important to understand because aspiring writers either

approach content writing as a way to please the search engines
or get intimidated assuming they need to be creative.
I find both approaches to be wrong because if you just focus on

stuffing keywords, you are not adding any value to your audience
and honestly, content writing is usually more about utility than
about creativity.
You are not trying to be a NY
Times best-selling author but
only trying to solve problems
through content. And for that,
you don’t need to be creative;
you need to learn how to
listen and understand the
problems of your audience.
And you definitely do not

have to throw in fancy words
and go all Shashi Tharoor on
it. What you should be aiming
for when you are writing
content is clarity. When you
have the clarity you will be
able to articulate it in a
simple way which is far more
appealing than trying to
make it sound fancy littered
with jargon.
I am mentioning these points

because I believe every one
of us has these capabilities
and it can get only better with
practice and consistency.
Don’t be demotivated
because you don’t have a
fancy degree or your English
is poor because like a muscle
in your body, the skill of
writing content can also be
conditioned and
strengthened over time.
Now that we have addressed

that problem..
THERE IS
NOTHING
THAT
IMPROVES
WRITING
SKILLS LIKE
WRITING
- Sanjay Shenoy
IS CONTENT
WRITING A GOOD
CAREER CHOICE?
To be honest, writing content is a skill and you can definitely build
an illustrious career around this skill. But I don’t want you to limit
yourself with words such as “career” and “job”.
The beauty of this skill is that it can be developed and applied

regardless of your location, gender, age and stage of life you are
in. You should make the most of this glorious opportunity and see
how you can extract the most value out of it.
Well, of course, you can get yourself a content writing job too
because let’s face it a “job” provides you with stability, exposure
and more; which a lot of you need. But the best part is even if you
have a job, you can utilise this skill to go out there and milk it to
the maximum.
So for the sake of my argument, instead of calling it a “job” let’s

call it a “gig”. A “gig” can be loosely understood as a temporary
work contract.
Generally speaking, content writing gigs will help you to work with
multiple companies on multiple projects at the same time. This
means that instead of looking for “a job” you need to be looking
for multiple “gigs” or in other words freelancing opportunities.
Once you change the frame, you will realise that there are tons of
opportunities, not just in India but around the world. In fact, a
trillion-dollar opportunity.
According to Upwork, a
leading freelancing platform,
freelancing has had an
impact of
$1 TRILLION
IN THE US IN
2019
which translates to 5% of their entire GDP.
Now, obviously, it would be naive to think that all of it is

associated with content writing. But it paints a fine picture of
where the gig economy or freelancing, is heading towards.
I think we are heading towards a world where freelancing is

becoming more prevalent because companies are finding it
increasingly efficient to work with freelancers than full-time in-
house workers. I can testify this because at PixelTrack we work
with about 15 content writers and none of them is a full-time
employee.
This shift is happening because, for companies, the cost of dealing

with certain requirements through external vendors is increasingly
becoming transparent and cost-effective.
Thanks to internet penetration, global payment solutions, and
platforms like "Upwork" built for credibility and transparency,
companies would rather work with external vendors instead of
having someone inhouse and have avoidable overhead costs.
Content writing sits perfectly in this setting. For most companies,

content is extremely ad hoc and the volume of requirements is
usually unpredictable. To overcome this, organisations both in
India and worldwide are in constant need for freelance content
writers.
So, I hope I have driven home the point of whether there are
enough opportunities for becoming a content writer. Now, let’s
understand how you can become a successful content writer in
India.
CONTENT WITHOUT
CONTEXT IS USELESS
- Sanjay Shenoy
HOW TO BECOME A
CONTENT WRITER IN
INDIA
Step 0: Go Niche
Would you be intrigued if you see a unicycle? A little maybe.
What about a bear? Definitely.
What about a bear on a unicycle? Now, we are talking.
See? When you put two very random things together it suddenly
starts becoming more appealing and interesting.
That is what you should do with your positioning as a content

writer.
When you combine a skill like content writing, with a specific

niche, then not only do you become an expert content writer but
also an expert in the industry. This can be a very attractive
proposition because now, not only do you have subject matter
expertise but also a specific skill around this subject matter.
But mind you, make sure the niche you choose is dependent on
content and there are enough opportunities.
Step 1: Build a portfolio
You need to start building credibility before you start earning

anything.
This is the stage where most people give up.
Because this is the stage where you are doing something without
any kind of monetary feedback. But it’s important you do this.
As a new content writer on the block, nobody is going to trust you.

You have to start working on elements that will help you build this
trust. One of the ways is to build a portfolio. A portfolio is a
showcase of your capabilities.
Now that you have picked an industry, come up with

different content ideas and create content for the industry.
Create a few blog posts, write a small ebook, how about a case
study? Or perhaps some white papers.
A good portfolio will give you a great platform to grow from. But
that alone is not going to help you. You need social proof.
Step 2: Start creating social proof
We are all social beings. When it comes to doing something risky,

we always look at what other people are doing.
We look for the reviews on amazon before buying something, look

at the number of listens on Spotify before we hit play, see what’s
trending on Netflix. Everything is an example of social proof of how
others have reacted in a similar situation.
As a content writer, you can tap into this and create your own
social proof.
A great place to do this is Quora.
Quora not only allows you to flex your content writing skills but
also attract the necessary social proof and showcase how people
are not only consuming your content but also engaging with it.
Not only this, but Quora can also help you attract more gigs in the
future. In fact, a friend of mine has successfully managed to get
plenty of writing gigs purely through Quora just because she was
the most viewed writer plenty of times.
Again, having a niche really helps in positioning yourself as a

subject matter expert.
Step 3: Build authority with a blog
Authority is the ultimate credibility parameter.
If you create a sense of authority, a certain sense of expertise, you

will not only be able to attract more clients but also convert them
at a much higher price.
And an easy way to do this is by creating a blog.
Again, here you will be using your blog as a tool to showcase your
capabilities and authority. It’s extremely easy to set up a blog and
there are plenty of resources online showing you how to do that.
So set up a blog already.
Step 4: Create a pitch
I get pitched all the time and almost all of them are terrible.
A great pitch is simple, clear, to the point and articulate.
I mean, think about it, you are trying to pitch to be a writer. How
can you expect to land a paid writing gig if your writing can’t sell
yourself?
These are the elements of a clear and effective pitch,

1. A clean, customized subject line
2. Address the recipient by name
3. Reference to where you saw their requirement (or why you think
they need content)
4. Why you think you are a good fit for the requirement or
company
5. References to your work and portfolio
6. Links to your blog and other platforms (like quora, Upwork etc)
7. Links to your social media handles
8. A good email signature
And mind you the riches lie in the follow-ups. Don’t forget to follow
up after you pitch.
Also, keep testing your pitch until you get your highest converting
pitch.
Step 5: Start on Fiverr and Upwork
Fiverr and Upwork have been the flag bearers of the gig economy.
A lot of you might argue that it has been saturated but I strongly
feel that there is still a lot of opportunity on platforms like Fiverr on
Upwork.
Of course, you cannot just set up an account on either of these

platforms and expect orders to keep flowing in; you have to put in
the work.
An easy to get ahead on Fiverr and Upwork is by giving away free

work in exchange for reviews. You can also use these content
pieces to fill up your portfolio so that’s a win-win. Once you have
raked up enough reviews, you will have a better chance of winning
projects on either of these platforms.
Also, ensure that you use these platforms as a way to attract

qualified clients which you can then convert into long term
commitments. When you deliver a project always make sure you
upsell a long term commitment.
It never hurts to upsell.
Step 6: Join Facebook groups and
communities
There is absolutely no dearth for Facebook groups and

communities.
And guess what? We run the largest digital marketing group in the
world! You can check it out
here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/learndm
And there are plenty more like them out there especially
specifically meant for content writers.
Usually, in groups like these, people usually post requirements for

content. Keep following them and when they post their
requirements, send them the pitch you created in step 4.
Again, don’t forget to follow up but at the same time don’t be

annoying.
Step 7: Set up and optimise your LinkedIn
Profile
You might like it, or you might hate it, but you cannot ignore it.
Let’s be honest, most of don’t use LinkedIn like we use other

platforms. We log in once in a blue moon, accept invitations from
all the people you don’t know, check your endorsements and
promptly close the tab.
If you want to be part of the gig economy, it will make sense for
you to take LinkedIn more seriously and use it more deliberately.
The first obvious thing to do is set up a decent profile with every
possible information.
Remember, this is LinkedIn, not Instagram. So when it comes to

pictures, keep those pouts, weird-looking-eyebrows, and the fake
eye squints away. It sounds obvious but the amount of profiles I
see with pictures like this is astonishing. And mind the background!
To be on the safer side, upload a nice headshot and you should be
good to go.
Once that is done, it’s time to optimise your profile. Yes, you read it
right; optimise. LinkedIn is also a search engine, so when
companies are looking for people with specific skill sets, you have
to make sure you show up. To do this, make sure you have put in
keywords in the title and in your description. Please don’t go
overboard and stuff it with keywords here.
Now, its time to keep an eye out on the opportunities on LinkedIn,

which brings us to the next point.
Step 8: Apply for companies with openings
Keep an eye out on the job portals for companies looking for full-
time content writers.
It is incredibly hard to get a full-time content writer and I know this

from experience.
Even if companies do find content writers, it is even harder to keep

them around.
Again, reach out to them and pitch that they might want to
consider you as a freelance content writer until they find a full-
time writer. If you are lucky, you might become their “full-time
content writer” but as a freelancer.
This also includes digital marketing agencies and advertising

agencies. They are almost always looking for writers. Even if they
have full-time writers, agency life is such that, you might never
know when your requirement might increase overnight.
So reach out to the right person in these agencies and pitch them
your services.
Step 9: Join content platforms
I have listed content platforms as the last option because you

don’t have the flexibility of choosing your clients but it’s a great
option if you are starting out.
When it comes to India, I personally believe Pepper content is a

great place for you to start off. I have personally used their service
and they did a great job. Having said that, I really hope that they
have very strict policies when they onboard new writers.
There are plenty of other platforms too but either they have
extremely low payouts or terrible orders coming in or both. Most
content platforms follow this trajectory unfortunately and it is very
difficult to tell when these platforms hit rock bottom.
Regardless, it’s definitely worth a shot.
ATTRACT YOUR AUDIENCE
WITH THE CONTENT THEY
WANT TO CONSUME. ENGAGE
THEM WITH THE CONTENT
THEY SHOULD BE CONSUMING
- Sanjay Shenoy
WHAT IS
THE
AVERAGE
SALARY
FOR A
CONTENT
WRITER IN
INDIA?
Just to reiterate, stop looking at content
writing as a “job” and start looking at it
as a skill that you can deploy regardless
of where you are and who you are.
Having said that, the comfort of a job

and the addiction of a monthly salary is
difficult to get rid of. And sometimes, for
a lot of people having a job is more of a
necessity than a choice.
So if you are looking for a job in
content writing in a Tier 1 city,
expect your salary to start
around Rs.15,000 per month, and
it can go up to Rs. 25,000 per
month depending on various
factors.
With a couple of years of

experience up your sleeve, you
can move that number to Rs.
35,000 to Rs. 40,000 and that’s
probably where you’ll hit a glass
ceiling. You either continue at
the same position while
adjusting your salary to inflation
every year or you move up the
ladder to become a content
manager or an editor or even
better a content marketer. You
can then be looking at a salary
north of Rs.50,000, but it takes
some effort, time and patience
to get there.
Since I am a proponent of the

gig economy and I strongly
recommend you to take the
route of freelancing eventually
you need to start setting rates
for the words you churn out.
It’s always ideal to build up your

portfolio and everything
mentioned in this article before
you decide on the price. If you
have a decent portfolio and you
are just getting started, you can
charge Re.1 per word.
It would be wise to have a
minimum of Rs.1000 per article
that way you don’t end up
spending too much time working
on smaller articles but still get
paid good money for the work
you do.
Eventually, you can start

charging people higher, and the
best way to do that is by first
changing your pricing with
existing clients. They know the
value you bring to the table, and
by now, you should know your
worth.
Eventually, you can start

charging people higher, and the
best way to do that is by first
changing your pricing with
existing clients. They know the
value you bring to the table, and
by now, you should know your
worth.
Move from Re. 1 to Rs. 2 and

before you know it, you will be
hovering around the Rs. 5 per
word mark. I know writers who
charge more than that, but that
requires a lot more experience
and credibility before you
command such high prices.
THE GOAL IS NOT
ENGAGEMENT, IT
IS TO PROVIDE
VALUE. OPTIMISE
FOR VALUE NOT
ENGAGEMENT
- Sanjay Shenoy
WHAT ARE THE
QUALIFICATIONS
NECESSARY?
While there are no qualifications necessary to be a content writer,
it would definitely help to understand how content works.
There is both art and science to content writing. More often than
not, content writing is confused with creative writing. Like
mentioned before, content writing is more about utility than about
creativity.
When you understand the science behind it, you can then wrap it
with the art (creativity) if possible. Also, when it comes to content
writing, understanding how marketing the content works is also
very crucial. A basic understanding of SEO, social media networks
allows you to craft content that not only works but also spreads.
Keeping all of this in mind, I have created a content marketing
course which goes in-depth about how to create content that
works and also how to market it effectively. And the best part? It’s
free. Just leave a comment below and I’ll reach out to you with the
access.
How to become a 'better' content writer?

Notice how I used the word better and not best? That’s because
there will always be some room to improve when it comes to
content writing. It’s a journey and not a destination and
everybody starts at zero.
Having said that, there are a few things you can do to improve
your writing. The most crucial thing that you need to do is to start
reading more. Read more books, ebooks, blogs, articles, white
papers, whatever comes your way. The more you read, the better
your writing becomes.
Speaking of writing, you also need to write a lot more. Write just a
little bit every day, but write every day. The more you write, the
more you know what not to do and polish yourself along the way.
Speaking of writing, you also need to write a lot more. Write just a
little bit every day, but write every day. The more you write, the
more you know what not to do and polish yourself along the way.
I have made a very detailed video on How NOT to sound like a
NON-native writer. Check it out on my youtube channel.
CONCLUSION
Like most things in life, becoming a content writer will take
you time. You have to go through the curve for you to
become better at it.
The more you read the better you become at it.
The more you learn the better you understand it.
The more you write the better your flow will be.
The best time to start writing was

yesterday, the second best time to start
it today.

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HOW TO BECOME A

While I composed myself to respond to this email, I thought to

So here I am, with a practical guide on becoming a content writer

To understand how to become a (great) content writer, it is

Content is any kind of information that will educate, inform,

In other words, content writing is all about solving problems for a

This is important to understand because aspiring writers either

I find both approaches to be wrong because if you just focus on

And you definitely do not

I am mentioning these points

Now that we have addressed

The beauty of this skill is that it can be developed and applied

So for the sake of my argument, instead of calling it a “job” let’s

Now, obviously, it would be naive to think that all of it is

I think we are heading towards a world where freelancing is

This shift is happening because, for companies, the cost of dealing

Content writing sits perfectly in this setting. For most companies,

Would you be intrigued if you see a unicycle? A little maybe.

What about a bear? Definitely.

What about a bear on a unicycle? Now, we are talking.

That is what you should do with your positioning as a content

When you combine a skill like content writing, with a specific

You need to start building credibility before you start earning

This is the stage where most people give up.

As a new content writer on the block, nobody is going to trust you.

Now that you have picked an industry, come up with

We are all social beings. When it comes to doing something risky,

We look for the reviews on amazon before buying something, look

A great place to do this is Quora.

Again, having a niche really helps in positioning yourself as a

Authority is the ultimate credibility parameter.

If you create a sense of authority, a certain sense of expertise, you

And an easy way to do this is by creating a blog.

A great pitch is simple, clear, to the point and articulate.

These are the elements of a clear and effective pitch,

Of course, you cannot just set up an account on either of these

An easy to get ahead on Fiverr and Upwork is by giving away free

Also, ensure that you use these platforms as a way to attract

It never hurts to upsell.

There is absolutely no dearth for Facebook groups and

Usually, in groups like these, people usually post requirements for

Again, don’t forget to follow up but at the same time don’t be

Let’s be honest, most of don’t use LinkedIn like we use other

Remember, this is LinkedIn, not Instagram. So when it comes to

Now, its time to keep an eye out on the opportunities on LinkedIn,

It is incredibly hard to get a full-time content writer and I know this

Even if companies do find content writers, it is even harder to keep

This also includes digital marketing agencies and advertising

I have listed content platforms as the last option because you

When it comes to India, I personally believe Pepper content is a

Regardless, it’s definitely worth a shot.

Having said that, the comfort of a job

With a couple of years of

Since I am a proponent of the

It’s always ideal to build up your

Eventually, you can start

Eventually, you can start

Move from Re. 1 to Rs. 2 and