I was surprised at the number of writers who told me at the ASJA conference that they want to add content marketing writing to their services, but aren’t sure where to start. But I can see that if content marketing is totally new (or you think it’s new) that it can seem overwhelming. So today I am going to offer five simple ideas of things that you can do that will help you move towards feeling comfortable about marketing yourself as a custom content writer.

1. Read an article (or two) about Content Marketing. I found that most peoples roadblock comes from thinking content marketing is a lot more of a change from what they are doing than it is actually is. I really liked this article last year on Business2Community because I felt it explained content marketing in a way where writers can see how value and how we fit into the process. Check out the Content Marketing Playbook by Content Marketing Institute to learn more about the different types of content and see great examples. The playbook is honestly one of my favorite tools for learning about content marketing.
2. Look at examples of content marketing. I often cite American Express OPENForum and Costco Connection as my favorite examples of excellent content marketing. But there are many more examples of excellent custom content that provides information to the target audience while developing trust in the brand. Joe Pulizzi, of Content Marketing Institute, produced a fantastic slideshow with 20 examples of excellent content marketing that is definitely worth checking out. After looking at examples of content, I am willing to bet that you will feel less intimidated and realize that you already have the skills needed to create amazing content yourself.
3. Look through your clips with a different mindset. Take a few minutes to go through your clips and find projects you have completed that are actually content marketing projects. Most writers have already done content marketing and without even realizing it. By seeing that you have already done this type of work, you may realize that it is easier than you thought to move forward.You should also think about niches while going through your clips and brainstorm about industries where you have experience. I think that many writers feel overwhelmed by the idea of a niche and don’t realize that they already have niches that are a perfect fit for content marketing. By brainstorming about niches, you also most likely begin to see ideas for marketing your services and how you can be both a content marketing writer and a journalist.
4. Check out the Custom Content Council Website. I have heard the sigh of relief when writers began looking through the member list on the Custom Content Council website. All of these companies produce content and most of them use freelancers. There is a fantastic search feature so you can narrow it by niche and type of deliverable. And best part is that the email addresses of the contact at the agency are listed directly on the page. I have found that when writers see that a lot of the information that they need to get started, at least with looking for agencies, is right there that the whole prospect seems less intimidating.
5. Find one brand or agency that you want to approach. Brainstorm one agency or brand that you would like to target for content marketing. It could be a small brand or a big one. But the important thing is that it is a brand or agency where you can see how your skills will help the company create effective content. The hardest part is getting into the mindset of figuring out who to target. But once you can come up with one idea, it often opens a flood gate of ideas of potential target markets.

What was your first step towards content marketing writing? What advice would you give to other writers who are still at the starting gate? If you are still waiting to start, what is holding you back?