Want to automate social selling on LinkedIn?

Check out our LinkedIn content automation and employee advocacy manager

B2B and content marketing strategies like this in your inbox twice a month
By clicking Subscribe, you agree with our Terms.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Content Operations
6
min read
November 2, 2023

3 Writing Tips for B2B Writers

Keelyn Hart
Content Writer at Letterdrop

As a B2B Content Writer you know the writing process like the back of your hand. Planning, drafting, sharing, evaluating, revising, editing, publishing, rinse and repeat — so you're sure you're doing just fine on the writing front… right?

Maybe not. You can admit that your tried and true process doesn't appear to serve you all the time. Perhaps you find yourself staring at a blank document while deadlines creep up on you, find your process slow, or are churning out content that doesn't seem to land. Why do you suddenly feel like an imposter?

You may know the writing process well, but there are ways to make it more efficient, of better quality, and more consistent. You can eliminate the friction you're experiencing and deliver your audience better content, faster.

You can change the B2B writing process for the better by implementing the three tweaks we cover in this article, so let's get started.


Facing the Writing Process

You know all too well that the content marketing industry is already saturated with content and has ChatGPT writing for it now. The time to stand out was yesterday.

You want a writing process that yields faster, more consistent and better quality results to make an impression on your client base.

Perhaps it's time to take a look at what may be slowing you down, and how you can get yourself out of any potential rut in three simple steps.



The Writer's Challenge

After reflecting on your writing process, you have come to some disheartening conclusions about its efficiency. You doubt ChatGPT can say the same.

Your current writing process is slow, frustrating, and inconsistent.

Trying to write content that appeals to everyone, playing writer and editor simultaneously, and accidentally overlooking errors in your published works are frequent frustrations for you.

You're not alone in this struggle. Here are some common challenges faced by B2B content writers.


Imposter Syndrome & Writer's Block

Up to 82% of people generally feel imposter syndrome, but we'll round it up to a crisp 100% for writers.

Imposter syndrome refers to the persistent inability to believe that your success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved through your skill and efforts.

Writers have their own brand of imposter syndrome, of course. It's writer's block, or the overwhelming feeling of being stuck in the writing process without the ability to move forward.

It's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The anxiety brought about by imposter syndrome and writer's block can totally paralyze writing efforts and lengthen your sales cycle.

Writer's block is caused by:

  • feeling constrained by writing rules (or client briefs),
  • feeling that your work has gone unnoticed or unappreciated,
  • the fear of not being good enough,
  • comparing your work to the work of others and inferring an inferiority/superiority complex.

Self-imposed and often illogical measures of success have diminished your confidence in your skills, and are slowing down or altogether stopping the writing process.


Friction and the Flow State

The laws of physics dictate that it is easier to keep things moving than to start things moving — this is the same in writing.

While friction in physics is a good thing, such as in the functioning of your car brakes, friction in writing means that there are obstacles in the way of starting, continuing or completing your writing process.

Various factors can slow your progress into the "flow state." This is the phenomenon of total concentration and flow where everything seems to click, and the words flow easily.

Distractions are a common roadblock into the "flow state." If your phone goes off while you're at your desk trying to write, or your kids run in and out of your office during the workday, you're not focusing on writing.

Disjointed writing sessions are also a big obstacle. If you dedicate only small chunks of time to writing, or hop between writing and editing in one sitting, your work becomes equally disjointed and unfocused. The same can be said when dealing with incomplete research or missing equipment.

Ultimately your progress into the "flow state" is delayed by an inefficient and disorganized writing process. Time to adjust it, don't you think?


Streamlining Your Writing Process

If you implement these tweaks, we guarantee you will notice your writing process change for the better. With them, you'll eliminate friction and enter a "flow state" faster, demolish writer's block, and consistently publish better work. This can only mean more traffic, more conversions, and increased credibility with customers, right? Let's dig in.


Separate the Writing and Editing Processes

This may seem obvious, but writing and editing are not the same thing. They're different processes altogether. Trying to do both simultaneously will only frustrate you and slow you down.

Writing is a proactive and personal process in which your unconscious mind is your guide. Editing is a reactive and objective process that requires you to be as far removed from the biases of your own writing as possible.

The writing process becomes paralyzed by concerns over presentation, so give yourself space to breathe. Try writing something and waiting 24 hours before starting to edit it. And do that editing on a different screen, too.

A writer creates and an editor analyzes, so divide your time between these separate functions to avoid frustration and delays.


Read Aloud

Everything you write looks good on paper, but all the little imperfections become (painfully) apparent when you hear them rather than see them.

Reading aloud slows you down enough to become aware of overlooked errors that can cause friction for your readers. You can determine:

  • If the content is clear, jargon-free and digestible,
  • If the sentence structure and rhythm allows for flow and comprehension,
  • If there are typos, mistakes, fluff, and annoying patterns such as repetition,
  • If there are gaps in the content.

You can read aloud at key points in the writing process, such as after the first and final drafts, respectively.


When to Read Aloud in the Writing Process according to Fourthwallcontent
When to Read Aloud in the Writing Process | Fourthwallcontent

It takes a little extra time, but reading your work aloud is the easiest (and cheapest) writing upgrade you can make.


Write to One Person and One Problem

Do you worry about cutting out readers by being too specific? You're not alone. But writing for everyone means writing for no one — don't make this rookie mistake!

Consider these questions when identifying your reader and establish a buyer persona:

  • What problem am I solving?
  • Whose problem am I solving?
  • What emotion am I creating?
  • What action am I encouraging?
  • What benefit am I unlocking?

Narrowing your audience down to one specific reader makes your writing sharp as a razor. Relevant language, terminology, and solutions add value to your content and make it relatable to your clients.


Your Writing Process Can Always Improve

You thought your thorough understanding the writing process was enough, but in terms of efficiency, you may be lagging behind in the content marketing industry. Your progress into the "flow state" is delayed, you encounter friction and writer's block, and the quality of your work could be better.

Separating your writing and editing processes, reading your work aloud, and writing to solve one specific person's problem are three adjustments that will drastically improve your writing process.

Subscribe to newsletter

No-BS growth strategies and content marketing tactics in your inbox twice a month.

By clicking Subscribe, you agree with our Terms.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.