Key Types of Writing

[MUSIC]. 0:00 Understanding the fundamentals of writing is essential. 0:05 And it can bring about many benefits 0:07 for your projects, your company, especially your career. 0:09 So today I wanna provide some fundamentals that 0:13 you should understand when it comes to writing. 0:16 Especially if you're looking to get a job in the 0:18 tech industry or looking to improve the writing you do. 0:20 As part of the job you already have. 0:23 We'll discuss various types of writing you should be prepared for. 0:25 How to improve each one. 0:29 Some common errors that people make, and how to avoid them. 0:30 And some strategies that can help you improve your work. 0:34 So it helps to ask this question. 0:37 How does writing impact us? 0:40 Well, writing is all around us. 0:43 And as designers and developers, we can't be blind to the importance of it. 0:45 If you misspell a tag, or a piece of code, 0:49 something could break from a simple link to the entire 0:52 site and if you include typos or show poor writing 0:56 skills in the text that you produce on your site. 0:59 You risk making a bad first impression. 1:03 Poor writing can be embarrassing and it can 1:06 also be costly if we're talking about a business. 1:08 So it doesn't matter if you're a student learning how to code. 1:11 Or designing websites for a living or. 1:14 Writing posts on a blog or if you're 1:16 trying to sell something online, writing is everywhere. 1:18 But the format and the content of 1:21 your writing will vary depending on the situation. 1:23 So let's get into some of the online writing types. 1:27 If you ever need to prepare. 1:30 A cover letter or a project proposal of some kind. 1:31 You must understand how unique professional writing tasks can be. 1:36 Now, this can include messages you write 1:39 to introduce yourself to clients interacting with organizations. 1:42 It could be formal pitches to universities. 1:47 Or even media outlets. 1:50 Now, if you're building sites or apps and cranking out code, 1:52 you may be asked to prepare documentation or instructional kinds of writing. 1:56 Directions, comments and other help text is often needed for the front end design, 2:01 and notes for fellow project collaborators can be helpful on the back end as well. 2:06 Corporate communications is another kind of writing that you might get asked to do. 2:13 Sites need well written, keyword rich effective copy, written for 2:17 its product pages, services and all the other pages in-between. 2:22 And you'll especially know. 2:27 You'll especially need to know how to prepare this if you're writing it for 2:29 your own site, or getting paid by a client to do it for them. 2:33 And, one more type, in the age of social media, it's important 2:37 to know how to prepare and adapt and refocus the subject matter. 2:41 Of your writing for various online platforms, like twitter or LinkedIn. 2:47 The same kind of writing is not always effective across all channels online. 2:53 So knowing how to change things up will give you an advantage. 2:58 As you try to reach out to different audiences. 3:02 So these writing types should sound familiar. 3:05 But it's important to recognize that each one is tied to different kinds of goals. 3:08 And goals are essential for effective writing. 3:13 Professional writing pieces like job cover letters or project 3:16 proposals are done to improve a business or a professional relationship. 3:21 You're looking to start a relationship or partnership, or improve an existing one. 3:27 Instructional writing, like directions on a web form, or comments 3:32 within your code or other documentation is meant to educate. 3:37 And help. 3:40 You're hoping to inform the reader to make their 3:41 experience easier and to enable them to do something. 3:44 Corporate writing, like press releases or product descriptions and other text found 3:49 on websites, is required to compel users to take certain kinds of action. 3:54 You're hoping to appeal. 4:00 To there needs and to their interests with writing that's going to influence them. 4:01 And writings done on social networks and other online social 4:07 platforms is generally done in an attempt to interact with others. 4:11 Sharing information in specific places, sometimes. 4:15 Along with pictures and video and other types of media can help position you 4:18 as an influencer, especially if the content 4:23 that you write and share is valuable. 4:25 So whatever you write should have a purpose, especially if you're writing 4:29 on behalf of a company or product or to improve your own career. 4:33 If you can keep this various writing types in mind. 4:37 You'll know what goals what your goals should be, 4:40 as you prepare and publish each new piece of content. 4:44