Article Writing Blog

Publishing content on the internet is not a hard task. But, some days it is definitely not the easiest. What do I write about today? Will my reader understand what I am trying to say? Will the reader leave with valuable and useful knowledge?

These questions can be easily answered in two words: wanted content.

The typical internet user does not just search for random keywords to pass the time. They are looking for an answer to a question that they cannot answer themselves.

Where are we going on vacation in March? How do I make homemade egg noodles? How do I tie a double-winsor knot? What band is playing in town tonight?

The job of the publisher is to simply identify, and answer, the specific question. Of course, it is impossible to answer every possible question. That is why the publisher writes what they know.

Write what you know.

“Write what you know” is quite possibly the best lesson for any aspiring writer, no matter the intent of the audience. A reader will look right through imagined material. They may know more than what you are communicating to them.

It is tempting for a content publisher to try and breeze through their articles. This will not do any good ? for you or your reader. It is important to take time to research your topic.

Don’t write above their heads.

Maybe you are the expert in your field. Therefore, they are not. It is then necessary to learn the questions of your readers. What do they want to know? How best can you describe the information? Besides knowing your content, it is equally important to be able to communicate at their level.

It is probably difficult for a reader to understand medical journal if they have only completed high school. It is probably equally as difficult for a Ph.D. to understand the writings of a sixth grader.

By researching other publications that include writings for your readers, you are able to determine what level of writing to use in your articles and content. You will sound more believable to your intended audience and they will almost certainly continue reading your piece.

What do I write?

Find out what questions your readers want answers to. There are solutions that will help you determine what they are searching for, and what pages are frequented the most. Where does your traffic come from and what links do they follow.

Taking the time to analyze this collected information will help you to better publish on your site. It is worth the time and effort to do a little research, and will eliminate wasted efforts on your part.

When it is all said and done?

When you have finished your research and writing, you will have completed a piece that is informative to your readers, easy to read and comprehend, and reassure your reader that you are a believable expert in your field. They can rely on you and your service to keep them informed of the information they desire.

Robb Ksiazek is a successful author and publisher for http://www.body-mass-index-4u.com. He has researched many topics for writings and publications, acquiring knowledge and efficiencies along the way.

So how can you make your article worth reading?

It’s all about the angle…

You are about to write an article. Your reasons are your own. Maybe it’s a promotional article to gain publicity. Maybe it’s a contribution to a company newsletter or journal. Maybe you just want to write articles for fame, fortune, or both…

No matter why you’re writing an article, it’s your responsibility to make it interesting.

So how can you make your article worth reading? It’s all about the ANGLE.

First pick your topic. For example, let’s say your topic is something that many people may find themselves yawning about. We hear a lot about diet pills. How can you “spice up” your topic? You need an angle!

Then you need to decide what aspect of the thing you want to write about. Are you selling diet pills? Lots of people are. Is there anything new or particular interesting in the world of diet pills that people are interested in that you know about? Is it possible to buy pills that actually make you lose weight while sleeping? Do you have the inside scoop on how the average guy or gal can stay at home and make money selling diet pills? Your job is to do the research, use some creativity, and come up with several different angles. Let’s take a look at some popular article types:

1. THE HOW-TO

People love how-to articles! They lead the reader step-by-step through how to accomplish their goals. They also sometimes offer resources the reader can contact for more information.

What expertise do YOU have that you could share? Turn that subject into an interesting how-to article. A few examples: How To Get Free Publicity for Your Website, How To Convince People To Join You In Joint Ventures, and How To Make Money With Your Computer.

Think of the titles that you could write about. Everybody knows something that they can share with others. Think about your profession or your hobbies. What are you really good at? Someone out there could use your knowledge.

2. THE MINI CASE STUDY

Raise a provocative question and then answer it with three or four real-life examples. Example: For an article titled,”Can A Stay-At-Home Mom Really Make Good Money?” You could begin with a few stats on how today”s women are making fortunes without having to leave home. Then you could feature a few real cases, each with different outcomes to show all sides of the issue. Forums are excellent sources of information and interviews no matter what your topic.

You could use one similar to the essay in my “Instant Essay Creator.” It is called “Should School Uniforms Be Mandatory?” This was based on an actual survey of high school administrators that have mandated school uniforms and swear by them.

3. THE SURPRISE

“Amazing New Product Claims To Erase The Signs Of Aging!”

You hook the reader by getting him interested in this revolutionary idea. For example, an anti-wrinkle cream. The cream is becoming famous because of its claims to allow anyone to erase the signs of aging caused by too much sun. This is ideal to use when you’re discussing the drawbacks of a new practice or method that”s controversial right now. As the reader, you get all excited, thinking you”ve discovered an incredible new product. But the article reveals, point by point, that too much sun exposure is unsafe and that intelligent people will not just throw caution to the winds and risk getting skin cancer. They will purchase “Super Sunscreen Deluxe” from the given website! Now that’s marketing!

4. THE TREND

Whenever a trend sweeps the nation, you’ll suddenly see dozens of articles covering the topic. From the latest skirt length to the latest exercise gimmick. People want to know all about these trends their origins, benefits, and limitations.

5. THE STUDY

These articles report the results of a study or survey. If you do a bit of research, you can probably dig up a recent study on which you can base your article. Examples: “More Couples Admitting to Have Met Online,” “Religious People Are Happier Than Others,” or “Most People Prefer Dogs To Cats.”

Now that you’ve gotten the idea, pick an angle and WRITE!

Kristi Sayles invites everybody to check out her Instant Article Creator Software at http://www.writethatarticle.com It is an interactive, template-based program that teaches how to produce professional “Sales-Pulling” articles to distribute to Ezines. The customer receives LOTS of valuable freebies-including a list of Ezine publishers that are just begging for your article! (This article is an example.) More of Ms. Sayles’ writing programs are at http://smartauthor.com Ms. Sayles’ newletter can be viewed online at http://smartauthor.com/treasures.html

Start by Being Quotable

It’s tough to stand out online. With millions of experts and websites on the Internet, what are your chances of getting noticed? Long odds, certainly. But that’s not your biggest challenge.

Most fail to grab attention because what they’re dishing out is dull - rehashing what’s already been said, time and again. Content has been over-sold. It is NOT king if it’s mediocre. Ezine editors and webmasters are selective about what they’ll share with their readers. They know that too much of what’s being submitted to them isn’t worth passing along.

First, you must have something worth saying that connects with readers in a fresh, engaging way. People are starved for that - it’s why they keep looking. There’s less good stuff being written than you’d expect, given the vast sea of Web pages.

Jettison the bland and run of the mill. Spend sufficient time at this step because here’s where many writers drop the ball. Write from your unique vision and real-life experiences. Make your words so interesting and relevant that people remember them. That’s what gets your articles forwarded along and mentioned in passing (making you widely quoted).

Articles can quickly blanket the Internet with your expertise

Writing and posting articles to many websites or newsletters rapidly spreads your message. Systematic submissions soon brand you as a trustworthy expert.

Focus your content to satisfy the interests of a definable group or niche

Develop a list of websites and ezines that reach them, where you can submit your output

To illustrate the speed that Google responds to posted articles, this is article #2 for my new website. It just went up November 1 - http://www.promotewitharticles.com

Two weeks after submitting article #1, I queried Google: “What Posting Articles Online did for my Google Page Rank in 90 Days”. Results already showed 673 cites (many were repeats), and that’s sure to increase. Remember, it’s a brand-new site, so Google only learned it existed from that article.

The fact that you’re already reading this one (submitted Day 14) demonstrates article marketing is working.

People go to the Internet to get information needed to make decisions

Reliance on the Internet keeps growing. A Harris Interactive consumer survey (2004) found that 73% of adults are now online - 156 million users. That’s up from 69% eight months before.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project found that most Internet users (80%) expect that they’ll be able to find reliable detailed information online. They will go online first when they need information. Internet users say it matters to them that businesses have a Web presence, even if they intend to make purchases locally.

Other studies have found the Web is one of the most trusted sources for making major purchases and decisions - second only to spouses for finding referrals. Your well-placed articles bring you to the attention of people looking for what you have to say (wherever they are).

Get your article and message widely distributed and read

Make it informative and useful

An article is not a sales letter. Resist the temptation to sell. That should be confined to the signature (Sig, resource box) at the end. That’s where you provide a link back to your own site from every website posting your article.

Make it interesting

Net surfers are unforgiving. If you’re boring they’re gone. Flat articles won’t enhance your reputation or credibility. Your title needs to be a zinger that pulls the reader into the topic. Most readers won’t read more than that.

Make it relevant to specific people

Too many articles fail to connect because they’re written too generally to hit anyone’s “bulls eye.” Attempting to speak to “everybody” results in not speaking directly to anybody. There’s no substitute for knowing precisely who you’re trying to connect with, so you can address their concerns.

Make it as unique as you are

If you have a distinctive or quotable viewpoint, let it shine. Expose your personality. A little wit or self-revelation is welcomed. And if you can sustain it across repeated articles, readers will search you out.

Better than shouting from the rooftops

Your posted articles provide your soapbox - as broad as the Web. So make the most of that exposure, and get you voice heard. Create a ripple of interest which you can continue to build on about yourself, your website, your book, etc. That’s how reputations get made.

Discover everything you need at the Article Marketing Academy, http://www.promotewitharticles.com to find in-depth how-to from the experts. You, too can start finding yourself widely quoted in as little as a week.

© 2004, Lynella Grant

Dr. Lynella Grant http://www.promotewitharticles.com Use posted articles to build your business Expert in the “body language of printed materials” Author, The Business Card Book and Yellow Page Smarts grant@promotewitharticles.com (719) 395-9450