Online readers love information, but be sure your information is crisp, clean, clear and concise. Internet writing is different from print.

1. Keep your paragraphs short, even a line or two. Online readers will ignore long batches of words in long paragraphs, whether in an ezine or at a web site. That costs the author a lot of book sales. Respect readers who want material short and sweet.

2. Write tips in consistent format. First, use the command form of a verb. Follow it by the cost of not doing it, or benefits from doing it. End with a positive comment. Use this three or four-sentence formula to bring the curious to you. One tip I sent out in 2004 landed me an offer from a large print magazine to write a longer article on the same topic.

3. Make your heading compelling. If you haven't tested it on associates, or haven't edited it at least three times, it may say "lackluster." People will delete it or click on to something new. Which one will you read? " Write an Article," or "Sell More Books by Writing a Short Article"?

4. Get to the point quickly