7 Tips for Successful Article Writing
Just imagine if you could perpetually entice thousands of
internet surfers to visit your website and make purchases on a
regular basis!
That's what writing articles can do for you if you do it right.
If you do it wrong, forget it. Don't even bother.
To help you become more successful in directing traffic to your
websites through effective articles, I've compiled a list of
positive elements for you to include.
Here are 7 article writing tips:
1. Open with a hook that will entice your readers to keep
reading.
Your first four words better be compelling or your readers won't
stick around to read the rest. So start with an
attention-grabbing headline plus intriguing opening paragraph.
Get to the point quickly and remain on target. It's easier to
stay focused if you stick to an outline, so be sure to create
one before you start writing.
2. Write lots of how-to articles.
They have great attraction for readers. In this type of article
your goal is to teach people how to do something they are
interested in doing by offering practical tips and solutions.
The best type of articles help readers solve problems or inform
them of the latest breakthroughs in their fields of expertise.
Research your subject well and check your facts. Give concrete
examples and personal experiences to back up your points. Tell
how you faced a problem and solved it.
Your article should inspire action and not just be an
intellectual exercise. Think of it this way: knowledge plus
action leads to growth. Insight alone may not accomplish
anything.
If you're going to give a list of tips, it's a good idea to
serve them up in groups of 3, 5, 7 or 10 rather than a larger
number like 17.
3. Be sure to include plenty of original content.
Visitors will remain longer at your website if you offer them
unique material.
Write as if you were speaking to your best friend about a topic
that's compelling for both of you. For example, imagine that
your friend is just starting out in your field of expertise.What
tips would you share? Use "you" a lot to make your writing more
personal. Concentrate on helping your reader instead of
concentrating on yourself.
You'll sound like a real person if you write from your heart.
However, beware of being overly casual and avoid too many
personal references.
Here are some winning ideas for you to include in your writing:
* Tell a funny story or insert dashes of humor. * Give
unexpected information. * Share an amazing fact or figure. *
Throw in a surprise element. * Provide information with impact.
* Give a unique spin to a popular subject. * Quote a respected
authority.
5. Use numbered lists and bullets whenever possible when you're
writing to make skimming easier.
Skimming is the way people read articles on the internet.
Internet articles are different from articles in magazines
because it's hard to read type on computer monitors.
Use bold headings and subheadings to divide the material and
make it easier to skim. Keep paragraphs short with about three
sentences each and use lots of white space.
6. Your article should be between 500 and 800 words.
Write too few words and you lose credibility. Write too many
words and the reader will be off somewhere else.
7. Be sure to include your author resource box with a live
clickable link.
This is your chance to tell people about what you have to offer.
Become a more skillful writer using these suggestions.
If you do, you'll soon start writing unique articles with impact
that are a cut above the rest.