Many people feel that writing articles and original content for their website is simply a tunnel for and a waste of time because most people don’t read it anyway. For some folks, reading articles. Seems like a great deal of work, and they find that what they’re reading is boring, tedious and bland. In actuality, imparting information and getting your message across is the main reason for writing an article. If people don’t read it, it’s simply a waste of time and effort.
With that said, articles are written primarily to be read. While you want unique content in order to get better page rank in the search engines, that’s not the main reason for putting articles on your website. In addition, writing a good article doesn’t have to be a tedious uphill battle. You can write it with little stress and strain, and get your points across. If you have a blueprint or guy to follow, believe it or not, once you get the hang of writing articles, they can be fun, profitable and very interesting to read and write.
If you own a website, you probably already know that writing articles is one of the best ways to promote your site. As well, you are probably very expert on a certain topic. So, when you write about it. You shouldn’t have a really hard time because you already know about the niche market that you put the website up about. It simply comes down to writing articles that are interesting.
How to get your articles read and enjoyed falls into implementing six techniques that will make your articles both readable and imaginative.
Tip #1: Write short paragraphs. A long, rambling paragraph that stumbles along with no breaks is almost impossible to read on a website. The reader simply winds up looking at a confused, troubled mass of gray type and will quickly give up. No matter how interesting your article is, it will not be read, if it’s all jumbled together in one long paragraph. Paragraphs can be as short as a single word, but should never be more than 5 to 7 sentences long when putting it up on your site.
Tip #2: Use numbers and bullets. Take paragraphs and break them down into ordered lists with bullet points, so that you can quickly make each point. In this way, it will be easier to remember and digest and easier to read on a computer screen. Format your bullets and numbers with indentations so that the article doesn’t look like a balm for a block of type. In this way, you’ll be able to make things stand now that you want to emphasize.
Tip #3: Subheadings can be used to divide paragraphs on a page. Using subheadings will allow you to break each main point into sections and give readers eyes a break as they read the whole article. It also allows the reader to look quickly at what the main points are as they go along. This allows them to move from point to point with a smooth transition, and you’ll never lose your readers attention, because they have a roadmap of where they’re going.
Tip #4: Give your reader, attention grabbing titles and subheadings. This will incite a person’s curiosity to read further. Ask questions and use keyword rich phrases that people are looking for in your headings and subheadings. In this way, you are describing the content in a short and concise manner is easy to digest.
Titles, had things in them, like tips, techniques, and how to use that that will make the reader’s life easier. For example, a title could read something like, “Six easy tips to make her yours that you can use immediately”. You have evoked emotion and that always keeps readers interested.
Tip #5: Use real-life examples to keep your readership interested from the start of your article to its conclusion. Make sure you have good descriptions, metaphors and emotional hoax to pull the reader from point to point. Use examples that have graphic metaphors and similes to make it easier for the reader to identify with what you’re talking about. Make sure that the experience is uplifting and enjoyable for them to continue reading.
Tip #6: Where possible, use figures. Avoid making insipid statements that have no facts or figures to back them up. When you use specific facts and figures, it makes your article friendlier, and the reader is more likely not only to read it thoroughly. They will also, more than likely, believe what you’re saying. However, remember to maintain a light and easy style, so that your reader doesn’t get bored. You are essentially a user-friendly teacher showing them how to answer a question or solve a problem by reading your article.
47 Comments
Martin Lodey
December 14, 2008As always Reed, excellent tips and strategies that I can start using straight away to improve my article writing and to help them get read.
Gunvi
December 14, 2008Thank you for the tips. I’ve had the same feelings about writing articles namely that they can be boring and long and full of loose content used as for fillers.the bluepring you gave an wxample of is very useful. Thanx.
Ed Sykes
December 14, 2008Excellent tips that I use in my article writing. I would guaranteed that any who uses your tips will make $$$$$.
Jeen Hao
December 14, 2008Sometime, we may also use screenshot like clickbank account screenshot to attract readers =)
awangnoh ahmad
December 15, 2008As always Reed, excellent tips and strategies that I can be begin using immediately to increase my article documentation and to help they get read.
Tommy Linsley
December 15, 2008Reed,
Great content and advice. Of all of the email
messages I receive, yours is one of the few that
don’t get deleted automatically.
You always have some good advice, so I always
following the link to your blog to see what you
have written. Keep up the good work.
Joe Jacobs
December 15, 2008Reed you still owe me some down loads and I can’t seem to find them
Alittle help would be nice
JLJacobs
Jerry Goodwin
December 15, 2008Hi Reed,
Great article, great advice. Personally I enjoy writing articles, I just find it difficult to do with the two handicapped boys, working full time and trying to run some sort of Internet Business.
Maybe I need some more time management courses, but how would I find the time to take them?
Maybe someone out there has an article on that for me to read that will make it all make sense.
Still, your article is great, you have made excellent points. I really enjoy reading your articles and would really enjoy someday meeting you in person.
Have a great day
Nickolove Lovemore
December 15, 2008Hi Reed,
A great article with excellent tips you can use to increase the readership of your articles. I think it’s important to remember that writing articles is not the same as the esay writing that many of us may have been taught at school.
When writing articles you should also avoid the use of overly complicated language. As Albert Einstein said:
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Best wishes
Nickolove
Nickolove Lovemores last blog post..The Universal Law of Thinking: The Importance of Controlling Your Thoughts to Achieve Success
Greg
December 15, 2008Reed, once again you’ve done a very nice job of outlining the essential basics of good article writing.
Always good to read your posts… helps to keep me on the job!
Greg.
Pierce
December 15, 2008Great article reed. Always a pleasure to read such informative posts.
Pierces last blog post..Brand new additions and Bonus Membership offer.
Did's
December 15, 2008Hi Reeds,
That’s Great Article, easy to apply and will boost reader to come back again to read more..
Keep writing such like tips…
Did’s
All natural skin care arbonne
December 15, 2008I always learn something new when visiting thank you very much!
Shawn Horwood
December 15, 2008Another great article Reed. If anyone wants to learn to write good articles they can pretty much learn everything they need to know from your posts. Great advice.
Shawn Horwood
http://top5-workathome.com/blog/
Paul
December 15, 2008Another very informative article, and something I will use to improve my article writing.
Thank you
David Enders, D.C.
December 15, 2008Appreciate your articles – always interesting and HELPFUL. I think articles are still an excellent way to get traffic to your websites.
Christine Imamshah
December 15, 2008Hi Reed,
I have been writing articles for a little while now, but I’m never too big-headed to read tips about improving what I do with my online business. Thankfully I have been following these tips. Great tips for every article writer out there.
Had a bit of a hard time though with the punctuation in the post so had to re-read some parts.
Thanks,
Chris
http://www.affiliateincomeroadmap.com
Gary Gross
December 15, 2008Another good Article, Reed.
Article Marketing is a great way to get your site noticed & indexed by the search engines. But the major thing you need to aim for with your Articles is to get them read.
Here is another good Article on Article Marketing .
Gary Gross
Marketer’s Daily
Gary Grosss last blog post..What Is E-Commerce ?
Lindsey Annison
December 15, 2008Reed, why does your first paragraph (and much of the rest of the article if I am truly honest) look like it was generated by one of those awful bits of software that will never replace human copywriters….it wasn’t, was it?
My addition is:
Try writing your articles as a Powerpoint presentation. I’m not suggesting you have a death by PPT moment for your website visitors, but learning to condense ideas, create simple headlines, bullet point key messages etc can make your articles easy to read, compulsive, and when you apply this to landing pages etc can make a real difference in responses to calls to action.
Lindsey Annisons last blog post..Customise your 404
Ari Lestariono
December 15, 2008Great way to write article is to play around the keywords and niche and blend with your contents, that way it will be search organic by search engine and increase traffic naturally.
Ari Lestarionos last blog post..Home Remedy for Hiccups
Richard
December 15, 2008Sound advice as ever, Reed.
Submitting articles takes a little time to build up traffic, but is well worth the effort for the long term results.
Dave
December 15, 2008This is a great article. Thank you for sharing it with us. I certainly will be trying to use these ideas on my blogs.
Looking forward to reading more of your articles.
Dave
Angel
December 15, 2008Great points to remember to improve one’s article writing. We should always focus on the needs of our readers and serve them honestly and sincerely.
Jeff
December 15, 2008Excellent points Reed. Something else that may help is outlining your article first so that it doesn;t end up being a long, rambling, pointless mess. Remember writing reports in 8th grade English where you had ro produce and outline before you could write your rough draft? Same thing here. It really helps to organize and prioritize your thoughts.
I think the Power Point idea mentioned above is an excellent one. PowerPoint slides only have enough room for 6 ot 7 lines of text at most on each slide. Following this type of format forces to keep your thoughts clear and concise, and your paragraphs short.
Jeffs last blog post..Are you gonna stay ON track or get off track?
Alwin chuah
December 15, 2008Thanks for the tips. I will incorporate the points when i post in my
blog.
Cheers
Alwin Chuah
http://www.globalblogincome.com
Alwin chuahs last blog post..Redirect Non-WWW to WWW for WordPress Blog
Mike Lawson
December 15, 2008Reed,
Nice piece with some rock solid advice.
Until recently I was the general manager of custom writing services for the firm that writes articles for ArticleMarketer.com. Writing and editing articles is what I do for a living. I now do it in my own business. (Not promoting, just establishing authority. lol)
One of the biggest fights we battle everyday with new clients is the desire to have sales letters written and try to pass them off as content articles. It just doesn’t doesn’t work – on several levels:
* Publishers don’t want them. They want well crafted articles that solve problems or teach their readers about a topic. They don’t want commercials; there is plenty enough of that in your mailbox everyday.
* Readers don’t want to read commercials, either. Think about the last time you sat down in front of the tv with a cool drink and some snacks and flipped on the Commercial Channel (assuming there really is one) to entertain yourself for the evening.
Effective articles are based on several things, I have found. Write them in a friendly yet authoratative voice. This makes you attainable to the reader while giving you expert status in their mind. It develops trust in your words and knowledge.
Articles only sell one thing: they “sell the click” on the link in the author’s resource box at the end of the piece. That’s it. Conversions don’t take place on the article page, but rather on the sales page or deep site page where they are linked.
What I do, and I ask my writers to do, is:
* state a problem,
* agitate the reader a bit with situations surrounding the problem they are familiar with (Make them sad, mad or scared),
* comfort them by telling them it doesn’t need to be that way; there is a solution,
* begin laying out a solution in a logical, easy to follow conversational manner,
* stop just shy of what the reader wants to really know (and they know by now you DO know),
* and “sell them the click” to the link in the resource box.
——–
“Conclusion
These are just the basics you need to know to solve the problem of xyz with your jkl, but not a complete solution. To find that, obtain the services of a reliable abc consultant and let them get your sales machine fine tuned.”
“About the Author: I. Will Helpusave is the best selling author of the book, “7 Ways to Solve Your XYZ Problem Without Going Broke or Crazy.” Get your free copy !”
That is all the selling people need do with their articles. The whole idea is to get them off the article directory or blog or forum and get them to their site where actual conversions are made.
Mike Lawson
Owner
Bluegrass Solutions
http://bluegrassmerchants.com/bluegrasssolutions/services/articles/
Geoff Dodd
December 15, 2008Reed, Hiya ..
I think articles CAN be strung out and dead boring and the solution is to use:
1. Subheaders for the ‘scanners’
2. Copy techniques such as identifying dominant emotions: Fear, anxiety, frustration, exhaustion, and then telling a short story that keys into these resident emotions and follows through to a solution. That is, using sales letter techniques within the article. Nothing wrong with a bit of controversy and conflict to resolve within the article, too.
These things will avoid the pure information aspect of the article and engage the reader emotionally.
Geoff Dodd
Australia
Geoff Dodds last blog post..World of MP3 Music Awaits
PV Reymond
December 15, 2008Hi Reed,
You are right, if you right your articles following these strategies you can achieve good results.
If people read your entire article chances are that they visit your site, that’s the goal of your article, it has to send readers to your site.
Thanks,
^PV Reymond
http://www.startup-internetbusiness.com
PV Reymonds last blog post..Twitter Tools
Jailani
December 15, 2008Excellent tips! I will definitely use them in my articles…..thanks bro Reed
Anna Kindler
December 15, 2008Hey Reed, I like to write articles and yes, sometimes I get carried away. But your advice is always very informative and helpful. Thanks for all the free advice you give.It helps newbies like me. How is your family doing? Again thanks. Anna
Lyn
December 15, 2008Helpful stuff, thank you. My pet hate (from the consumer standpoint) is wanting to get specific info about something, only to find article after article of waffle…. That’s why there’s a market for PRODUCTS I guess, they contain the info people actually want!
Lyns last blog post..Help for Pet Pain
Lyn
December 15, 2008Reed, Please could you write some tips on how to produce a decent teaser resource box? And also how to use articles (with minimum effort) by topping and tailing them with unique stuff. I know the theory, but not how to do it properly and effectively.
Lyns last blog post..Help for Pet Pain
Derek Anders
December 15, 2008Another amazing article. Short paragraphs and subheadings are the things that really stand out to me as being good tips!
Derek Anderss last blog post..Comment Your Way To The Top!
Geoff Dodd
December 15, 2008Reed,
I believe Google has become increasingly aware of articles just being used as ‘Search Engine fodder’ and in their drive for relevance to the end user, they have tightened their rules. Uniqueness, then, is essential. It is no longer good enough to paste in a PLR article. Or simply to ‘top n tail’ or spin it. It is well worth sweating it out to create a unique, number filled, factual article because that quality will persist in Google for years if you write it well, first off. Not criticizing anyone but just spelling out how sophisticated Google’s algorithm is becoming, my friends.
Geoff Dodd
Australia
Slavica Todorovic
December 15, 2008According to numerous comments have been left here,writing Articles and reading them at the same time,attract much attention.I like it and enjoy to read other’s articles not only ones on my own.I agree that it is needed to pay attention ,your Article to get chapters and paragraphs,i don’t like reading one written by one move,too long that I’m loosing will to read it.
Give your Article a nice headline,i always choose carefully one for my story.
To emphasize a part of text you can use a paragraph and colour of fonts.\
And,not to forget ,importance of Images,i like very much to see a content to be ennobled by beautiful picture.
Write heartly,all experienced by you and with much love!Best writing:to be genuine!
Thank you
Slavica Todorovics last blog post..Christmas-In the Glory of the Love
Pat Gunning
December 15, 2008These are great tip that will give great results if followed. Remember that articles serve two purposes immediate targeted traffic and search engine ranking. This is a double benefit that can reap many rewards.
kelly
December 15, 2008Thanks for your insight Reed! By the way heard that some people actually hate grey words on black, white or any color. Why is that so?
kellys last blog post..9 News or Feed Readers & 3 RSS Directories/Search Engines to Use for RSS Publishing/Marketing
Timothy Millar
December 15, 2008Hey Reed, Great post! There is information here that I have not seen anywhere else, Thanks for the insight and info, Have a Wonderful Day, Timothy Millar
Timothy Millars last blog post..Jacob Mails Updated
phyllis neff
December 16, 2008Reed this is exactly what should be said I haven’t started with my articles yet, but I know by reading these tips that I’ll have a good chance,thank you so much for your friendly advice!I’m just getting started but, I trust your sound advice, kind regards, phyllis neff
Rashmi Mehta
December 16, 2008Great tips as usual.
Beyond the tips that you have suggested above to make the format more reader friendly the content of the article and the resource box, both need to be unique & creative.
Finally that’s what the reader’s going to carry home with him.
Thanks
Rashmi Mehta
Lorrie Herndon
December 17, 2008Great article like all the points you make on keeping things short. Using numbers etc.
I really like you blogs. They are very informative.
Thanks
Jussi Koiranen
December 18, 2008Great pointers here and again by Mike Lawson… But I also have to agree with Lindsey Annison about the quality of this post, I as a Finnish speaking person like to read good english and this was quite hard to read. Usually the quality is way better, if this was outsourced work I suggest proof-reading them a little better next time.
delords
December 31, 2008Great lessons Reed,
The tips are true, especially dealing with long paragraphs thats where many make mistakes, keeping things short and yet interesting is the key.
delordss last blog post..Get Yanik Silver’s 14-Point Web Copy Analysis Free
virtual world games for kids
April 28, 2009Great tips, long paragraphs are major turn-offs and titles and subheadings are important in grabbing attention.
Graeme Eastman
May 28, 2009Great article.
I was always told to keep each paragraph to no more than 6 lines. Anymore than that and readers can turn off.
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