Writing articles is a great way to market your product, service, blog or website as good Original content is what makes the Internet world go around. Without new and interesting information, the Web would be pretty dull. The Web is growing exponentially and it’s because of new ideas and new content, that it will continue to grow.
That’s great, but because both the creation and drive for new fresh content, there is a lot of the same info on the same topic flying around on the web. How do we ensure that what we create is the kind of information that people will find, read and come back to? Give your readers quality information, that they are actually looking for – that’s how!
There’s lots of ways to get your articles seen and read by the readers in your target market, but I’m going to give you four specific points to work with that will greatly improve the odds of your article being read. Along with your article being more valuable, you’ll create a better relationship with your readers for the long term.
Understand What You’re Writing About
Research. Most people will try to find a way NOT to do it, or if they do, do the bare minimum. Now I’m not saying you have to know a subject inside out, but most of those who shy away from doing research have yet to see its true value. If they did, I know they’d change their minds on the subject. To come up with quality information for your reader, you need to do research that gives you insight into some of the depths of the subject. This will allow you to see and work with new ideas and connect with your readers that 90% of others will not.
Many people assume skimming a few articles and looking at a couple of headlines is enough to write a good article. If you look around, you can see in an instant just how many writers do exactly this – and if you can see it’s not quality then so will everyone else. To give your readers what they want to know, you’ve got to dig a bit deeper. Find out who the experts in your specific niche are. See what they’re saying and take a look at what they’re focusing on. Do what you can to get background information and facts, so that what your looking to present is both credible, and has the relevant depth of understanding.
Good research improves both your credibility and expertise. You’ll present quality content that people will want to read and come back for. If you don’t have time to research a topic in enough depth, find someone who does.
Knowledge is power.
Stay Focused
Hopefully you’ll know what you want your article to convey and what action you want your reader to take after reading it. Sometimes though, getting down on paper what you have in your head can be a lot harder than it sounds!
The most important and productive step you can do when writing any article (or report, or ebook or novel!) is to create an outline to work from. This keeps you organised, on subject and sharply focused on what you’ve got to do.
It doesn’t have to be complex, difficult or comprehensive, it just has to give you the structure – the skeleton to put the flesh on – of what is is you’re writing about. The classic approach is quite straightforward and just needs a little practice to have you writing articles in no time.
In simple terms it’s this -
1. Tell them what you’re going tell them about. (Introduction)
2. Tell them about it. (Body)
3. Tell them what you’ve told them. (Conclusion)
If you think an outline will only create more work, think again. The more you do it, the more you will find it will save you time in the long run. You’ll be better organized and able to focus on each piece of writing, that when finished flow well and be seen as professional.
Put a sparkle in the eye of your copy
The key function of any of your articles is to inform your readers. However, to do this your must first get the readers’ attention and second, keep it right? – of course!
Lots of people people forget to focus on the premise that articles need to be both interesting and compelling; if you can’t grab the readers attention it’s not going to be a successful article. The art of copywriting has many elements you can put in to make your articles compelling to increse your chances of leading people to take a certain action. You can increase interest with things like:
1. A hook line – an eye catching or provocative title
2. Sharply focused headlines and subheadings
3. Leave the reader wanting to know more
Everyone is busy these days, so to get your article read from beginning to end you will have far more success if you add a bit of creative copywriting.
Lead The Way
The golden rule for dealing with people buying online –
TELL YOUR READERS WHAT TO DO NEXT!
Always remember to tell your readers what to do or where to go after they’ve finished reading your article. Surprisingly, even when they know what they want or what they should doing next, we can get distracted and be indecisive. To make it easier for your readers, just simply show them the next step they need to take.
For example, if you want your reader to go to your website; send them there. If you would like your reader to complete a survey, again, tell them where to go to do so.
At the end of your article is is where your author or resource box comes into play and can quickly become your best friend. If you’re posting the article on a ezine site, use this are to make a strong call to action. Many will say use the resource to say a bit about yourself – I disagree!! that’s what your profile page is for – use your resource box to maximum effect to get your reader to take action.
Writing articles is not hard, as long as you put some practice in, and use the right approach. Understand what is relevant to your target audience. Be as well researched as necessary in what you’re writing about, so as to provide the best information possible. Always create an outline to ensure you are organized and focused. Throw in a dash of sparkle to create interest and keep them interested, and finally, tell them what you want them to do achieve maximum results from your article marketing efforts. (Now, for more useful tips, sign up for the newsletter above 
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