Mastering The Art Of Article Writing
Topics: article marketing, article writing, writing for the web, professional writing services
Writing good articles is neither an impossible nor difficult task. It simply takes time to learn and become skilled at performing it well.
You’ll be surprised how easy it becomes and how much quicker you accomplish it with time. This article addresses issues for both the DYI article marketer and those looking to outsource the work.
The Do-It-Yourself Group:
I would recommend that all newbies to the world of internet marketing write their own articles at the onset of their business. I say this for two reasons:
* You learn early on what makes a good article; whether you write it or hire it done for you. You will do more harm for your business than good if you distribute sub-standard content across the Internet. It also defrays start-up expenses at a crucial time in most cases.
* You learn everything there is to know about your niche through the research you must do. You grow into a legitimate expert in your field and not just a parrot of what the product producer says.
Before you write the first word, go to the major players in the field and see HOW you must write to be accepted on their sites. Every directory or submissions service has their own set of rules for accepting content for publication.
I do an end-run around all of that and use a submissions service that submits articles to over 5,000 publishers with one click of the mouse. Articles are not distributed until they meet the criteria required by all publishers for acceptance. It makes life easier and it’s free to boot.
Here are some key factors to make permanent habits in your article writing program:
* People read about 20% slower online than in print. If you make it hard for them, expect to lose them early on. Write in bursts of 8-14 words per sentence in paragraphs of 3-5 sentences maximum. Use sub-titles often.
* Write article between 550-800 words long. Shorter will not be published on many directories and longer tends to bore readers.
* Internet surfers are scanners first, readers second. They arrive at your article page while following the “information scent” they sniffed out through their search criteria. They scan the page in an “F” pattern looking for hints of the scent that brought them there. If they don’t find it on the scan-zoom-they’re gone. You have about 5-15 seconds to catch their interest.
* Use your main keywords in your titles and sub-headings when possible. Use keywords at or near the beginning of the first sentence in paragraphs. This makes it easier to “sniff” them out in a quick scan for the “information scent.”
* The rules for numbers are different online than offline. It’s “ok” to use numerals instead of spelling our numbers less than 10. It enhances the scanability of the piece by offering a quick glimpse at the statistical content in the piece.
* Bulleted/numbered lists are your friend. Use them often. It is not recommended, however, that you mix them up - use either/or per piece you write.
* Avoid the passive voice. It drags your content out and slows the readers progress; often causing them to leave. You will usually find the passive voice around verbs that end in “ing.”
* For Pete’s sake, use a word processor to write on that uses a good spell/grammar checker. I run an article directory and will tell you firsthand: spelling and grammar count. Publishers are building a reputation with their sites and simply won’t publish the “also rans.”
The Outsourcing Crew:
Not too much to say here other than you get what you pay for in most cases. A motocross friend of mine told me something years ago I have
found useful in numerous situations: “If you have a $10.00 head, buy a $10.00 helmet.” If you want professionally written content that captures your target audience and sells the click on your link in the author’s box expect to pay more than $5-10.00 per article.
I hire and fire writers all day long. My rule of thumb is this: if it takes me longer than 5 minutes to edit a piece, I kick it back to the writer or fix it myself and don’t use that writer again.
If you use a provider that sends you work you must edit heavily, replace them. Your time is too valuable to do work you already paid to have done. Find a professional writing service that gets the bulldog fed.
Cutting-edge internet marketing information, products and services: www.bluegrassmerchants.com web content, articles and copywriting from an established professional writing service: www.bluegrasssolutions.org
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Learn The German Language (1)
Learn german language is not as difficult as you think even though is it a difficult speech. If you really want to learn german you have to know why it is so difficult and how to succeed with your learning.
Is Your Article A Winner Or Not (2)
Therefore the value of the article is missing from the context of the article itself, not providing any real benefit to anyone, but merely generating keywords to establish themselves within the higher ranks of a search engine.
How To Use Effective Communication Skills To Get What You Want (3)
That is where the difference between communicating and communicating effectively becomes apparent. Always remember that to transmit your messages effectively goes far beyond the words you say. For the process to be effective, one has to know the other person's views and their style of absorbing information.
Increase Sales With An Easy-To-Navigate Web Site (4)
Follow these 13 steps to make your web pages easy to navigate and compel prospective buyers to explore your web site. 1. Provide plenty of links on your web site's home page, giving an overview of your web site's content and providing choices for your visitors.
5 Irresistible Reasons To Write A Short Book First (5)
Don't hesitate any longer; write a short book first and profit sooner. Are you ready to get started writing your book? Go get my free 7 lesson mini-course Jumpstart Writing Your Book!
Ensuring Your Article Submission Strategy Evolves (6)
This has made it necessary to review and align your article writing and article submission tasks and strategies. It is of utmost importance that you make your articles stand out of the crowd to achieve the actual purpose of your article writing activities.
3 Ways To Keep MS Word From Killing Your SEO Strategy (7)
Smart Quotes, Apostrophes, and Dashes Microsoft Word automatically converts straight quotation marks and apostrophes into "smart" quotes and apostrophes for a more pleasant look. It will also automatically convert single and double dashes into an elongated dash.
5 Ways To Brain Storm Non-Fiction Book Title Ideas For Your Book (8)
Use terms your audience can relate to. Use action words and verbs. Quantify change with ways and time limits. Use one or two word ideas to tell a story.
Article Submissions - Learn Some Tips On Getting Your Article Submitted To The World (9)
Even for the free ones, the registration comes with a profile page. This is where you will post links to your business and talk about it. This helps create the needed back links to your site.
Copywriting Tip: Do Your Client A Favor And Ask For The Order (10)
We're bombarded with all kinds of information. Two minutes after we see a sales letter, we've forgotten it. So you have to create interest, enthusiasm and maybe anxiety.
Marketing In A Recession: Why You Won't Survive If You Stop! (11)
If having no business is your problem, then not marketing and trying to get some coming in cannot in any way make things better. Yes, this is a logical thought process, and, unfortunately, the recession is an emotional subject, because it causes fear, uncertainty and doubt.
Article Marketing - Five Top Tips For Successful Article Marketing (12)
Preferably, you should be aiming for submitting new articles daily. This means your online business has a greater chance of success as it will increase your page ranking, generating search engine traffic, therefore driving more business your way.
SEO Copywriting Essentials - Calculating Keyword Density (13)
Instead, I'll focus on how to calculate the keyword density of your articles, blog posts, and web pages. I'll also cover some of the most common mistakes people make with calculating keyword density, as well as some little known SEO copywriting tips help you work in difficult keywords.
7 Special Holiday Gifts For Writers (14)
Consider getting the platform (Mac or PC) they are already using. Or find out if they desire to switch platforms before getting the new laptop. 3. Laptop case Aspiring authors who own laptops enjoy a nice case.
SEO Copywriting: How To Choose Article Marketing Topics To Achieve Maximum Exposure (15)
Realizing that I did not have the skills nor the desire to learn the skills necessary to build a professional trade show display, I followed the link at the bottom to visit the author's website.
Whatever Your Business, Printing Deserves Some Attention (16)
This is done through careful choice and placement of colour, type and images. Colour is perhaps the most important consideration. The brain whether you are aware of it or not recognises colour first, above everything else.
How To Write A Book That Pulls Readers In Like A Magnet (17)
Make your book simpler, shorter, and punchier. Shorten your sentences, stories and analogies. Your professional format will include a strong heading (question) your reader needs answered and the answer.
Trash Your Newspaper! Real News Will Be Online (18)
Because of the wave of Internet news, newspapers and magazines that are not currently offered online, have begun using the same tactics as the 24-hour news stations. They have begun posting stories with far less investigation and far less facts/research in order to present stories to their readers that cause them to experience a fear that keeps them glued to the page, awaiting the next news article in the next issue.
7 Profitable Things You Get To Do When You Write Your Book (19)
Are you ready to profit when you write your book yet? Go get my free 7 lesson mini-course Jumpstart Writing Your Book! You can get instant access to this ecourse at the www.writetowin.org web site From Earma Brown, 14 year author and book writing coach
Binders For Your Reservation Books (20)
Appearances are very important in any business, but especially so in service industries. Keeping your reservation book in a protective binder will improve your customers' impression of your business and add to your professional image.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Article Submission And Related Services (1)
Topics: article writing, article Marketing, article submission This is more targeted at those who utilize the article submission process on a daily basis, normally submitting hundreds of articles on a regular basis.
To Attract A Larger Audience And Sell More Books, Consider Becoming An Online Book Reviewer (2)
I did everything that anyone recommended. . . and what I had seen others do. In the process, some of the ideas seemed far-fetched, but some of those paid off quite well, compared to the ideas the "experts" had shared with me.
The Article Directory Explained (3)
If you structure and compile your article in the correct and desired format, according to the rules of that article directory, then you have got your foot in the door, so to speak, with that reader.
The Role Of A Proper Press Release In Your SEO Services (4)
Your press release writers or the press release writing services that you hire should develop the content with the target keywords of the landing page from which you can link to your website from the PR sites.
Take Time To Submit An Article (5)
When you do submit an article, pay close attention to the requirements of the article directory, as mentioned above do not sell, as the editors are extremely strict on this.
How To Use Ebooks To Start A Viral Marketing Campaign (6)
Another place to add your ebook is download sharing sites. These sites have become very popular, and they make it very easy for you to share your downloads. Consider social networking sites like Free IQ or document sites like Scribd.
Writing An Article Aligned With Your Passion (7)
There are some issues that do need to be adhered to, but once you get going these issues will become almost second nature to you. Some of these issues include the layout of your article, as well as the use of non text characters, which appear as strange characters on your final article.
Get The Results You Desire With Effective Communication (8)
Discover the methods used by Danette Hibberd, Success Coach, on how you can use effective communication skills to get what you want - every time. Get your copy today at www.fabulousbeyondfortyclub.com
Ignore The Experts . . . If You Want To Make Foolish Business Mistakes (9)
Topics: expertise, adventures of an optimist, publishing, business, personal development, 400 year project No one in his right mind would sit down to write a book if he were a well-adjusted, happy man.
The Power Of Writing Articles (10)
Lilach Bullock runs 2 full time businesses, asklilach providing virtual pa services & Virtual PA Training, helping people set up their own successful virtual assistant business. Lilach recently attended an Award Ceremony at Downing Street for best Mumpreneur.
Tips To Guarantee Effective Communication (11)
It is therefore important the other person understands what we want them to understand, and that they understand the intended meaning that is being transferred. To be precise, purposeful communication is the transmission of intended meaning to others, in other words, the sender of the communication must have a clear knowledge and understanding of the meaning he or she wishes to convey.
How To Increase Sales, Subscriptions, And Traffic With Action Words (12)
. . so start using action verbs in your Web site! Increase response of sales letters with hand drawn and handwritten notes and copy doodles. Visit www.profitablewebstrategies.com
Ignore What People Care About . . . If You Want To Hear The Sounds Of Silence (13)
But a funny thing happened when we did: The audience for breakthrough solutions would be ten times larger than for irresistible forces. As you can imagine, that reaction didn't bode well for book sales from those newly exposed to this work.
5 Keys To Effective Content Writing (14)
One of the greatest temptations of content creation is to include every single detail about your company. This is a natural tendency given your own excitement and passion about your business.
How To Use Twitter To Build Business Relationships (15)
And now I invite you to find out more by visiting www.Copy-Cat-Copywriting.com. Download your free report, 7 secrets of websites that really attract clients. From Cathy Goodwin, The Website Makeover Coach.
Increase Your Traffic By Writing Articles (16)
Once you have written your article you now need to find the write publishers and newsletters that will take your work of art. This can be a long and boring job but it is a very important one.
When Good Social Marketing Gets Wasted (And How Good Copywriting Can Save It) (17)
It's not always easy to summarize your value in a sentence or two. But don't give up: You can get more specific than promising to teach clients to create messages from the heart as well as the mind.
Effective Website Marketing Tips: Forget What You Love And Focus On Your Market (18)
I would use words that readers would grab immediately. Finally, people buy what they want, not what they need (or what we marketers think they need). As a fitness expert, you might realize that children need programs to develop healthy eating and exercise routines, beginning in first grade.
7 Top Tips For Writing Blog Articles (19)
Publish one or two paragraphs from each article, link to the original, and add a sentence or two of your own to tell readers what you did or did not find helpful about the article.
Copywriting Tip: Effective Website Content Positioning Begins At The Top (20)
These images will help you promote your services but I wouldn't put them right on top. Give readers a context first. When visitors land on your page, they need to know what you do.