TWENTY-FIVE TIPS IN WRITING ARTICLES FOR THE WWW by Craig Lock
Writing articles can provide you with enormous amount of
exposure on the Web (sounds "rude, that). You are branding
yourself on a shoestring budget - it hasn't cost you a cent,
but a little time and effort Writing a free content article
is simple and follows a similar professional approach as an
article for a standard, paying market.
People want quality content for their ezines and their web
sites; however, the competition for content is fierce. Every
Web site owner wants content and hundreds of writers want
their content visible on the Web. It's FREE promotion
through your signature file at the end of your article*.
Articles that give good information or explain how to
accomplish something are usually best, and will be read most
often. Here are some pointers in writing articles for the
www:
Firstly,
1. Accept that writing for the web is different to writing
for the off-line world. People tend to skim and scan (note
alliteration) when reading online. They read quickly
scrolling down the page.
2. Identify your target audience.
3. Give your article a catchy title that will grab attention
and make people want to read.
4. Keep your title reasonably short. Put some thought and
effort into your heading - again to get your reader's
immediate attention.
5. Be professional and take your article writing seriously.
Write about something you know professionally. Don't be
overly casual in your writing (ie. don't write exactly as
you speak)
6. Keep your paragraphs short.
7. Get to the point quickly (enough waffle with maple syrup,
Craig!).
8. Target your article to your audience with "focused
information".
9. Be brief, if you are a "waffler", like this writer.
People want immediate information online and have
limitedtime usually - it's the "instant coffee, sorry
generation.
10. Write briefly and concisely (redundant words, meaning
the same thing, Craig!) Try to keep your article under 1,500
words. Most paying markets usually only accept between 500
and 2,000 words... and with a bit of luck they may even
"pick up" your great article. Try to be concise in your
wording. Brevity is the hall-mark of good writing...or so
say many of the teachers of writing!
11. Use the OCCASIONAL exclamation mark (!) to get your
readers attention. Forget the ALL CAPITAL LETTERS and
exclamation points!!!
12. Be credible (big word, eh?) at all times.I try to write
my articles in a "conversational style with dashes of my
funny humour".
13. Use HUMOUR. People like to have a bit of fun with the
occasional laugh, whilst being informed on a serious
subject. At least I believe so!
14. Write from "your heart", so that you come across as a
REAL person. Just write what comes naturally with
INTEGRITY...and BE YOURSELF.
15. Be totally honest in your writing and don't "borrow" too
much from others content. It's so easy to "steal" on the www
- so do your own work and if you "borrow ideas or material,
ACKNOWLEDGE. "Incidentally, I have borrowed some ideas in
this article from some good writers and well-known internet
marketers - thanks a lot, David, Michael, John, Meredith,
Joe and Edward).
16. Be humble.and don't talk down to your readers.
17. Use bullets (not live, please, oops er sorry, bad taste)
in your articles - it makes the points easy to follow.
18. Don't forget your byline ...or your "business card".
Make sure that you resource box at the end of the article
provides enough information to identify yourself and provide
contact information. It's FREE advertising.
19. Offer a free report with your article - this is an easy
way to collect a list of adresses for marketing your
product(s). An instant target market.
20. Check all the links in your article before submitting
it.
21. Offer your articles by autoresponder
22. Conclude with a strong message. Your final point (and
paragraph) should be a message that summarises your article
or gets your reader to take further action, like "GET
STARTED" (as I've done in this article).
23. Finally, make sure your layout is good (not one of my
strong points!), as this greatly enhances your prospects of
getting published Use a spell-check. Go over your article
carefully and be an editor yourself.
24. Make sure your article flows properly.
25. Re-read and re-read, until you get it "just right."
"Aim for perfection, but settle for excellence" in your
article writing.
SUMMARY:
The internet is such an amazing medium for communication and
SHARING information. I've just submitted this article and
it's been published almost instaneously (big word!) in a few
places. So YOU TOO can write articles on your chosen subject
in your internet marketing efforts. MORE TRAFFIC = INCREASED
SALES
Share YOUR unique knowledge and skills to help others "out
there in cyberspace."
Writers and internet marketers - Grab this moment in history
well. "Carpe diem" (seize the moment!).
Why not start writing articles for the www in your unique
area of interest, knowledge and or expertise?
YOU CAN DO IT by writing articles for the www in 2004...
and so and "by giving, you receive".
Happy writing
Craig Lock
http://www.craiglockbooks.com
P.S: We hope that these tips help in your article writing.
In my opinion it's the best internet marketing strategy.To
your internet marketing dreams and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Craig
===============
The various books that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at:
http://www.bridgeniche.com/get-motivated-now/index.html and
http://www.bridgeniche.com/southern-african-experience/index.html
More articles on WRITING
Inspiration Flashes: To Collect or Not to Collect That is the Question
Nonsense, Fragments, Made Up Words: Heavenly Bonus
Writing for Publicity and Profit on the WWW
Twenty-Five Tips in Writing Articles for the WWW
How to Use and Write Press Releases as an Internet Marketing Strategy
Sharing Some More Thoughts on Writing Styles
How to Become a Better Writer
What is Copyright and How Does One Protect It
Making a Writer Out of You
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