Writing Captivating Articles

Before you think about writing an article, stop and think for a minute about why people read Ezines. Think about what I said in the last section.

Readers are looking for content and you must make sure you deliver quality information.

They are not looking to be sold something so make sure your article is not a sales letter in disguise.

So, where do you start?

Brainstorm Topics for Your Article

Browse through a few newsletters, go to a few discussion boards in your field. What seems to be the hot topic right now? What are people excited about? What type of questions are they asking? Any of these can give you a great idea for a compelling article.

Remember, the best types of articles are those that solve a problem for the reader or inform them of new developments in the field.

Take a few minutes to brainstorm some ideas for your target market.

What problems are they facing that you might be able to help them with?

What is going on in the news that might impact them personally?

What tips would you give to someone just getting started in your field?

What are some of the obstacles you've overcome in getting your business going and how did you do it?

If you notice, a lot of these questions can be turned into simple bullet points for an article. You do not have to be a writer to create good material! You just have to have useful information that people need.

Ok, so now you've got an idea for your article. You should have one focal point around which you want to build your copy.

Write 3-5 major points based on your subject.

You need to break your subject into a few sub points. By dividing your article into sections like this, it will make the article flow much better. This will also help keep you focused. This is important because the length of your article should really stay around 500 words.

Keep in mind as you're writing your sections, you are still trying to create an emotional response in the reader. Make your copy as interesting as possible. Be creative! It's certainly not a requirement, but if you have the ability to come at an old topic with a new angle, by all means, do it!

Now, write out a few sentences in each section supporting your point. Stories or quotes on the topic are also effective.

Think of a title for your article.

I suggest you reread the section on Creating Attention Grabbing Headlines. In whatever medium you use, a headline can make or break your success. Remember that!

Draw your conclusion or leave the reader with a final thought on the topic.

Create Your Resource box

This is where you place your name, contact info, and website address. You should also include a few benefit phrases along with your links. These are most effective if they coincide with what your article is about. Also, make sure a person can simply click on your link and be taken to your website or email address.

Once you've finished your article, read it aloud and make sure it's ready to be submitted. Let it sit for a whole day and then go back and read it again. You should specifically check for:

A logical sequence to the piece. You want to take the reader from beginning to end in an easy to understand sequence. You want your article to flow smoothly.

Make sure the writing is informal and easy to follow. Write like you would speak to someone.

Do a spell check. Sounds simple, but it's amazing how easily you can forget this step.

Make sure your lines are 65-characters in length and no longer.

Make sure your resource box is separated from the article by a border. This really makes it stand out. Your resource box needs to be very eye catching. Remember, this is the only link to your website.

Email your article to teammates or friends and ask them to give you some feedback. It always helps to get a few other opinions.

Don't worry about your style of writing as much as getting your point across. If you have good information with average writing skills, readers will read your article. If you have excellent writing skills but poor information, you won't get very far. Focus on the content!