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How to Write Your Own Articles and Be Published
By:
Craig Lock - [writing]
We share what we know, so that others may grow."
*
How to Write Your Own Articles and Be Published: Twenty-Five Tips in Writing Articles For the WWW (Up-dated)
by Craig Lock
Writing articles can provide you with enormous amount of exposure on the Web. You are branding yourself "on a shoestring budget, the smell of an oily rag"... and best of all, 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, as you no doubt realise, the competition for content is fierce. Every Web site owner wants content (informative and helpful) 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 provide good and accurate information, or ones that explain how to accomplish something are usually best, and will be read most often.
So start by pointing out a problem your reader has. Ask yourself this vitally important question: How will your article help people in solving their problem? In this article I attempt to provide a solution, ie. How to promote your online business "on the smell of an oily rag". How to Write Your Own Articles and Be Published on the www!
Here are some pointers in writing articles for the www and getting them published by article announcement lists or ezines (electronic newsletters):
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 people's attention and make them want to read it.
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 "focussed information".
9. Be brief, if you are a "waffler", like this writer. People want immediate information online and have limited time 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 1000 words. (People get bored quickly reading online). Most paying markets usually only accept between 500 and 1500 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, in additrion to my own material based on my experiences of internet marketing over the past four years, 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. (Who wrote that song, "It's so hard to be humble?"):
17. Use bullets in your articles - its makes the points easy to follow... but beware of security in the form of metal detectors!
18. Don't forget your byline, 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 at it's best.
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." then see what happens to your site traffic.
Always remember, that you know way more about your product or service, than anyone else; so don't "hide your light under a bushel". So why not share your unique knowledge in your area of expertise...and what you give out you invariably get back from the Universe.
Finally, "Aim for perfection, but settle for excellence" in your article writing. * SUMMARY:
After six years marketing on the www with virtually no resources, I firmly believe that writing some articles for the WWW and getting them published is the secret to building traffic and effectively promoting your online business. You are effectively branding yourself as someone sharing knowledge... and doing it on a shoesting budget ("the smell of an oily rag"). We did it all "el-cheaposkate"... and YOU can too!
N.B: Then as sales come in , you can use some of that "hard-earned" money to advertise in some ezines with a high readership. Target your market. Set an advertising budget for your product or service. Experiment and learn as you go. Start small, but THINK BIG.
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.
Writers and internet marketers - Grab this moment in history well. "
"Carpe diem" (seize the moment!).
Why not start writing articles for the www in 2003?
You won't fail or fall in fall!
A new season is a new beginning.
YOU CAN DO IT.
Craig Lock http://www.craiglock.com
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Johan Wolfgang Von Goethe (German philosopher)
As the ancient Chinese philosopher said so well, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a ... broken fan belt and a flat tyre"... er sorry... a single step.
P.S: I hope that these 25 tips help in your article writing. In my opinion (humble) it's the best internet marketing strategy there is.
To your internet marketing dreams in 2003
Happy writing
Craig
Be bold and unseen forces come to your aid." (that's one of my favourite quotes, btw).
" Whatever the mind can conceive, can be achieved." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
"From small acorns, giant oak trees grow."
About the author: In his life mission Craig hopes to encourage, motivate and inspire people to be their best through realising their full potentials and so live their very best, happy and fulfilled lives. The various books that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at: http://www.bridgeniche.com CHAR
>>Reprint/Distribution Source : ArticleWareHouse.com
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