 |
Writing articles for online newsletters and websites can be a low cost, effective and powerful way of marketing yourself to new clients. Writing for the Web, however, is quite different from writing for other formats. For example readers tend to scan texts more. Often one search can uncover a number of relevant or not relevant articles instantly. The reader must then sift through and find the appropriate ones quickly, offering little time to actually read your article unless it passes the initial scan. If you want to make the most of the opportunities the Internet provides, here are 12 tips on writing articles for the net: 1. Turn your knowledge into articles. Take your unique experiences and ideas as an expert in your field and turn them into at least 10 articles. Brainstorm 10 different topics you could confidently speak or write about based on your hard won knowledge. These topics may not be related but will give you a better idea on areas you are confident on writing on. 2. Start with an informal outline of the main points. The hardest thing about writing articles for the net is getting started! Use a blank piece of paper and a mind map to work out key themes and points. Add detail later. Sometimes several articles will come from one brainstorm as you identify linking themes or different angles to take on a subject. 3. Research websites. Look for websites or e-newsletters that are content hungry and will publish articles by others. Target sites matching your target audience and tailor your article to suit that audience. 4. Clarify the logistics. Contact the editor and clarify the length, style and how much promotional material you can use in your articles. Length will vary from 200 to 2,000 words, with between 400 and 800 words being most common. Often the editor will erase any information from your articles, promotional or otherwise, if it does not fall within the boundaries of the site. It is best to know your limits to avoid having articles taken apart by another party or not posted on the site at all. 5. Keep it short, keep it simple and keep it active. Remember people don't read computer screens they scan them. Keep your writing style simple and active. Use an active rather than passive writing style. This all starts with the subject line. When a recipient or scanner sees your subject line, you will have their attention for about 2 seconds. Make every second count. After the heading use short
sentences and bullet points to keep concepts simple. 6. Use a Dictaphone or voice recognition software. If you are really busy, use a Dictaphone or other technology to get your thoughts down. I have found this a great way to get articles written during those times you are traditionally not very productive. Use a virtual assistant or ghost writer to actually write the article.
Remember it is your ideas and experience readers want, they don't care how the ideas get from your head onto the computer screen. Focus on high value work. 7. Provide solid, practical advice. Avoid waffle and useless, irrelevant information. Focus on practical tips and ideas. Use dot points and numbering. Make your article as easy to read as possible 8. Personalize. Use personal stories, metaphors or examples to highlight key points. They make intangible ideas more real. 9. Customize. Tailor your articles for key targets - for example engineers, scientists or accountants. This includes adapting language, using relevant examples and taking new angles on a subject so the market can relate to it. 10. Timing. Timing is everything for news and e-newsletters are no different. Use news events or seasonal angles to make your material more relevant. For example we had great feedback from an article on goal setting in January because this is a great month for planning the year ahead. 11. Be proactive. Always spend time writing articles. It is money well spent and far more credible than advertising. 12. Use links and provide contact details. Always provide a link back to your website and summary details on your background and how people can contact you. Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.
You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Sport and entertainmentguardian.co.uk, UK - 8 hours ago... marketing agency for the iGaming sector, Harry Lang understands players, and speaks at all the major gaming conferences, as well as writing articles. ... |
OneNewsNow |
The Teflon president-electOneNewsNow, MS - 5 hours agoEither they'll blame Bush or 'circumstances beyond Obama's control' while writing articles about how heroically Obama handles them." It's already started. ... |
UNlisted going strong at 15!The Republican - MassLive.com, MA - Nov 10, 2008One day, in the eighth grade, I realized that writing articles could be the perfect way to inform the community about what was going on around them, ... |
Writing-Articles - Google News
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Write a Short Article Under 500 Words
Online publishers, ezine subscribers, and Web visitors want short, useful information. Use this "500-Word Article Formula" to create trusting, confident, and lifelong clients and customers.
Writing Articles To Build Your Online Presence - A Beginners Guide
One of the most effective (and free!) ways to get noticed
on the web is to write articles. Even if you have no
writing experience, it is easier than you may think, even
fun.
15 Commandments To Submitting Articles - Article Submission Sites
1) Don't use all capitals in your title:People don't like to be yelled at. USING CAPITALS is the same as yelling and looks awful.
Powerful Article Marketing Tips
If you have submitted your articles to EzineArticles.com you have made a wise choice.
The RIGHT Way To WRITE Articles
As a follow up to my previous article on the WRONG way to write articles (see link at the end), this article shows you the RIGHT way to write articles.As you no doubt already know, writing articles is probably the most effective way to promote your web site - by writing your article in the RIGHT way, you maximize the results you can achieve from your article submissions.
Article Math: A Multiplying Effect!
Writing for the internet requires that you create a large number of articles in order to get yourself noticed. You may think, "who has the time?" Well, you do if you follow a few of the simple rules I have outlined here.
The Best Advertisement For Your Business
It is no secret among internet marketers that writing articles is a great way to market your website. With all the article distribution services and all the websites looking for free, unique content, writing a quality article can bring you more links to your website in one day than an entire month of working out link exchanges and submitting to directories.
7 Important Elements of Any Article - Miss Just 1 Element and Your Article is Doomed
These 7 Important Elements are your Blueprint to Article Writing Success. By Applying these 7 Key Elements anyone will be able to craft Articles for Re-Distribution on The Internet.
Article Marketing: Know your Topic
Everyone knows an expert is just a drip under pressure. I want to share a little story, rather innocent on the part of one person that made a difference in the life of a rather well known preacher.
Seecrets on Website Promotion: The Hard Truths on Writing Free-reprint Articles
This author started with a clean website and wrote 5 articles in as many weeks. There is nothing else.
Writers Block Begone
Back when I was in college, I belonged to one of those professional associations for the video industry. (I was a student member.
Why Link Exchanges are Dead-and What the New Move in Free Traffic Is
It's no secret-link exchanges are dying a painful death. And why you ask? Since March 2005 the new Google algorythm has become very very picky about the quality, quantity and frequency of incoming links to your website.
How to Promote Your Web Site by Writing Articles
Sharing knowledge on the web can be a very powerful way to establish your online presence and credibility. First, you write a thoughtful and informative article on an topic in your area of expertise.
The Magic Words to Writing Successfully on the Internet!
Writing effectively on the internet is the most effective way to achieve maximum profit from your website. You can use effective writing in articles and ads so that you can get traffic to your site.
How to Get Started on Writing Killer Articles
I once wrote an article in which I offered the following tip on how to speak eloquently in public: Talk about something that you're passionate about.When we speak about matters that are dear to our hearts, we often find wellsprings of eloquence from which we can draw.
You Are Losing Customers By Not Doing This
Not doing what, you ask.Writing and submitting articles.
How To Submit Your Articles To Article Announcement Lists
Get the Facts you need to start promoting you free articles for publication online..
Why a Good-Quality Photo Should Accompany Your Articles
I'm betting that that 3 out of 4 of you who are reading this don't have a good-quality photo that you could give the media if a reporter called you today.I check the EzineArticles.
$1036 in 12-hours From Writing A Single Article
Would it be worth it to master a technique that places
the power of generating a flood of consistent, highly
targeted and rabid traffic squarely in your hands?As an online marketing professional, your time is valuable,
and you need to focus on what works, that's exactly why
this technique is so powerful.To be truthful, the $1036 in 12-hours is an accomplishment
I can happily say is not abnormal these days - what is nice
about this example is that it was a Sunday (typically my
slowest day for sales) while I was gone the entire day to
a local festival here in my hometown of Ottawa, Canada.
Promote Your Home Business with Keyword Rich Articles
Do you wonder what easy, cheap, and fast way you can attract your targeted audience to your Web site? You probably have heard about Web optimization with pay-per-click key words. But, there's a much better, more natural, much cheaper, more lasting kind of Web optimization for search engines--Writing and submitting key word rich articles to the opt-in ezines or the top 20 or so Web sites.
|
