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Brandon Norris
http://bnorris.payitforward4profits.com
Writing Articles that Captivate Your Readers
You've heard it time and time again: if you want to get
your name out there, write articles and allow them to be
freely reproduced (with a resource box pointing back to
you, of course). Largely, that is true. A well-written
article can:
- help you build your profile as an expert
- draw traffic to your site, and
- help you to build a database of potential clients through
associated e-courses or a newsletter.
So far you probably haven't heard anything you didn't
already know. What YOU are likely to be struggling with is
the process of actually writing the article. Sure, you can
come up with the content - but how do you really grab those
readers? How do you keep their attention all the way
through? And most importantly, how do you make them want to
come back for more?
Let's assume that you understand the basics of constructing
and editing an article (it has a beginning, middle, and an
end and you know how to check the grammar and spelling.)
Most of us can manage that. But if you're not content with
simply "getting something out there" - if you want to WIN
readers - then you need to start thinking about what they
want to know, rather than what you want to tell them.
Put your readers first - every time. Give them what they
want, and they'll be queuing up to read anything you
produce. Give them something bland (or worse, blatantly
self-serving) and they'll blast by you so fast you'll be
spinning in the back draft.
The following four steps will give you a blueprint for
writing articles that captivate your readers - whatever the
topic.
== 1. Find Out What Your Readers Really Want ==
Sometimes you'll know what they want because you're an
expert in the field, and understand the problems. If you
don't know the subject area well, you'll have to do more
research. Look for forums on your topic and see what people
are discussing. What are the problems that need solving?
Can you provide an answer? ("If they have a headache, give
them an aspirin.")
== 2. Start With An Attention-Grabber ==
Spend time working on your opening. Try to avoid trite
questions like "Have you ever wondered why so many people
find it difficult to lose weight?" Firstly, it's dull.
Secondly, it's not targeting the person reading the article
- what do they care about the difficulties "many people"
have with losing weight? They only care about THEIR weight
problem!
Try to come up with an opening paragraph that gives the
reader that warm "Hey, this is about me!" feeling right
away. Better still; try to generate a rush of excitement -
"This could be the answer I've been looking for..."
Example: "The diet gurus make it all sound so easy: to lose
weight, all you have to do is expend more energy than you
take in. Huh! If it were that simple, the "Big People"
stores would be out of business in a heartbeat. Luckily for
those of us who are tired of diets, gyms and dull group
meetings, there is a back-to-basics way to tackle this. A
way that won't cost you a fortune or leave you feeling
deprived."
== 3. Write As You Speak... Then Edit! ==
The sample opening above also illustrates the importance of
the tone you use in your article. You need 'meat' in each
article, of course, to make it worth reading - but make
sure it's not indigestible!
You're better off writing your article in a natural,
relaxed style that's akin to normal conversation. It
doesn't matter if the first draft is a little too informal
- you can fix that when you edit. Naturally you don't want
to irritate your readers with a too-breezy style, but
too-formal is worse. Readers may want facts, tips, and
strategies, but they hope to be entertained, too! Let your
personality shine through.
== 4. End On A High ==
What's one of the biggest problems with most articles? They
fizzle out! Writers often don't know how to end on an
upbeat note. They either just stop dead or they come up
with a trite ending like: "So what are you waiting for? Get
started today!"
The beginning and the end of your article are the two parts
that make the biggest impression. Start by creating a
feeling of anticipation... and leave them feeling satisfied
(or excited) when you finish.
If you are offering advice to help them solve a problem
(like obesity) gives your readers a reason to feel
optimistic and good about them. Don't make rash promises...
but do offer hope. If you are giving hints on marketing or
business, sum up the benefits of acting on your tips. You
can also experiment with using a pithy/humorous quote, or
giving readers a specific action to get them started. Be
creative - and don't rush it.
Here's a final tip: create an article-writing cheat-sheet
for yourself. Divide it into beginnings/middles/ends and
add more useful strategies as you think of them. (For
example, using the tips in this article, you might write:
ENDINGS - end on a high, offer hope, use funny quote,
suggest action to get started.)
Do this, and you'll be steadily cranking out articles that
everyone wants to publish!
----------------------------------------------------
Brandon Norris is an Internet Marketer who has harnessed
the power of the internet to promote his MLM business on
auto-pilot for maximum profits. Discover the incredible
money-making power of the internet for FREE by visiting...
http://bnorris.3stepsecret.com
