Thursday, December 27, 2012

How to write content that appeals


You might have a website or blog of your own, or you might write for other people.

Which ever applies to you, the content that you write must be informative and appealing to the reader!

Here are some simple tips that you can apply in order to make the content or articles you write more appealing and effective for the reader.

1. Research & Understand the Subject Matter



This is vital. If you write for clients, you must understand the brief and make sure you properly research your subject. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest way is to 'Google' the subject and read up on the subject by reviewing other websites. Now as you do this, it is equally important NOT to copy what you read elsewhere and try to pass it off as your own work.
 


By all means use it as reference material, as a menas to improve your own understandi g of the subject, but when it comes to writing your own content, make sure you put your own spin on things. 

2. Ask Questions


When you write content or an article, always kep the reader at the forefront of your mind. Many clients ask for content in order to prompt an action. That could be to click on a advertisement, or a link or to opt in to a list. So as you write your article, keep tthe reader engaged by asking them questions.


After asking the question, go on to expand on how you could solve a problem or explain why something might be an issue. Connect with the reader and if you are writing about a product or service that could solve a problem for the reader, make sure you refer to its benefits.

3. Use Sub Headings


Sub headings allow you to break down a lot of text into smaller and miych easier to read bites. People can quickly scan sub headings to look for information that is relevant to them. Somebody might not want to read your entire article on dog training for example. They might only be interested in a specific aspect, so make your sub headings informative.






4. Use Short Sentences


When people read words on a screen, short sentences are much easier to read. it is a simple as that. This is even more relevant when the content is viewed on a mobile device. Smaller sentences are better for the reader so when writing, remember to break long sentences down by using more full stops.


5. Follow a 3 Part Article Structure





For articles, there is a simple 3 part structure that you can follow whcih will make your articles much easier to read and write. After coming up with a good title, here are 3 simple steps that an article should follow...




a) Introduction. 


This should be a few sentences long and introduce the subject matter and set the scene. Here, yo can also ask some questions of the reader whcih you will go on to answer or expand upon during the article.

b) Main article body.


This part is the meat of your article. Break it down into sections or sub headings and make each one cover a different part of your subject matter. Remember to make each sub heading informative.

c) Summary and call to action


Finish the article by summarising what you've written about. Perhaps you can reinforce the positive points about your subject, and if appropriate you can add references to other key websites where you've sourced information.

If the article required a call to action, add it here. Suggest the reader clicks on a link to read more information, or opt into a list to get a free report, or buy an item and so on.


Finally, put yourself in the reader's shoes.



So when writing content always put yourself in the place of the reader.

Put yourself in THEIR shoes!










After you've completed the article, or the content for a web page, read it yourself again.
  • Are there any spelling mistakes? 
  • Does it answer all the appropriate questions? 
  • Does it meet the brief that you were originally given? 
  • Is it the right length? 
  • Is it too wordy or fluffy? 
  • View it on a mobile device to ensure it is easy to read.

I'll be adding more information on writing articles, so why not subscribe to my blog and watch out for new stuff?