As a writer you should follow
the below ethics
- You are writing for people not for search engines.
- Your ultimate aim is not to get back links from Article directories from the articles.
- Your articles will never misguide any reader.
- Ask your conscience before you write positive or negative about a person, product
or service.
- Follow your instincts and try to be as personal as you can.
- Do a thorough research on the subject before even thinking of a Title.
The first step on writing an article is to research the topic you wish to write.
The best place to do this will be Wikipedia, Ezinearticles,
News Sites (CNN, BBC)
and through search. Beware that everything published on the Internet or not correct
and verified. If you are to consider any statistics, get it from authenticated sources
like Government sites, CNN, BBC or Reuters.
The next step is to think of a catchy title. Most of the writers think of the titles
spontaneously while doing the research. It occurs naturally to writers. However
if it hasn't happened you have to think of a good title. It's the title around which
your article is developed. Titles should carry the entire message of articles in
a few words. If you can think of a good title then you are almost done with 40%
of the job. Lot of writers go for titles starting with "Top 10", "Most wanted",
"Must Know" etc. While that is not bad while writing for a magazine but statistics
prove that web users are tired of "top 10's", "must know" and similar titles.
Instead they are focused at the starting 3-4 words on the title.
Example of a bad title
"Top 12 natural foods to lower your cholesterol"
Good title
"Natural Cholesterol Killers - The top 12 foods"
The body of article
The first paragraph has to be interesting for any reader to read beyond it. Tell
part of teh message on the first paragraph and keep the reader hooked in. The first
paragraph can address about the general issues for which your article will offer
solutions. Keep it brief yet interesting. Use simple sentences and do not use a
lot of punctuations.
The second Para can support the first paragraph offering statistics, data or any
relevant third party information you have researched. This will need time for research
but it will be compensated on the reduced writing time as you may have to only put
the facts together.
The third and fourth Para’s will offer the solution you have for the issues. Do
not talk directly on the product or service. Instead talk about the solution itself.
Bad
Proteinex-555 is the best supplement which helps you gain muscle mass
Good
Research
doctors have come up with a protein supplement which increase muscle mass
The final Para should be the conclusion. Put a personal touch to it while you write
the conclusions.
Innovation is important for any writer. You should react to what is happening around
you. For e.g. If Swine Flu is making news, relate it with your topic in the article.
Talk about the current happenings around you wherever possible. Remember that writing
an article is not limited to above. This is one type (Problem-Analysis-solution)
of article writing of the numerous types. I will try to provide tips on each and
every type of article writing as and when time permits.
The major types of articles are
- Problem-Analysis-solution
- How to do things
- Glossary of Terms
- List of Items (top 10 etc)
- Announcement articles
- Review of product/service/situation
- Reporting articles
- Fact Files
