So for my article today, I am going to talk about the dos and don'ts of writing an article. For those who are very much interested in writing, this hopefully will give you some things to think about. For those of you who have no interest in writing, you can consider this a behind-the-scenes article. I plan to share some of my tricks along the way.
Let's start at the very beginning. Your article should have a title. The title has basically one job. That job is to convince people to read your article. Your article can be awesome but if no one reads it, it won't matter.
An article's title should try to describe what the article is about. The important thing is for the first few words to be as understandable as possible, filled with keywords that are important. This will allow users to recognize what the article is about and click confidently
Let's get started:
#1: Pick a Good Title :
Let's start at the very beginning. Your article should have a title. The title has basically one job. That job is to convince people to read your article. Your article can be awesome but if no one reads it, it won't matter.
An article's title should try to describe what the article is about. The important thing is for the first few words to be as understandable as possible, filled with keywords that are important. This will allow users to recognize what the article is about and click confidently
Does it explain what you article is about?
For good or for bad, the thing the audience gets when figuring out whether or not to click on your article is your title. Most of the click-throughs depend on the title grabbing the audience. So not only does it have to be descriptive, something about it has to be catchyIs your title unique?
You need to craft an impression that is uniquely your own idea. This is especially true of your titles. One of the signs that you've gotten good at titles is that readers can start identifying them as your titles
In addition, a title should follow these guidelines:
- Title length : Google's search results page will display up to 70 characters.
- Your title can be longer than this if necessary but make sure your important keywords are in the first 70 characters.
- Try to vary the way you name the articles
- Don't use the same verbs or phrases in every title.
- Try to not use “-ing” words.
#2: Products and Topics :
- Occasionally we write "How To Contribute" articles (like this one) or something in one of the other categories.
- Articles are also "relevant to" at least one product. They also belong in one main "Topic" and, optionally, a "sub-topic".
If they aren't going to be interested in what you're going to say, let them know. It serves no one to force readers into something they are going to be unhappy with. Also, it helps form a trust between you and the readers. You create a transparency so the readers have incentive to return.
#3: Be Conscious of your Physical Presentation :
Some of writing is art and some is craft. This lesson is a craft one. One of the most important things you can do to make your writing approachable has nothing to do with the words, but rather with how you present them
The Role of a Writer :
To service the readers is the utmost importance of every writer. If they aren't going to be interested in what you're going to say, let them know. It serves no one to force readers into something they are going to be unhappy with. Also, it helps form a trust between you and the readers. You create a transparency so the readers have incentive to return.
Using humor and emotion (SURPRISE!) are some of the techniques we can use to engage people. These techniques, which I've listed below, all aim to get your brain to pay attention
#4: Make your writing engaging :
Conversational writing style :
Use an informal, active style similar to the way you'd speak to someone in person
Humor and emotion :
Using humor is great but it's sometimes hard or impossible to localize. Emotions like surprise and "I didn't know that!" (not sure what to call that emotion) might be easier to include.
Multiple learning styles :
Just like in school, people learn differently. Also, everyone benefits from seeing the same content expressed in multiple ways.
Repetition :
When you explain something in a different way with different media, you're also, obviously, repeating it which is another good way to help people remember what's important.
Images and video :
Using images and video to explain things along with text is not only the next best thing to being there to help in person, they are an easy way of including multiple learning styles and repetition
Activities :
Especially in a tutorial, it's good to give people something useful to accomplish. It's one thing to read instructions and understand the process but it's often helpful to remind people to try things out.
Capitalize the following items:
- Proper nouns
- The first word of a complete sentence
- The letters of abbreviations and acronyms unless they are normally lowercase
- The first word in numbered or bulleted lists
Stick To Your Topic :
Talk about that subject and only that subject. This might sound simplistic, but one of the biggest mistakes novice article writers have is a lack of focus.
Good writers might make the words sound organic, as if they are thinking them up as you read them
For the sake of clarity, don't use i.e. and e.g.
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