Five Things You Need to Know about Writing Articles

Share on Pinterest After months of hard work to be the best in what you do, maybe it’s time to get a little rest. Getty Images Writing articles takes years and requires many skills, but it doesn’t need to be difficult! With some guidance and tips, your writing can be as good or better than most others. Whether it’s for SEO or content marketing, there are plenty of articles out there that will teach you how to make it at the highest level possible. This is because every article has been created with a specific purpose in mind. Here, we list top 5 things to know about article creation: Step 1: Make sure you have relevant articles The first thing you need to do is decide which type of article will be created. If yours is non-fiction or informative, this is probably an easy decision. Content creation is always more complex than general SEO writing, so if you are interested in using the latter, this might not be a bad idea. Some key elements to consider when creating your article, both long and short, include keywords, target audiences, tone of voice, spelling, grammar, length, and whether they are available in natural language. Once you have these aspects in mind, move onto step 2: Choose topics, niche and location When deciding what topic or niche to cover, consider what makes audiences tick and why. Use search engines like Yahoo and Google to find topics and use them in conjunction with what audience you intend to reach. It also might be helpful to see if the piece of content fits into what your business offers. Finally, look at where people live and work to see if they are in the area. Are there other creators like yourself who publish within that location? These factors should be considered when selecting a piece of content. Please note that article creation companies and websites may charge extra fees based on location and time of publishing. Steps 3: Create structure and flow A structure or flow helps readers to understand what they are going through. For example, in SEO writing, it helps your reader get straight to the point while keeping readers coming back to read what else they might be reading (e.g., blog posts). In many cases articles are written in a simple, clear, consistent flow. Other formats, such as blogging, tend to leave readers much longer than they go. Structure helps create your narrative and ensures that everything is crystal clear. Readers get a sense of what to expect in addition and don’t feel rushed. As in blogging, the goal of any article format should be to keep your story moving forward without leaving a reader wondering what’s next. Structures and flows help readers connect and follow along your words as well as understanding your points. They also serve to make your stories compelling. Step 4: Find the perfect combination Of all things else listed above, it’s important to find the right combination of content length, topic, and niche and audience required for each type of article. While it won’t necessarily be a linear equation (some article lengths and niches aren’t), it will be one and should fit within the overall needs of your business. There’s no single rule when it comes to how articles should work out. However, some common frameworks apply. Generally speaking, your article should take less than 200 words (or, ideally, just around 350). Readers want to learn quickly and easily and often. Short pieces of content are great for grabbing attention. Longer articles are usually not. So to make things easier, your article should start at either 350-500 words or 600–1200 words. That way readers can catch up while still having the ability to come back, especially during times when readers are reading slower. Depending on what length and format of article you are producing, your article should have somewhere between 300–500 words. If you focus solely on SEO, your article should be under 500 words. Otherwise, readers are likely to stay engaged through an entire body of text and read your entire content if it breaks even the smallest amount of information down. Step 5: Publish Your Article in Your Niche The reason why readers look for a business to write articles for goes beyond the fact that it’s fast, convenient, and cheap to market, it is the quality content that users seek. Because audiences consume content differently, it's important to produce content that meets their needs. If your company sells products or services that meet your clients' needs, your own audience will follow your lead. Remember, consumers have different preferences, desires, and motivations compared to how business owners like themselves. Take a business customer feedback survey to see the types of questions you should be asking of your readers when publishing content. And remember, your client will value your expertise and knowledge. Be aware that business audiences are unique in many ways, including age and geography. Don’t believe that someone your age or living where you do would only purchase from you if they understood what you can offer. Businesses need to think about developing a strategy to grow with their customers, so it’s wise to explore the areas that make your offerings unique. Ask yourself how do business readers consume content? How are businesses finding new clients? What is the audience you serve? Will your product fit their needs and what does that audience want to hear? Creating content that is truly valuable and engaging can make it stand out and increase sales.