Writing online articles
Writing articles for print or web is very rewarding because it allows you do learn about a topic you may not have known about or it gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge on a subject where you are an expert.
Your first task is to determine the topic, tone and length of the article. If writing for a publication, this will be outlined in detail in the writer’s guidelines. If you’re writing for one of the article banks online, there is more flexibility as this is an opportunity for you to show what you can do. Online articles should be well crafted, of course, but you must keep search engine optimization in mind when including keywords and links. Always find a way to insert your website URL so you can drive traffic back to your site.
Researching your article depends on the content. The Internet and libraries are a wealth of information on any imaginable topic. Read everything you can find on your topic (within reason!) so you get a general understanding of the topic. Typically, you would break this research into three main topic areas and write a paragraph or two on each topic area. I often do this before writing the introductory and closing segments so everything will flow together and make sense.
One of the best ways to improve your skills at writing an effective article is to write and write. Then write some more. Like any other skill, the more you practice, the more accomplished you’ll be.
Your first task is to determine the topic, tone and length of the article. If writing for a publication, this will be outlined in detail in the writer’s guidelines. If you’re writing for one of the article banks online, there is more flexibility as this is an opportunity for you to show what you can do. Online articles should be well crafted, of course, but you must keep search engine optimization in mind when including keywords and links. Always find a way to insert your website URL so you can drive traffic back to your site.
Researching your article depends on the content. The Internet and libraries are a wealth of information on any imaginable topic. Read everything you can find on your topic (within reason!) so you get a general understanding of the topic. Typically, you would break this research into three main topic areas and write a paragraph or two on each topic area. I often do this before writing the introductory and closing segments so everything will flow together and make sense.
One of the best ways to improve your skills at writing an effective article is to write and write. Then write some more. Like any other skill, the more you practice, the more accomplished you’ll be.