7 Article Writing Tips
by Cherie Stirewalt

Writing content for the web is like taking Comp 101, Marketing 101 and Speech 101 and mixing it all up in a big ol' bowl. To be a successful web writer, check out the article writing tips below.

A Cool Opening
You have about 3-5 seconds to catch your reader's attention. If you want to get your articles read, do not construct your sentences perfectly like you were taught in Comp 101. Instead, use your imagination. Find a great quote, relate to their problem, or site a statistic. Something to grab your reader and hook them into reading on.

Be A Teacher
Why do people surf the internet? For information, that's why. They are either wanting information on something they want to buy, a problem they want to solve, or some, just because they are curious.

In order for you to have an article worth reading, you need to have something valuable and informative for the reader. Don't try to sell your reader on anything. But, instead, give him a lesson and teach him something about your website's subject, or product.  You will gain the trust of the reader, and, in turn, he will turn to you as an expert in your field.

Write Like You Talk
Not like an English paper. It's okay to say "okay." And leave a sentence fragment. And use slang. This will make the reader realize you are a real, live person he can relate to. And not some super-smart, uber-educated snob talking over his head.

Watch the Hype
Your ultimate goal is to get people to trust you and visit your site. So don't sound like one of those guys selling knives for $19.95 at 3:00 in the morning. Cut out phrases like "you'll be amazed," or "it's incredible." Basically, if it sounds really cheesy, leave it out. Be honest and enthusiastic, but leave out the hype.

Spell It Right
Even though you should write like you talk, make sure you follow basic grammar rules and have correct spelling. Run your article through a grammar and spell check before publishing. Sometimes it also helps to read your article out loud. Just to make sure it flows.

Know What You Are Talking About
Make sure your facts are correct. Your goal is to build credibility with the reader as an expert in your field. So, you should be an expert and not a poser. Research your subject thoroughly before you write and publish.

Focus on Specifics
You could drone on and on for paragraphs about nothing in particular just to have content on the internet for search engines to index. However, again, you are not gaining credibility with your reader. Instead, be specific about what you are trying to teach.

For instance, if you are trying to teach how to write a great article, you could do something like "7 Article Writing Tips" and illustrate seven ways to enhance your article content.

Basically, to write a good article, remember to be informative, be factual, be instructive and be yourself. You can't go wrong!

And don't forget to give the Brad Callen Article Submitter Software a try. It will give you a jump start on your article marketing.