A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Great How-To Article:

1. Pick a Topic in Your Niche – Think about things that you have done that require a specific set of steps, like how to install a toilet, build a bookshelf or make a 3-bean salad.
2. Lead with a Great Title – What is the top benefit of your informative article? Use that as your title. Try this template: “How to [get/save/become] and [insert big reward here].” In his book, Advertising Headlines That Make You Rich, copywriter David Garfinkel gives these examples:
   • How to Save Time and Get Things Done (Time Management Coach)
   • How to Get a Better Job and Make More Money (Recruiter)
   • How to Save Money and Retire Rich (Financial Planner)

   You don’t have to use the words “How To.” You could just say “Install a Toilet Yourself and Save a Pile of Money” – or whatever.

3. Begin with a Simple Introduction – Maybe relating a personal experience as to how you came to know about the topic the hard way – or, conversely, how simple it was to learn.
4. Include a List of Supplies, Tools and/or Resources – If your reader is going to need something besides their wits to accomplish the task, tell them upfront so they can prepare everything in advance.
5. Write Instructions in Chronological Order – Don’t make your instructions convoluted or confusing – keep it short and simple (KISS) and don’t include more than one thought per step.
6. Create Mental Images – Since your article can’t include photos or illustrations, use words to paint a picture instead. Clearly describe what your reader will experience to avoid confusion … and a loss of credibility for you!
7. Conclude with Cautions, Tips and Advice – This is a great place to add some goodwill and wrap things up on a positive note. It’s also a wonderful way to lead readers into your Resource Box.

Using this incredibly flexible and powerful template, you’ll be able to create article after article that will not only benefit your readers, but you as well with increased traffic, credibility and exposure.

Guide to Writing a Great How-To Article published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

Your readers should want more! They should comment on your article and offer you suggestions for more articles. If you’re getting this already, you know the meaning of substantive … Keep up the good work!

If you’re not having this dynamic conversation with your readers, then here are some tips that will help you achieve this:

• It’s Not OK to be Short and Sweet – Saying something is a cool idea without adding the WHY does nothing for the reader. This is not quality – this is easy writing. Your readers will see right through it. Good writing takes hard work and research.
• Relate Yourself to Your Work – Readers want to know how this has affected you and why it works. Add YOU to the topic by offering tips and further exploring why the tip works. People want MEAT. They want to know they can trust you. You’re the expert, so show them you are. Give them the MEAT.
• Make Connections with Your Audience – Do your research and ask them what they want. Then deliver this value in articles. This is worthwhile stuff. Readers want to know what they will find valuable TODAY. They don’t want to know what happened in the news last year. Think EVERGREEN!
• Think 400-600 Words as Your Quality Base – Don’t fill your article body with FLUFF just to reach this word count, but rather allow yourself enough room to explore the topic.
• You Won’t Know Until You Try – Perfection should always be your goal, but remember to submit and learn along the way. Trust me, you’ll get better with time.

Remember, writing high-quality, original content is not an overnight process – it’s hard work. Keep going, and you’ll get there in time.

How To Write Niche Articles published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

3 Tips for Getting Your Articles Approved on the First Submission published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

1. Lose and Loose

– These are not the same word! “You can lose your car keys if you put them in your very loose pants.” They are not interchangeable!


2. Affect and Effect

– If something affects you, it has an effect on you. For example: I am affected by the wind. The effect is that my hair gets messy.


3. Semi-colons

– Semi-colons are not commas. They’re also not colons. A semi-colon is used between closely related independent clauses not conjoined with a coordinating conjunction.

Which means something like this:
“I went to see a movie; I was told it was sold out.”

Or between items in a series or a list that has its own punctuation:
“I have three friends: Maddie, who is my aunt’s daughter; Jane, who is my sister’s teammate; and Nancy, who is my father’s sister.


4. It’s for Its – and vice versa

– “It’s” is short for “it is.” “Its” is the possessive form of “It.”

So…you have then:
Yes: “It’s a good day for going to the beach.”
No: “Its a good day for going to the beach.”

And: Yes: “This is a really cool gadget. Just look at all of its features.”
No: “This is a really cool gadget. Just look at all of it’s features.”

A good way to remember is to say to yourself while typing, am I trying to say “It is” or not?


5. Their, There and They’re

– They’re over there, in their yard. OK.

Simply put:
They’re means “they are.” If “they are” doing something, then this is the proper one to use.
If something belongs to them (as a collective group) then you use “their.”
If you’re (not “your”) going somewhere – you are going “there!”

6. Then and Than

– Then is what happens next. Than compares items to each other.

“It is sunnier today than it was yesterday”
“This box is heavier than the last one.”
“If you are still having trouble after reading the directions, then you had better call John.”
“I’m going to the store next and then I’m going to the bank.”

Common Grammatical Errors That Make Authors Look Dumb published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

But did you know that a properly used Resource Box is probably the most powerful tool in your article marketing toolbox? It’s the one thing that can have the greatest impact on the amount of website traffic your articles generate.

This video will explain how you can create and utilize the perfect resource box.

Downloadable Versions:

Bottom Line: If you really want to make your articles sell then you’ve got to craft the perfect Resource Box. You have provided your expert advice to the reader for free, now is your chance to get something in return. Update your Resource Boxes today and take full advantage of the power of a perfect Resource Box.

Create the Perfect Resource Box published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

1. The use of a comma before “and” in a series is usually
optional, provided there is no danger of misreading.

Example: We have apple, orange and grape juices.
(no comma)

Example: We have apple, orange, and strawberry and
grape juices.
(comma)

“Strawberry and  grape” is one flavor; therefore, a
comma is needed to avoid confusion.

2. Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause.

Example: After I realized that the store had not
applied my discount voucher to my purchase, I
returned to the store and customer service credited
my account.

3. Use a comma to join independent clauses.

Example: I went to the grocery store to pick up some
milk, but they were already closed.
(commas with two independent clauses)

Example: I offered to help and she accepted.
(comma unnecessary with short clauses)

4. Do not use a comma before the first item or after the
last item in a series.

Example: [Wrong] You should combine, aerobics,
weight training and stretching into your workout
routine, if you want to see the best results.

Example: [Right] You should combine aerobics,
weight training and stretching into your workout
routine if you want to see the best results.

Colons: The colon focuses the reader on what is to follow. Use it to introduce a list or idea.

1. Colons should only be used within a sentence after an
independent clause.

Example: We visited three cities during our vacation:
San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

2. Do not place a colon between a verb and its object or
between a preposition and its object.

Example: [Wrong] We traveled to: San Diego, Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara.
(colon between preposition and object)

Example: [Right] We traveled to San Diego, Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Example: [Wrong] My neighbor lent me: a garden hoe,
a shovel and a rake.
(colon between verb and objects)

Example: [Right] My neighbor lent me a garden hoe,
a shovel and a rake.

Comma and Colon Tips for Article Writing published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

Example: This radio has six preset buttons. (singular)
Example: Most radios have six preset buttons. (plural)

2. Person Agreement: A subject should also agree in “person” (1st person perspective, etc.) with its subject.

Tip: This affects only 3rd person singular subjects
in the present tense.

Example: He runs to the store.
Example: The table looks warped.

Tip: Non 3rd Person Singular Subjects

Example: I run to the store.
Example: We run to the store.

Tip:  The verb “to be” is an auxiliary verb and has eight forms.

(1) Present Tense: am, is, are

Example: I am hungry.
Example: She is hungry.
Example: We are hungry.

(2) Past Tense: was, were

Example: I was hungry.
Example: We were hungry.

(3) Infinitive, Past Participle & Present Participle: be, been, being

Example: He has yet to be identified.
Example: He had been mean to my sister.
Example: He was being mean to my sister.

Hint: An agreement problem can sometimes occur when the verb of a sentence precedes the subject.

Example: [Wrong] There was several writers waiting
for their articles to be approved.

Example: [Right] There were several writers waiting
for their articles to be approved.

Subject and Verb Agreement for Article Writing published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

Almost every article niche contains topics that can be quickly plugged into (3) clearly defined stages, or levels. Although these stages could be given any number of different labels, for the sake of simplicity let’s just call them:

1. Mild
2. Moderate
3. Severe

This article template capitalizes on the fact that your readers can mentally plug themselves into any one of these stages and in so doing can easily identify with content that is of interest or appropriate to them. In the case of painful subjects, like unhealthy debt, your article can guide the reader through the steps of escaping the negative impact of a particular stage. In the case of more enjoyable pursuits, like yoga, your article can give the reader a road map to the next stage of proficiency.

Here are (3) excellent examples of stages within a niche:

• Debt Relief
  • Mild – Low Debt: Self-management through Consolidation
  • Moderate – Medium Debt: Settlement Services and Grants
  • Severe – High Debt: Bankruptcy
• Yoga
  • Mild – Getting Started (Novice)
  • Moderate – Developing a Routine (Intermediate)
  • Severe – Maintaining Excellence via Advanced poses (Expert)
• Anti-Aging
  • Mild – Topical and Nutritional Products
  • Moderate – Simple Procedures
  • Severe – Cosmetic Surgery

How the “(3) Stages of X” article template works:

1. Find a topic in your niche that can be easily broken down into (3) levels of severity and give each stage a label.
2. Important: Only list (1) stage per article – but you can list multiple examples and methods within each article.
3. The first paragraph or two outlines the (3) stages and clearly defines the attributes of the particular stage explained in the article.
4. In the next paragraph, relate to the reader’s current stage and reassure them many others are currently at this particular stage.
5. Provide examples of how others have escaped this stage or graduated to a more desirable stage using your methods.
6. Give the reader clear directions to either escape the stage they’re currently in or to achieve a more desirable stage.
7. Once you have shown the reader the path(s) to their desired outcome, explain how they can maintain their new status.
8. Conclude with a quick summary of the (3) stages as you defined them, your method(s) for improvement and how the reader will benefit by following your advice.

By using this template you should be able to write at least (3) articles on each of the stages of “X” you discover within your niche. Find (5) topics that fit this template and your efforts will generate (15) new traffic-driving articles!

Better yet, it’s surprisingly easy. Once you find these topics and outline the stages, you’ll be amazed at how these articles will virtually write themselves

The (3) Stages of “X” Article Template published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis

2. “I” is always capitalized, along with all its contractions.
Example: I can do it.
Example: I’ll do it tomorrow.
Example: I’m going to do it now.

3. Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence.
Example: She said, “I can do this.”

4. Capitalize a proper noun.
Example: Eiffel Tower
Example: Christopher Knight
Example: Federal Bureau of Investigation

5. Capitalize a person’s title when it precedes the name.
Example: Doctor Smith
Exception: Mr. Smith, the doctor at the hospital,
came to check up on me.

6. Capitalize any title when used as a direct address.
Example: “Will you please answer the question, Senator?”

7. Do not capitalize names of seasons.

8. Capitalize points of the compass only when they refer to specific regions.
Example: I have relatives visiting from the South.
Example: I drove south to the end of the block.

9. After a sentence ending with a colon, do not capitalize the first word if it begins a list.
Example: These are my favorite foods: chicken,
potatoes and bread.

10. Capitalize the first word and all the words in titles of books, articles, works of art, etc. excluding short prepositions and conjunctions.
Example: “EzineArticles Writing and Marketing”

Capitalization Rules for Article Writing published at Start a Business Building Websites

ShareThis