Submitted On: 2006-08-21 Article Source: Article
Search Engine Directory at http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Compelling Titles
Think of article titles as news headlines. They must strike a chord with the
reader and encourage them to read on. Article titles are the writer's
opportunity to grab the casual web browsers interest. Consider using a play on
words or slightly modifying a common phrase to make the reader pause. Use a
provocative title. Consider making the the title a question, and the article
the answer. Questions are particularly useful as an article title because
readers are naturally curious and will be enticed to read more. Titles can
also be calls to action.
While it is important that titles be compelling, they should also not lead the
reader astray. The title should relate to the general subject of the article.
The first letter of each word in the article title should be capitalized for
emphasis. Articles should not only be thought of as educational tools, but
also a benefit to your search engine ranking. With that in mind authors should
include relevant keywords in the articles title.
Examples of compelling titles:
Content is Queen
What Are The Newest Technology Trends?
Learn The Secret To Windsurfing
Types of Articles
Articles that are timeless have the longest shelf life. Consider
"How-to" articles or instructional articles that explain common
questions in simple terms. Authors should always keep in mind that the types
of articles that tend to be the best received contain useful original content.
Articles that are portrayed as educational articles should not be
infomercials, but should contain objective information and tips that will
genuinely assist readers.
Keep It Real
People will not be impressed by complex sentences that make little sense.
Readers are looking for relevant information. Focus on topics that allow you
to provide concrete helpful information.
Article Length
The ideal length for articles that are to be syndicated is between 600 and 800
words. If you have some content that is considerably longer, break it into a
two-part article.
Proof Read
Articles that are embraced by publishers are well-written. Like it or not,
grammar and punctuation do matter. The quality of your writing will impact how
the content is received. Double and triple check for typographical errors and
incorrect grammar usage. Edit each article for spelling and grammatical
errors. Typos reflect poorly on the author. Regardless of whether the
information contained in the article is accurate, articles that are poorly
formatted or include spelling errors, will be quickly discarded.
Article Formatting
The article should be written in such a way that it can easily be broken into
small paragraphs, making it easy for readers to skim. Small paragraphs will
also increase the article's overall readability. Each paragraph can include a
mini-keyword rich title that will highlight the information contained within
that paragraph. A bulleted list, highlighting important points, is another way
to draw attention to a specific section of an article.
Archive Articles
All articles should be archived onto a stable and persistent webpage. Each
article should have it's own page, and the page should be optimized for
keywords related to the contents of the article.
Resource Box
Use the author resource box to show expertise in a specific area. The author
resource box should include the article author's name, company, web address
and any call to action items that relate to the article contents.
Copyright 2006 Sharon Housley
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition
Sharon manages marketing for NotePage www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
