Archive for December, 2009

What Constitutes a Well-Written Article?

There are a lot of article spinners and other software approaches that some marketers use to create a lot of articles quickly. These marketers are looking to get a lot of quick back links for the article directories, and these tactics may work to some extent.  But if you really want to put article marketing to work for you you want to do better than that.

A quality article will get you a lot more backlinks over time, because the  article will get picked up by ezine writers and bloggers who want to share quality content with their readers.  They will hold their noses to some of the junk that these automated programs create.

Additionally, you will get traffic to your site from a well written article and in the final analysis that’s what you really want. Eyeballs who come to you to see what you have to offer.

Once again I am sharing an article written by Ken Vogt of Content Crooner. If you are serious about article marketing, you want to create quality articles. In the following Ken tells us just what that means.

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What Constitutes a Well-Written Article?

Engaging in article writing to communicate with your niche involves a commitment to quality. The Worldwide Web abounds with sub-standard writing. Providing useful information within properly constructed articles means setting yourself apart from mediocrity.

Your primary concern as an article writer is your audience. You must focus on two main elements as applies to this audience. The first is the kind of information they want and need. The second is the best way to present this information to them.

Therefore, a well-written article consists of useful content spread over a sound structure. It’s akin to a useful concrete pedestrian walkway spread over a supportive steel grid. Thinking of your articles this way means you present information to your readers in a logical, organized manner.

An effective article marketing campaign depends on using a good article distribution service. They gain you that broad exposure your articles require. However, you don’t want broad exposure for poorly constructed articles. This harms your credibility as a reputable information provider.

What results when you lose, or never ever gain, credibility with information searchers? You lose traffic to the website where you look to promote your particular business. The following are tips to ensure you create well-written articles for your readers and build credibility:

Concentrate on the Actual Content

Before you can utilize your structure, you must have useful information to place within it. It all begins with performing the necessary research. Quality research gives you the data, facts, statistics, opinions, viewpoints and more that you need.

You gather this information in various ways. This can include both offline and online research. You may interview experts in a particular field. You may access research materials in a library or read an online whitepaper.

You accumulate vital knowledge as suits your audience’s needs. Research must focus on what your audience wants, not what interests you. What your audience wants and what you want is not always the same thing.

Concentrate on Classic Article Structure

Now you organize gathered information based on time-tested classic article structure. This involves employing a proper title and an opening or introductory paragraph. You want to pique your reader’s interest right away.

A headline doesn’t have to be funny, trendy, or shocking. It does have to let a reader immediately know what they can expect from your article. An introductory paragraph to open your article presents the focus and intent of your article.

Next is significant main body copy where you disseminate the bulk of your useful information. This main body copy may include sub-headings and bullet points with attendant information. These accomplish two things.

First, they allow readers to scan and hone in quickly on major points. Scanning also gives readers a quick overview of what they are about to read. Second, sub-headings and bullet points break up large blocks of text. This makes an article easier to read.

In the main body of your article, you present, point-by-point, your information. This helps your reader gain knowledge in a systematic fashion. Intelligently presenting vital information, linking paragraphs logically promotes faster learning and knowledge retention.

This organized approach means you, the writer, don’t wander off topic. It also means you hold your reader’s attention. A haphazard approach to presenting information increases the chances you lose your reader’s interest. After the main body copy, you employ a concise conclusion, which ties everything up precisely.

Concentrate on Spelling and Grammar

Of course, you must do all of the above with attention to spelling and grammar. In the rush to get articles online, these two elements often get the short shrift. We often rely too much on spell-check programs and forgo rereading our articles.

Spell-check programs, because of their general nature, don’t always catch unique spelling and grammatical occurrences. Reread your articles and look for these situations. This extra attention to detail ensures your articles are of a higher quality for your readers.

Focused attention to spelling and grammar also present you as a professional. It shows you respect the writing discipline and your readers. In addition, article distribution services and publishers demand this attention to these elements.

On top of all that, articles with proper spelling and grammar are easier to read. You get your points across with clarity when commas, periods, quotation marks and such are in the right places. Additionally, spelling mistakes don’t stand out like sore thumbs, breaking your reader’s concentration. This contributes to enjoyable reading for your audience.

Follow the above tips to create well-written articles. Informative content presented over an organized structure with attention to grammar and spelling enhances your writer reputation. This means a growing audience for your articles, and the websites linked to them.

To your success,

Kenneth Vogt

Kenneth Vogt is CEO of Content Crooner; a quality content distribution service. He is an established internet marketing professional and respected Web expert.

Discover how quality content is a driving force behind highly targeted traffic and improved page rank in our Free Report.

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Technorati Tags: article structure, article writer, bullet points, conclusion, introductory paragraph, main body copy, quality content, sub-headings, title, useful content, well-written article

One Article Marketer’s Review of Content Crooner

People who market a website, product or service with articles are
most commonly referred to as "article marketers." We share valuable
information with our readers through the articles we distribute to
hundreds, sometimes thousands, of article directories.

One of the easiest ways to get our articles to thousands of
directories is through a paid article distribution service like
Content Crooner. I've tried several other paid distribution services
but so far none stand up to the quality I've seen through Content
Crooner.

Initial Impression

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Keeping
that thought in mind, my initial impression of Content Crooner was
that it appeared to be a class act. I was immediately drawn to the
lizard mascot on the home page.

The image of the lizard with the microphone immediately made me
think of a real crooner like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra or Bing
Crosby. When those guys started crooning, everyone had to stop and
listen. They are still some of the most well-known voices today.

The color scheme of the Content Crooner website is aesthetically
pleasing. The buttons are nice and glossy, and the layout easy to
follow. 

Account Creation

The account creation process for Content Crooner is a breeze. You
simply type your first and last name, user name; then create a
password and give them your e-mail address. Follow through the
registration process to create your pen name and select the service
you wish to purchase.

Login & Account Page

The login page is very straight-forward. Input your user name,
password and click the button to log in. Click the checkbox that
reads "remember me" if you'd like your browser to remember your
login information for future visits.

Your account page allows you to edit your account information, select
your pen name or create a new one. You may edit each individual pen
name's account information including the website and contact
information associated with each pen name.

A full list of articles you've previously submitted may be found in
your "My Account" page. Here you may view your articles as they've
been published. Pending articles may be edited but any article that
has been distributed cannot.

View your distribution and exposure reports to see exactly where your
articles have been used. View or change the dates your article should
be distributed; schedule articles for distribution up to a year in
advance with ease. Conveniently Tweet your articles with two quick
little mouse clicks.

Article Submission

Article submission with Content Crooner is simple. Click the "Submit
Content" button located at the top of the page and follow the
instructions. Simply copy and paste your article information into
the appropriate text fields.

Choosing Your Article Categories

Content Crooner offers more than 360 individual categories from which
to choose. You may choose to include your article for distribution
in up to three different categories. Choose wisely, the editorial
staff does check to make sure your articles should fit into the
categories you choose. It's all part and parcel of their incredible
review process.

Review Process

Content Crooner's review process is one of the most in depth article
review processes I've ever seen in action. They promise their
publishers quality and they mean to follow through. Don't worry
though, they provide an article checklist to give you a better chance
of passing review the first time, every time.

Overall Opinion

I've been an article marketer for about five years. I've tried the
competition and can honestly say Content Crooner is the most user-
friendly. They also provide the best customer service of other paid
article distribution websites.

I strongly recommend Content Crooner to any article marketer in
search of quality distribution and customer service. They truly are
a class act.

About the Author:

Twixal (http://www.twixal.com) Professional Ghostwriting Service is
dedicated to helping you achieve success with your article marketing
campaign. Professional ghostwriters go the extra mile to provide you
with impressively informative articles and establish you as a
professional in your field. Twixal recommends Content Crooner
article distribution service (http://askearlabout.com/ContentCrooner.php)

Technorati Tags: article distribution service, Article Marketing, distribution service

  
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