The Different Methods Of Article Writing

The Different Methods Of Article Writing

by Ken Nadreau

If we were to try to list all the different article writing styles that exist or will exist, we'd probably end up with an encyclopedia, because writing styles are like fingerprints. No two are completely alike.

But there are some basic development structures that are, more often than not, used by the vast majority of article composers.

After all, there are very few reasons why you'd want to write an article in the first place, and so every article written will most likely have a similar purpose based on these few motives.

For example, you have the desire to either sell a product, build content for your website, establish yourself as an expert in your field, any combination of these, or all of the above.

That's about it, unless it's merely your job.

So there's usually some fundamental similarities among articles that can be drawn upon when you're setting out to write one yourself.

Take a look . . .

1. Product Introduction and Advertisement

When writing an article, it's not customarily wise to blatantly advertise your product directly. Readers are looking for information that will help them understand how to do something, or for recommendations about what to use.

If they wanted to be advertised to, they're simply go to the Classifieds and pick out the best product for the money.

So when you're setting out to write an article about a product, it's best to build your article loosely around the product without actually naming it or describing it.

That's what your sales page is for, right?

Thus when you want to write an article introducing a product, set out to create a scenario describing a situation where a product like you're marketing could be used.

Start with the problem that needs solving and conclude with some possible solutions. What you're doing is building an argument and leading the reader to an obvious conclusion. Finish it off with your bio box that leads them to your sales page.

2. Building Content

The key to building good, solid content for your website is somewhat different than writing an article to introduce your product. With your product introduction, your article is, obviously, product driven.

But when you want to build content, your motivation would be more niche driven, or keyword specific.

The objective is to fill your website with keyword rich article content to entice the Search Engines to spider your site with as much enthusiasm as possible. The more information you can supply on a specific topic, the more your site will be viewed as important and useful to general web surfer.

The Search Engines want people to use them, so when they find such a website, they're more than happy to list it.

So to accomplish this, your article would start out with a single keyword or key phrase that's specific to your website to establish the purpose behind it.

By sticking to this specific topic, you'll be assuring yourself of a well written article that fits right in with your website's theme.

3. Establishing Yourself as an Expert

Of all the reasons for writing articles, this one should be viewed as a long range approach. The concept behind it is to gradually produce articles based on one particular field in order for your readers to learn to associate your name with that one field.

The intended outcome is to establish yourself as a teacher, and one who has good recommendations to give. This, in turn, will help you develop a following of people who would actually go out of their way to find articles you've written.

This is a great way to build a mailing list too.

Once you've written several articles about a topic, you can then add a link in your bio box to a free report or ebook. When the readers click on the link, they're taken to a page that requires them to sign up to get the free publication.

So the more expertise you show in your articles, the more sign ups you'll get.

4. Combinations

Of course you can combine any of these methods and still come off with some great articles. However, you'd want to want to build on one method and incorporate the others in with less enthusiasm.

For example, you'd be hard pressed to prove yourself an expert and build a following if your articles were always obvious product endorsements. And your content building efforts would suffer if every article was more about your expertise than the niche topic its supposed to be about.

So though its possible, you're best bet would be to choose one method, or one purpose and stick with it for each article.

Whichever method you choose, its vital that you provide good quality work. Articles are a lot like Classifieds in one important way. A good one can entice almost assured positive response, and a bad one . . .

Well you know the answer to that.

BONUS : The Dirty Little Writing Secret Everyone Hates To Admit

Many struggling writers come to me asking what they can do to improve their writing. They continually face problems with sentence and paragraph structure as well as surface errors such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They know the basic rules of English and can often be very effective helping other writers revise their work but somehow manage to overlook the errors in their own drafts.

It is a common problem and the solution is a dirty little secret among writers. It is a dirty secret because it is so simple and writers often feel foolish practicing the method -- read your writing out loud.

The human brain is very sophisticated. When you read to yourself then it will automatically make corrections for you. This means that you will read the words, structure and meaning you intended to create whether or not you actually achieved your goal. However when you read out loud your brain cannot trick your ears and you will hear awkward sentence structure. The process of reading out loud will also allow your eyes to catch surface problems that you might skim over when reading to yourself.

While employing the simple technique of reading your work out loud to catch your writing errors can help you improve your work, it is only one technique. Often the root cause of many writing problems lies with the writer's individual writing process -- or the lack of one. Spending time developing a process for your writing is the single most effective way to improve the quality of writing experience as well as the work it produces.

Even after you have developed your personal writing process you must also allow yourself time to brainstorm, write, revise and edit. Too often the reason that revision and editing are not effective is because the writer attempts these processes too close in time to the initial draft. Allow yourself at least a day but preferably longer between drafts, revision and editing and you will be amazed at the results you can achieve.

Today most writers tend to draft electronic versions of their paper. I do so myself. However I know that I can more effectively revise and edit on the printed page. When I complete a draft I print it out and then set it aside to let it ferment. After returning to the project I am able to bring a fresher eye due to our time apart as well as different perspective because the words are in print rather than on screen. Give it a try and see how it works for you.

The technique of reading your work out loud may be simple but it is extremely effective and employed by writers at all levels and of all ages, however it works best when you combine it with an effective writing process, allow enough time for an adequate drafting and revision process, and revise and edit drafts on the printed page. You can become a better writer if you employ these simple strategies and tips.