This is the second part in my series: Top 5 Ways to Get Your Articles Found and Read Online.
To get maximum readership, it’s important to provide high quality information or entertainment and to make your articles visually appealing. When writing articles and blog posts, first write a strong headline and lead paragraph that conveys the purpose of the article and draws readers in.
Long, dense blocks of copy are hard to read, especially online. When people glance at the article, you want it to look inviting and easy to read.
Tips for Making Your Articles More Appealing
• Don’t get too long-winded. If a blog post is more than 500 words, consider breaking it apart into a series. For other online articles, 600 to 800 words is a good range.
• Use short paragraphs and insert subheads to organize the information and make it easy to scan.
• Bullet points and numbered lists create both visual appeal and interest from readers.
• Use examples and stories to illustrate your points, when possible.
• Add photos or images to draw attention to your articles. You can find free photos and illustrations online or purchase images for about a dollar at sites such as iStockphoto [and] Wordle.
Finally, be sure to spell check and proofread your article. I do that first in Word, then proofread the draft of the article online before I click the Post button. It’s amazing how many times I find another error on my second review.
Read the rest of this series here:
Part 1: Top 5 Ways to Get Your Articles Found and Read Online
This is a reprint from Dana Lynn Smith‘s The Savvy Book Marketer.