| It's easier said than done to write great 500-750 | | | | list. Your closing paragraph should be 2 to 4 |
| word articles. | | | | sentences that motivate readers to take action |
| Some of us simply have too much to say. We | | | | and go to the next level. |
| have trouble reigning things in at less than 1500 | | | | 4) Do a word count. |
| words. Others are on the opposite end of the | | | | Copy and paste your article into a Word |
| spectrum strain to make their articles long enough. | | | | document and then use the word-count editing |
| Knowing that a 500-750 word article marketing | | | | tool. This'll give you an idea of how much you |
| article has a greater chance of getting published | | | | need to trim (if you're over 800 words already) |
| on a top website like About.com, I consistently | | | | or how much you have to fill in (if you're under |
| try to get all of my articles to conform to that | | | | 700 words). |
| range. Today, I reveal some of my secrets so | | | | 5) Eliminate all redundancies |
| you can get published on more top websites and | | | | Many writers have tendencies to say something |
| ezines. | | | | one time, and then say it again in the next |
| 1. Create an outline | | | | sentence in a different way. Just say it once, |
| I write a lot of how-to's and list articles. They are | | | | clearly and concisely, and then move on. Look |
| the simplest and best articles you can write for | | | | over your article and remove any phrasing that |
| online marketing purposes. After I write my | | | | does not absolutely have to be there. |
| headline, the first thing I do is write down my tips | | | | 6) Remove unnecessary words |
| or the steps of my 'how-to.' I make brief notes | | | | Here's a task you should complete even if you |
| of the major points I want to make without | | | | are in the 500-750 word range. Try to cut down |
| worrying about polishing anything at this point. All I | | | | your total word count by 10 percent. You can |
| want to do is jot down the skeleton of my article | | | | easily complete this task by eliminating |
| before I start filling in the paragraphs. | | | | unnecessary words. For example, if you write |
| 2) Fill in the outline and be brief | | | | statements like, "It seem to me that most people |
| Say exactly what you need to say to get your | | | | prefer soft baked chocolate chip cookies rather |
| point across and stop there. Remember, if you | | | | than hard ones," you've just used up 5 |
| give too much of the "HOW," your prospects will | | | | unnecessary words. You don't need: "It seems to |
| have NO reason to go back to your website to | | | | me that." Don't second-guess yourself by putting |
| get your special report or buy your products and | | | | the qualifier "it seems like," "I think" or "I believe." |
| services. | | | | 7) Create 2 articles out of 1. |
| 3) Save writing the intro paragraph and the | | | | If your word count is too long and you've |
| conclusion for the end. | | | | trimmed out as much as you can from each |
| This little trick will cut your writing time in half. | | | | section, you may end up needing to make your |
| Some of us 'wordy' folks will instinctively go crazy | | | | "Top 10" article into two "Top 5" articles. If you |
| on our intro paragraph and spend huge amounts | | | | follow this tip, make sure you write each article |
| of time on it trying to get it just right. Then later, | | | | as a stand-alone article. When you put part 1 and |
| we realize that we've just spent half of our word | | | | part 2 in the title, you limit your chances for |
| count allotment there! | | | | publication success. |
| Focus the majority of your words on the "meat" | | | | Follow this advice and you will write clear, concise |
| of the article. This is the part that is in between | | | | articles that get published and read more often. |
| the intro and the conclusion. For 'How To' or other | | | | Now, I'd like to invite you to take your article |
| 500-750 word list articles, your intro paragraph | | | | writing efforts to the next level with my A to Z |
| can be as simple as two to three sentences that | | | | Article Marketing System. |
| intrigue readers and gracefully lead them into your | | | | |