| Article writing can be a valuable way of getting | | | | Plan your article |
| inbound links to your website. What is still very | | | | Copywriters stress the importance of advance |
| much an important factor in search engine | | | | planning when writing a piece of sales copy. They |
| optimization. | | | | say you should have a list of the points you are |
| In the internet of today, governed by and large | | | | looking to make and a firm idea of where they |
| by Google and their set of rules, link-building | | | | will take you. |
| prospects are being stamped out one by one. Old | | | | The same goes for writing an article. Although the |
| school methods that once held sway are no | | | | rules are different in that you are not trying to |
| longer viable, some simply being devalued (link | | | | sell anything, you will still be looking for a |
| exchange, directory submissions), others leading | | | | conversion in that you are persuading a reader to |
| to possible penalties (buying or selling links, theme | | | | leave whatever prejudices they may arrive at |
| sponsorship), and it's the unfortunate case for | | | | the article with, and follow the path you have laid |
| anybody involved in the SEO of a website that it | | | | down for them right until the end. |
| is getting harder and harder to come by a link. | | | | Plan out what you wish to say and stick to it. |
| Non-reciprocal link requests are no longer viable as | | | | Furthermore, know what your conclusion will be |
| webmasters have been blinded by the myth of | | | | even before you put pen to paper, finger to key. |
| the Toolbar Pagerank - that's the little green bar | | | | Ensure there's a beginning, a middle, and an end |
| you'll see if you have the Google Toolbar installed. | | | | Treat your article as though it's a story, with the |
| So what's left for those poor, brow-beaten | | | | requisite beginning, middle and end. Give some |
| webmasters, small-site owners, or SEOs? | | | | background info at the start and maybe some |
| Well one option is to publish articles. If your | | | | teasers as to the journey you'll be taking your |
| website has a blog then providing good, | | | | reader on. |
| informative content, and successfully promoting it | | | | The middle makes up the meat of the article. This |
| around various social networks is a good way of | | | | is where you present your points, your nuggets |
| building natural links (these should invariably hold | | | | of info, and any sources you may wish to |
| their value). But if you don't have the time or the | | | | reference in backing them up. It's within this main |
| will to maintain a blog on a regular basis, or you | | | | body that your article springs to life and you use |
| do but you also wish to keep a firm hand on the | | | | the list of points that you made beforehand to |
| anchor text used to link to your website, then | | | | guide your text to the end. |
| there are the numerous websites that allow you | | | | Imagine it as an arrowhead, with all the elements |
| to upload articles and publish them on the internet. | | | | tapering to the finely honed point of the |
| This one, for instance. | | | | pre-planned conclusion. |
| The value of a good article is to both engage the | | | | Subvert a standard idea |
| reader and inform them. If you have enlightened | | | | So what can you write about? What if your |
| just one visitor with your writing then it has | | | | website sells sections of grey, plastic piping? What |
| surely been worth it. Plus there's a tasty link to | | | | on earth can you write about then? |
| your website into the bargain. | | | | Well the idea is take what may be a boring, |
| So how should you go about writing your article? | | | | oft-trod topic and put your own spin upon it. |
| First off, choose your topic | | | | There is plenty of scope to inject your own |
| If you're looking to promote your website then it | | | | thinking into your articles and raise them above |
| is important the topic you choose is related to | | | | the average. See what else has been written on |
| that website. In fact, it's not only important but | | | | the subject and then take a run at it from a |
| also practical as this is most probably a subject on | | | | different angle. You don't have to remain confined |
| which you'll be confident enough to write. | | | | by what you think should be written. Once you've |
| Write about what you know | | | | broken those mental shackles holding you back |
| "Write about what you know" may be a | | | | then the rest should come easily. |
| cliché used in creative writing classes - a | | | | Once finished tear it up and start again |
| debatable one when you consider hugely | | | | Not strictly true, but once you've finished your |
| successful science fiction and fantasy authors - | | | | first draft regard it as being just that. Use what |
| but when writing an article firmly within the realms | | | | you have to build upon. Read and re-read, then |
| of non-fiction it can be hugely beneficial to bear | | | | edit without mercy. Correct mistakes and typos, |
| this mantra in mind. | | | | then, if necessary, re-write until you are 100% |
| It is important that you don't lose your audience's | | | | happy with the finished product. |
| interest, and so imperative that you yourself don't | | | | So there you have it. A brief guide to article |
| lose interest whilst writing it. There's nothing | | | | writing and securing that much needed link. Use |
| worse than finding the experience of writing to be | | | | these ideas as stepping stones to your own |
| one long, hard slog you can't wait to get over and | | | | efforts and before you know it, you'll be on your |
| done. It'll show through in your text too. | | | | way to platinum author status. |