Master blog article writer tells you
exactly how to write articles that get read and responded to.
By Dr. Jeffrey Lant
It is a pleasure to have this
opportunity to spend some time with you and provide the detailed
step-by-step information you must have to get the attention of the
people on your list and get them to respond -- and rain well deserved
compliments on you and your notable blog work.
Let's dig right in; there's lots of
ground to cover.
1) The purpose of blog articles.
Know much about space travel? Here's a
crucial part that astronauts pay a lot of attention to: the heat
shields that protect a space capsule returning to earth. Without
these shields the capsule and the passengers within would be fried.
The same thing happens when you mail ad copy and nothing but ad copy
to your lists. Recipients will get plenty angry plenty fast. They
want more from you than just ads, and if they don't get it, the
unsubscribe link is near at hand.
Blog copy is essential because it keeps
subscribers on your list by giving them a good reason for staying on
your list. In short, like those heat shields, this copy protects the
list and keeps it whole, growing, profitable.
2) Don't publish random articles.
Give your articles increased weight and
importance by creating them as part of an ongoing series. When you
write good copy, copy of substance and value, people not only want to
read it... but they want more, lots more, from you, a person whose
articles and opinion they come to respect.
3) Number each article and announce
that number along with each article.
As I write (August 6, 2011), this is my
312 article in the series. You want people to know that, not least
because they will want to find and profit from the other articles in
the series, all the other articles. Furthermore, as your list of
articles grows, so will your reputation and perceived standing. In
short, you will be an authority, a commentator of renown and repute.
4) Write your blog articles to a
certain length, and stick to it.
My daily blog articles (which I produce
free for blog owners worldwide) are all approximately 1500 words in
length. That is three single-spaced pages. This length gives you
ample space to develop an article on any given theme. It is also a
convenient length for readers, not too long or demanding; crucial
features in our time-pressed days. Once you have developed your
format, you will soon start thinking in terms of your available space
and will find it easier and easier the more you write to conceive and
write articles of that length.
5) Always search for and brainstorm new
article subjects.
I am on a dizzing blog article creation
pace: one 1,500 word blog article per day. This is a challenging
schedule for even the most experienced writers. That means I need 365
article subjects per year, challenging indeed. But even if you
decide to write just one blog article per week, you'll need 52
subjects to write about, nothing to take for granted.
When you write blog articles, you are
always and forever in the business of finding hot new article
subjects. To start, get the major metropolitan newspaper from your
area; (for me that's The Boston Globe)... and a pair of scissors. Now
sit down and review this newspaper with a new eye; an eye that's
seeking interesting, timely, readers-will-love-this subjects.
Make time to cut these articles from
the publication. Don't fall behind with this crucial task. In my
case, I review and cut out three times a week, more if at all
possible.
Keep a good pair of sharp scissors at
hand. Look at each article in each edition to see whether an article
on that theme or subject would fit your blog. If so, cut at once and
make sure to date everything you cut out. That's a must.
Then deposit what you've found in a
large drawer... this is the article subject compost heap and it is
essential. In it you will find subjects you will surely want to write
about... and subjects you're watching, to write about at some future
date. Cut liberally; you can be sure one day you will have no subject
readily at hand. Having all these ideas will then pirove very useful
indeed.
6) Select the next subject you'll write
about, gather the information you need to do so.
The creation of articles of substance,
articles that draw continual kudos from your readers, is a direct
result of knowing where to look for the information you need. The
better you become at this necessary task, the better articles you
will produce and the faster your reputation grows, too.
Start by doing a search at any search
engine (I prefer Google) to see what information is available. Where
you are writing an article about a breaking news item, don't just
check the available information, also pay close attention to the time
the most recent material was posted (e.g. "7 hours ago").
This is essential for keeping what you write ahead of the news cycle.
For timely articles, this skill is required.
Then visit the Wikipedia. The Wikipedia
is one of the most ingenious and necessary tools ever invented. There
isn't a day that goes by that I don't use it, finding and printing
the invaluable information I absolutely must have do my work... one
aspect of which is studding my articles with the facts therein so
amply provided. This source is crucial.
You will also need to visit the
websites of article providers such as Associated Press, Reuter's,
Bloomberg, etc. They are a terrific source of article subjects and
timely data.
7) Brainstorm articles.
You and your lifetime of education and
experience are also valuable sources for articles. Keep a pad at the
ready, or an Internet file, where ALL possible article subjects can
be listed. Never, ever rely on forgetful memory for such subjects.
Write them down at once.
8) Set a precise date for finishing all
articles.
I write and blog my articles daily. I
have a precise time of the day when the deadline for the next article
MUST be met: 8 a.m. Eastern time. To do this I find all the data I'l
need the day before and review it before bed time. Then I am awake
and drafting, editing, then finalizing the day's article by 3 a.m.
Eastern time; that is not a misprint! I have found the silent hours
of the (usually) uninterrupted night the very best time to write, not
least because I am wide awake and full of beans at that time. You'll
find the schedule most suitable for you; set it, adhere to it
religiously. You will find if you do that your brain and body will
be willing to work at that time, and that is a great benefit.
9) Keep individual files for every
article you write.
These files should contain all the
printed information sources for this subject as well as all your
notes and each draft. Everything pertaining to this article
(including the compliments readers email you) must be kept, not least
because you may very well decide to write follow-up and related
articles for which current data will be most helpful.
Last words.
Blogging is the future of the Internet;
that is absolutely clear. And for blogging to work, and your list to
be protected, superior blog copy is a must. Now you know how to
produce it.
About the Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is
CEO of Worldprofit, providing a wide range of online services for
small and-home based businesses. Dr. Lant is the author of 18
best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by
Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz
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