The Seven Secrets to Getting Your Articles Read

Are your articles getting read or are they just sitting in an article directory gathering virtual dust? If you have taken the time to put together a good article, it is a real shame to let all of your hard work be for nothing. This article will show you how you can get the readership your articles deserve.

1.    Make sure you proofread and edit your articles. This should be a given; however, I read a lot of articles and so many of them are really in need of some serious work. Keep in mind that your articles represent you. They are a reader’s first impression of you. A well-written, proofread and informative article will give you a huge credibility boost.

2.    Use short paragraphs. People looking for information online do not read articles word for word. They skim. Shorter paragraphs make the article much easier to read. But, do not go overboard with the short paragraphs. A paragraph almost always has to have more than one sentence in it. Shoot for a nice solid paragraph of 4-6 sentences.

3.    Number or bullet important points. If you are writing something like a list that lends itself to being bulleted or numbered in your article, go ahead and use them. Your reader will be able to skim much more quickly.

4.    Use a font that is easy to read. Some people prefer reading text that is written in a font that has serifs, like Times Roman. Personally, I prefer a font without serifs, such as Trebuchet MS. As a general rule you will want to stay away from font that looks like handwriting.  Depending on where you are publishing your article, you may or may not have too much control over what font is used. Article directories and other websites generally do not allow the writer to pick the font. If you are writing and publishing your own site or blog, you will have control over the font. So, be kind to your reader. Publish in a readable font in regular black ink.

5.    Use subheadings.  Subheadings are handy mini-titles that come between paragraphs. Adding subheadings is a good idea if your article is on the long side, your subject matter is more weighty or you just want to make it very simple for your reader to find what he or she is looking for.

6.    Write a catchy headline.  Use a headline that tells what the article is about in a way that catches the eye. The headline is like the guy hawking games at the fair. It will either draw someone in to read your article or repel them to pass it by as fast as he or she can. Your headline should always have your keyword in it. Victor Schwab, an old-time copywriter, came up with a list of 100 of the best hand-picked headlines and wrote about why the headlines work so well. You can get a copy of Victor Schwab’s 100 Greatest Headlines here.

7.    Be specific. You know that so many articles online just regurgitate the same thing over and over again in different words. In your articles, stand out from the crowd and add useful details that will really help the reader. This could be in the form of useful website links embedded within the article, pdf file downloads, adding a bibliography at the end of your article or citing a research study. You can probably think of dozens of other ways to provide your reader with brand new information that is specific to your niche.

Now that you have a better handle on how to attract more readers to your articles, it is time to make some revisions to the articles you have already written. Just start with a few and see how many more readers they get just by making a few little changes.

Like this? Visit MakingMoneyWithArticles.com for more ways you can use article marketing to help your business grow. While you are there, don’t forget to grab your free e-book, Create Your 1st Website By 3:45 This Afternoon.