Article marketing has become one of the cheapest and most effective ways to reach others on the Internet. Since the inception of the World Wide Web, it has been almost solely responsible for the rise of the online seller. Giving others something to read while they’re at work or at home, which can enrich their lives in some way, has been responsible for more than a fair share of millionaires. The key is to know what people want to read on the Internet, and how to capture their attention.
To do that, you need to know how to write a good article. The articles may seem simple on the surface, but the science behind them is a bit more complicated. For starters, what makes for good print reading doesn’t necessarily get the job done on a computer screen. Long literary articles on local personalities, professional athletes, and famous celebrities may be great for the magazine or book, but they don’t fill the right need online.
Attention spans are much shorter online. Generally, people don’t want to read more than 800 words in one sitting. If you can get quality material to the public in less time, then go for it. For many, 500 words is the sweet spot. But beyond that, your content shouldn’t be verbose. You have very little time to work with, so the things you reveal need to be doled out in a way that is easily accessible even to the passing reader. Get right to the heart of the matter and tell people what they want to know without getting too wrapped up in a long description.
Also, present the content in a way that is pleasing to the eye. If your article consists of a single 500-word paragraph, you are likely to turn off a lot of people. However, take that same article and break it into multiple paragraphs, and the same people who are clicking away from you will likely stop and see what you have to say.
The secret ingredient that all your articles should consist of is passion. Without passion, you will look like a hacker with no talent. Someone who is just completing a word count to try and get the attention of search engines. While that may have bolstered your rankings in the early stages of article marketing, search engines have gone much further in their selection criteria for top pages. To get that high ranking today, people will need to feel your passion for the topic, and they’ll need to know that you’re knowledgeable about whatever topic you’re trying to market. Give everything you have and you will get the best in return.
