Do you know something that might be of interest to others?  Do you have a specialty that you would like to share or teach?

If you do, you have the stuff great articles are made of and captivate and audience.

Respected authors recommend that when starting out as a writer, you should write about what you know.  Just as a child has to learn to crawl before it can walk, so a writer has to get experience in his craft.

As a content writer, here’s a few tips I’ve learned along the way.

1. If you’re not sure what to write about, think about your job, your interests, and hobbies. These are usually the things you know a lot about and are passionate about. When you write about them your passion will shine through.
2. Once you venture outside your comfort zone, thoroughly research the topic you want to write about. You need to know the facts. Nothing destroys your credibility as a writer more than presenting an article with incorrect or outdated information.
3. A great title is so important. You need to make your article easy to find for people who search the web for information. A suitable title will tickle curiosity. The introduction of your article should consist of a summary of what the reader of your article can expect.
4. Remember SEO content. SEO content are keyword phrases that search engines pick up on. These keyword phrases should be pertaining to the subject of your article and repeated a few times in the body of your article. Don’t pepper your article with keywords though, remember that you are directing yourself in the first place to a reader, not a search engine.
5. Read your work, preferably out loud so you can hear the flow of the sentences.  Pay attention to punctuation. Finally, spell check your work and read it again. A spell checker may pick up on most of the mistakes, but not all of them. When in doubt, Grammarly can help. Not only will Grammarly help with spell checking your document, the program pays attention to good grammar and can be used as a plagiarism checker.

Do you have any content writing secrets? If so, share the love below.

The post The 5 Secrets of a Great Article appeared first on Crowd Content - Blog.

It’s quite different for newer writers. Writing emails and blogs is not the same as article writing, and when a client gives a less than favorable review, new writers might feel discouraged.

Here’s how to make the most of a bad review.

It’s Not You, It’s …

In many instances, a bad review is not your fault. Some people are hard to please. They post a title for a one star writer, but expect the expertise of a four star writer.

The guidelines might not have been very clear. Some clients specify a professional, friendly or humorous tone for their article or blog post, while others leave writers guessing how to approach the subject.

Talk, Don’t Write

In creative writing, the rule “show don’t tell” applies, but articles have their own set of rules. When you find yourself stuck finding the right tone, imagine talking to a friend about the subject.

Most people don’t have any problem talking about something. They don’t think, they just launch into a conversation.

Apply the same rule when writing, don’t write – talk. Imagine a family member or friend is sitting next to you and tell him about a city, a work of art, or a kitchen appliance.

Take Your Time

Writers are known to specialize in procrastinating. Many frown upon this, but procrastinating is often a good thing.

Sitting in front of your computer, waiting for inspiration to strike, can be a waste of time. If all you do is stare or your keyboard or screen, get up and forget about writing.

Go do the dishes, feed the pets, or go for a walk. Chances are, when you’re no longer thinking about writing, the right words will just come to you.

You Can Do It

Many writers shy away from challenging subjects and prefer to stay in their comfort zone. Yet trying something new can be an educational and rewarding experience.

If it works out, great, if not, at least you tried. The key is to try again, and again. Few great works were achieved with a first attempt.

The key, as with everything, is perseverance.

Don’t let a bad review put you off from trying again and again. What wasn’t good for the goose might be good for the gander.

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