People love to hear stories. They'll identify with what you have to say much more easily if you tell them an anecdote that relates to your subject matter.
The danger in using this method is that you can lose your way. Interminable, zig-zagging stories are just as boring in print as they are in real life! Keep your story under control, and it will speak to your reader.
THE RECIPE
1. Choose your subject
2. Tell your story
3. Identify the problem
4. Offer a solution
5. Draw a conclusion or call to action
6. Give your article a catchy title
7. Decide on the length. (Most ezines like articles of around 500 - 800 words.)
THE FINISHED ARTICLE
Title: From Chaos To Contentment: The Pocket Organizer
Like most people, I'm fighting a constant battle to stay organized. I have a range of clients both online and offline and projects due at different times. I'm surrounded by to-do lists, stacks of print-outs, address books, phone lists and folders. Finding something quickly is more of a challenge every day.
I was beginning to despair of ever clearing the decks - or even seeing a glimpse of the deck! Then I stumbled across a solution. Browsing around an electronics store looking for a label-maker, I walked past a display of Palm products. The Palm Zire 71 caught my eye immediately (okay, I'm a sucker for a nice-looking piece of electronic gadgetry). There it was, in an attractive blue casing with a bright, colorful screen... begging me to play!
So I played.
After ten minutes I was hooked. Yeah, I know... all of you Palm devotees are yawning and muttering: "Where has she been the last few years?" - but hey, I had one of the early Palm Pilots. The screen was hard to read and the graffiti option didn't work too well. I went back to notebooks and a rolodex.
This one was totally different. It won me in no time at all. I wandered out of the store to "think about it" - and was back within fifteen minutes handing over my credit card.
How ever did I manage without it? Now I have - all in one pocket-size organizer - a date book that stretches *decades* forward and back from today's date, an address book with customizable lists, an expense record, a calculator, a memo pad, a note pad, a to-do list, a world clock... and this little beauty even has a built-in camera. (With an expansion card it could also be an MP3 player.) I've tossed six different items out of my handbag and replaced them with just the Palm. Bliss. (Oh, and did I mention I can sit it in the accompanying cradle and back up everything to my computer?)
Don't worry, this is not an advertisement for Palm products! I'm sure there are other organizers that do all this and more. (You can now get phones that do it all, come to think of it.) The point is, since I don't work in the corporate environment, I just hadn't realized what timesavers these all-in-one products can be. Now, wherever I go I have an incredible amount of information at my fingertips. I don't sort through various folders and files in search of contact information. Heck, I don't even have to carry family snaps around in my wallet - they're all stored in the Palm!
The lesson? There are several. One: personal organizers are not just for so-called "business professionals". They can streamline anyone's life. Two: If you're losing time (and patience) because you're not organized, take the time to sit down and see what can be done. Look for a method that is easy to use and combines a number of functions. Three: browsing through electronic gadgetry is not only fun - it pays off!
=== Analysis Of The Completed Article ===
The Subject: Personal organization
The Story: How a pocket-sized organizer changed my life
The Problem: Too many diverse and unwieldy systems to store information
The Solution: A pocket-sized electronic organizer
Call to Action: Analyze your needs - choose an easy, effective method to get organized
A Catchy Title: "From Chaos to Contentment: The Pocket Organizer". The alliteration of "Chaos" and "Contentment" sounds good; the first part of the title summarizes the rewards, and the inclusion of "The Pocket Organizer" signals the subject matter.
Word Length: The finished article is 511 words: a good length for most ezines (yours or someone else's). You need to be strict with yourself here. If your article is too long, CUT IT!
Copyright 2004 Margaret McAlister
About The Author
Marg McAlister's tips on writing are to the point and popular. To write great web copy, sales letters and articles, don't miss her ezine: the Web Writing Tipsheet! You'll find this and other top advice at www.writing-for-success-online.com
non-toxic cleaning company Winnetka ..This free way to promote or publicize your book or... Read More
Been reading up on SEO? If so, you know that... Read More
As you write the outline for your next article, there... Read More
The goal of free publicity is to get your name... Read More
Sharing knowledge on the web can be a very powerful... Read More
1. Write to one person.When you're writing your article picture... Read More
Take a look around the Web and you'll find thousands... Read More
Hey! Who's that I see, typing feverishly as brilliant ideas... Read More
A simple technique to increase web site traffic is using... Read More
A great way for self employed professionals to enhance their... Read More
You say, I can't write an article, I have no... Read More
Articles are a fantastic source of links and additional traffic... Read More
Ever read one of those web articles written by an... Read More
A ghostwriter, as one may think is not a writer... Read More
There are many different ways to improve link popularity for... Read More
Proven and Exceptional Click-Through ResultsTesting has proven again and again... Read More
I've been involved in publishing for over a decade now... Read More
All writers aspire to recognition, but are we dedicated? Ambition... Read More
Writing articles, and promoting them for publication, is one of... Read More
There is probably no easier way of earning extra money... Read More
Most Internet marketers worth their salt know how effective articles... Read More
Free publicity can help to spread the word about your... Read More
Writers have one basic need -- readers. We all want... Read More
If you are using articles to promote your business then... Read More
People love to hear stories. They'll identify with what you... Read More
experienced cleaning professionals Glencoe ..Submitting Articles for redistribution is the best way to get... Read More
There's one key rule that every writer should understand before... Read More
Don't let overwhelm hold you back- follow this expert advice... Read More
By now you probably understand how important writing for trade... Read More
Everyone focuses their web marketing efforts on search engines, and... Read More
In today's busy world, whether your business is large or... Read More
Strategically developing online content helps to ensure a small-business owner's... Read More
Publishers and webmasters can spend massive amounts of time just... Read More
As a follow up to my previous article on the... Read More
The traditional print media newsletter is still useful even in... Read More
Here's a really simple way... to promote your online business... Read More
The Whole reason you write those articles is so you... Read More
A ghostwriter, as one may think is not a writer... Read More
Ever read one of those web articles written by an... Read More
Getting people to join your company can be hard work.... Read More
I've noticed a disturbing trend recently of articles suggesting that... Read More
Looking to build your freelance writing career but don't know... Read More
One of the best things you can do for your... Read More
Rejection is part of a writer's life. You must cope... Read More
It is amazing to see how much we all still... Read More
It's stunning sometimes how far article marketing has come over... Read More
As we prepared to move our 12,000 article database from... Read More
Some six weeks ago, I began writing and submitting articles... Read More
A revolutionary marketing device that I call article marketing I... Read More
Have you been writing and submitting your free reprint articles... Read More
Article Writing |