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
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..Do you know one of the most powerful marketing techniques... Read More
Writing articles for publication on the Internet is, at the... Read More
You, too, can become a recognized expert in your specialized... Read More
It doesn't really matter who you are; you definitely know... Read More
Rejection is part of a writer's life. You must cope... Read More
Congratulations! You've written your first article (or possibly your 10th... Read More
Two important factors that play a part in the rankings... Read More
Online PR in the form of website and ezine article... Read More
Lately, there seems to be some confusion between Article Marketing... Read More
Thanks to recent information that leaked by Google within their... Read More
Your publicity dreams may include being featured in Forbes, Fortune,... Read More
Knowing exactly what an editor wants.Unfortunately, many new writers struggle... Read More
Are you looking for a better way to promote your... Read More
What should be in your article summary? It's otherwise known... Read More
When I was first advised to start writing articles, this... Read More
1. Write to one person.When you're writing your article picture... Read More
Get the Facts you need to start promoting you free... Read More
Marketing on a budget is tough. This is a universal... Read More
Most all ezine publishers need fresh content. Article writing is... Read More
We've all been there. We hear about how articles will... Read More
Looking for another no cost promotional tool? Your fee will... Read More
"Ten Tips" articles are the easiest piece to write because... Read More
"When you provide good information from which readers can learn... Read More
I've noticed a disturbing trend recently of articles suggesting that... Read More
As you write the outline for your next article, there... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..You want your business to be noticed by thousands daily.... Read More
Not doing what, you ask.Writing and submitting articles.Writing articles is... Read More
Queries are not written like business letters or emails; they... Read More
The five essential questions to be answered in your article... Read More
Write articles, be recognized as an expert, drive a surge... Read More
By avoiding these common mistakes, you will greatly improve your... Read More
A true test for many writers that will require your... Read More
MS: Shelley, you're an excellent person to talk to about... Read More
Gasp! I can hear it from the purists now: Matt... Read More
One of the best things you can do for your... Read More
Publishers and webmasters can spend massive amounts of time just... Read More
In order to sell your article must do three things:1.... Read More
Most authors are wasting their time producing dozens to hundreds... Read More
Original quotes, when used at the beginning or at the... Read More
Have you been writing and submitting your free reprint articles... Read More
The biggest challenge facing any online business today is how... Read More
One great benefit of article marketing is the generation of... Read More
Increase your ezine subscribers by submitting articles once or twice... Read More
When I started Ezine-In-A-Box I wanted to help people publish... Read More
Writing articles for publication on the Internet is, at the... Read More
The more you write, the larger your impact. If that's... Read More
This is Part 2 of a 2 part article -... Read More
Everyone that publishes a newsletter or ezine knows that the... Read More
By now most entrepreneurs realize that the most cost effective... Read More
People love to hear stories. They'll identify with what you... Read More
Article Writing |