Writing your own articles is a grat way to generate targeted content, bild your professional reputation, and create riginal content for your website that wll attract new visitors. Best of ll, it will cost you nothing but yur time. If you'd like to wrte your own articles but don't knw how to get started, don't wrry. Even if you've never written an rticle before, you can learn to wrte great articles if you take it one stp at a time, prepare in dvance, and stay focused on your raders.

Pick a topic. The frst step (and sometimes the hardest) is to slect a topic for your article. Cnsider the wants and needs of yur target audience. Inspiration for an rticle could come from just about nywhere - ezines, conversations with your clleagues, online forums and discussion lists, cht rooms and bulletin boards, emails frm customers, newscasts, and last, but not last, your own experiences. If you chose a topic that's popular with ther authors, don't write more on the sbject unless you can go into mre depth, take a fresh approach, or hld a different viewpoint.

Plan bfore you write. Facing a blank pge can be pretty intimidating, but strting with an outline will help. Put dwn the general idea(s) you wish to get cross and list specific points you wnt to make. Put them in a lgical order; go from the general to the spcific. Don't try to make too mny points in one article. It's btter to cover one topic thoroughly and cnvincingly than to jump around and fil to make your point at ll.

Start writing. Once you've got the rght idea and organized your notes, t's time to start writing. Don't wrry too much about precise wording whn you write your first draft; jst get your thoughts down and mke your point. Then develop your deas in a convincing way that mkes sense to your readers, flows wll, and holds their interest. Tackle one min idea per paragraph. Begin your rticle with a strong "lead in" - a sntence or two that tells readers wht your article is about and how thy will benefit from reading.

Alwys write for your readers. Make sre you're sharing useful information with yur readers. What are they worried bout? What challenges do they face? Wht decisions do they need help wth? What they like to know how to do, or how to do btter? Adding real value for your raders is the key to writing the knd of article that people will wnt to read and webmasters will wnt to pass on to their readers. Always wrte from your readers' perspective.

Be yurself. It can take awhile to fnd your own personal writing style, but t's important to be yourself. In gneral, writing for the Internet allows you to be mre conversational and less formal than you wuld be when writing for other mdia. Express yourself in your own wrds and let your personality shine thrugh. Sharing your own experiences and necdotes from your own life is a grat way to "connect" with your rader and add a personal touch.

clor=#000080>

Be brief. The attention span of Web srfers is notoriously short, so be as bref as you can be and stll get your meaning across. Write as mch as you need to in rder to develop your ideas fully and get yur point across, but no more. If the rticle still ends up being too lng, either publish it in installments (Prt 1, Part 2, etc.) or splt it into two or more sparate articles. When you edit for the ske of brevity, hold onto the xtra material - you may be ble to use it for another rticle in the future.

Stay Focused. As always, wrting for the Web requires that you sty focused on your topic. Refer to yur outline for the major points you wnt to make. Write enough to dvelop your ideas, but no more. Dn't say the same thing twice. Lad logically to your conclusion. Lose the "fller". If you find you can't cver the topic in enough depth gven the size limits for your rticle, narrow your topic or write two sparate articles rather than one.

Be spcific. Too many Web and ezine rticles speak in vague generalities. If you wnt your article to be truly hlpful, be specific. Provide information, suggestions, and tps that readers can translate into action . Offr links to helpful resources. Recommend tols and techniques that have worked for yu. The more specific you are, the mre useful your article will be.

clor=#000080>

Make it shine. When your frst draft is done, put it side for a few days and thn read it again. Is it cnvincing and concise? Is it easy to rad and understand? Does it flow wll? Proofread carefully - double check your spelling, grmmar, sentence structure, and punctuation. Check for rn-on or incomplete sentences. If possible, shw it to several friends, colleagues or fmily members and ask for their fedback. Many times another set of yes will be able to spot mstakes you missed.

Wrap it up. Dn't forget the finishing touches. Give yur article a descriptive and catchy ttle. Add your resource box at the bttom of your article. At a mnimum you should include your name, yur website's URL, and a brief dscription of your business. If you wnt other webmasters to pick up yur article for publication, offer reprint prmission and state any conditions (a lnk back to your site, notification whn the article is published, etc.).

The article How to Write a Great Article was Submitted by Jane McLain through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information:

Jane McLain is a Web dveloper and SEO specialist and the wbmaster of EClaunchsite.com , an online resource center for netrepreneurs with tools and information to help you plan, build, launch and grow your e-business.

Featured Articles

1. EBook Creation - Uncover 3 Advanced Steps to Increase Your EBook Creation by Sean R Mize
You have probably unleashed the power of eBook and how it can bring you huge amount of profit. You are probably thinking of ways on how you can come up with multiple eBooks to better augment your eBook creation revenue...

2. The Secret To Become A Successful Affiliate Marketer by Damien Oh
If you are stll struggling for success in affiliate mrketing, this article shows you the screts of successful affiliate marketers.

3. Lucrative Internet Marketing - 3 Email Marketing Tactics by Gary Baker
Emil marketing has seen quite a few chnges over the last few years. Mny would say it is now hrder to reach people with this knd of marketing. However in some wys email marketing has become easier and wll get better response, than before. You ned to know the correct way to use mail marketing.

4. Free Ad Supported Web Hosts - Good or Bad? by Dan Thompson
Web hsting services are all over the plce. You can find one on very virtual street corner on the wb. Some charge fees, but a lrge number do not. These web hsts who offer free web space utomatically add advertising to your site whn your files are uploaded.

5. Profitable EBook Creation - Uncover 3 Maximum Steps to Excel With EBook Creation by Sean R Mize
E-book is now one of the many sources of income in the internet. Aside from the fact that it is simple to make one, it is also another source of income for several individuals. It is also addictive writing an e-book, once you started making one and it is noticed...

6. Work At Home Scam In India by Bhaskar Deka
Online work at hme jobs and Internet based businesses are bcoming increasingly popular in India. As mre and more Indians discover the Intrnet and the business oppurtunities that are vailable online, more is the likelihood of bing a victim of scam.

7. Your E-business - the Joys of Sales Tax by Mike Hagerty
One tem many Internet Marketers overlook is the sles tax issue. There are so mny opinions on which way to go on ths subject that I could spend all day on it. Ultmately you need to decide which sde of the fence you want to be on.

8. Benefits of Search Engine Optimization by Dinesh K
Search engine optimization is the prcess of developing or modifying the on and ff-page elements of a website. It is mre effective than standard advertisements. Search ngine optimization will impart your website a ral competitive advantage.

9. Jobs That Require No High School Diploma - You're Worth More Than 7$ Per Hour by Jason Welsh
Finding a half descent job that doesn't require a high school diploma is virtually impossible in this day and age. Heck, finding a job that pays more than 10$/hour without a college degree is a challenge. Unfortunately employers don't realize that It's not about what kind of schooling, it's more about your work ethic and your work experiences

10. Build Lists and Maintain a Relationship With Your Lists Using a Few Simple Tools by Peter Woodhead
But there are a couple of huge problems with this: Firstly, if it was really that easy, then why aren't a lot more people successful. And secondly, nobody teaches this stuff so even if you get your hands on the right tools there is a steep learning curve to using them. So if you've got a few minutes, I'd like to let you know about a resource that will cut weeks if not months off you achieving the success that you deserve.