Formulas for Writing Articles That Get Read

No matter why you're writing, it's your responsibility to make what you have to say interesting. If you don't, who will read it?

How to Engage Your Readers

Perhaps you've been asked to contribute to the company newsletter. Or maybe you need to write a promotional article to publicize yourself or your company or a new product line. Perhaps you write articles regularly for your clients.

Regardless of why you're writing, or how practiced you are, the question of how can to make your article interesting persists. How do you engage your readers? Interesting writing is all about having an interesting angle.

Even if your topic is something boring, say washing clothes, for example, your writing can be engaging. 

What You Need is a Good Angle

What aspect of washing clothes do you want to write about? Is there anything new or sexy in the world of washing clothes that people are interested in? Some ideas: how the new generation of detergents protects your clothing (or doesn't!); what are those chemicals doing to your clothes, anyway?  Or, how about an overview of the best five brands of detergent that are on the market?  Or, what about the latest in washing machine design, everything from stacked closet models to green machines that protect the environment. Each one of these ideas is an angle, a way to focus your writing and make it interesting.

Here are seven broad-based angles to get you thinking. They may overlap somewhat, but each angle really is truly distinct.

1. How To Do It

The "How To" Angle: How-to articles are always popular because people are always looking for information on how to accomplish certain tasks. A good how-to article leads the reader step-by-step through a process and usually provides resources where the reader can find more information.

To write a good, how-to articles, choose something you know about. Your personal expertise will make that subject interesting for readers.

2. The List Angle

The most basic angle, and by far, the easiest to write is the List. All you need is  an introductory paragraph or 2 and a list of points. Keep each point short, a sentence or 2 will suffice. Numbered lists are popular and you can use the total number in your title.  Examples: 12 Ways to Change Your Life; 25 Tips for Traveling by Air;  5 Reasons for Owning a Cat. 

3. The Straw Man

Another way to design an article is to take a weak premise and knock it down with a strong argument. This is a way of demonstrating the benefits of your alternative approach or product. If you want to explain the drawbacks of a new practice or method that's controversial, this is good way to do it.

Advertisers do it all the time: think of all the health magazines that have asked, Are High Protein Diets the Key to Healthy Weight Loss? Readers get excited because they're looking for new revelations about dieting. Contrary to their expectation, the article reveals, point by point, that high protein diets aren't that safe, and steer the reader back to choosing a sensible diet and getting exercise.

4. The Mini Case Study

If you can raise a provocative question, and then answer it, you've got yourself an article.  Make sure you include 3 or 4 specific examples in your answer. For an article entitled, Should You Quit Your Job and Go Freelance? you might begin by talking about how today's workforce is leaving the corporate world in search of independent employment-give some statistics to back up your claim. Once you've established the overall situation, provide several stories about real people who have left their jobs and found either success or failure working independently as a freelancer or consultant. Your stories should show all sides of the issue.

5. The Interview 

Interviewing is an easy way to learn new things. All you have to do is find a credible expert in your area of interest, and interview them. If your writing about buying property in your region or city, you could interview realtors or industry analysts. It's good to do some research ahead of time and have a series of questions in mind. It also helps to have a tape recorder. Once you have the interview, you can present the information either by writing it up in a traditional article format or simply laying out your interview in a Q&A format.

6. The Trend 

Trends go beyond what's in fashion, they refer to grand sweeps in a certain direction or  profession. When a trend is hot, dozens of articles appear covering the topic. From the latest political issue to the latest pet craze, people want to know what's going on in the culture. Trends -- their origins, benefits, and drawbacks.

7. The Study Findings

A study finding reports the results of a study or survey. To write one, you'll have to do a bit of research. You can always find recent studies online and use their findings to write an article. For examples, More and More Young Adults are Finding Love Online.