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Article Writing

If you’re looking for the highest quality traffic, few things can beat article marketing in that arena. However, the potential issue at hand concerns writing bad articles because if you do, then they won’t be read – plus your conversions will be much lower. The majority of people cannot write good articles on their own. You’ll find that a lot of writers have to work a bit harder at this than others. Thankfully it is possible to learn how to write articles. You never know, maybe you’ll turn-out to be the greatest article writer there ever was. Here are some proven techniques you can use with success.

Take the time to do quality research before you begin writing. Maybe it’s not the most exciting thing to do, but it’s true for any kind of writing, not just articles. Great, so your research is all done, and now it’s time to write your outline before you actually begin the article. There’s an abundance of readily available information online, so research should really never be a problem. There really is almost no excuse for the inability to find what you need considering the vast resources online, and offline as well.

And you can simply learn as much as you need on your subject. Once you have amassed a working knowledge of your topic sit down to write. It is easier to write after learning something than it is to try to write as you are learning something.

Your introduction should be clear. The introduction does not have to be long. Ok, so this section is to introduce the topical area and touches on what will be revealed in the article. Yes, naturally some will take longer to accomplish this. You’ll see some articles in which the writer used very succinct sentences in the intro. The idea of the introduction is to draw the reader in and make them want to read the rest of your work. Some people do this best with simple sentences. Naturally, you’ll find writers who are more comfortable writing a quick story. With practice, you’ll discover your own preference. Dominating Google

Make an outline before you write – always. Inexperienced writers report this is extremely helpful. Simply write down the important points you want to make in the order that you want to make them. All you need at that point is the conclusion and introduction, and then your outline is created. You’ll see that the outline can keep you on course, plus it helps to keep you focused on the topic. Your article writing speed will also increase from this. It’s not a question if it works, articles do work with targeted traffic generation. Unfortunately if your articles are not well written, you run the risk of alienating your visitors and turning off potential buyers before they know what you have to offer. Learning how to write articles well is just good business sense. As you know, you’ll make more money and enjoy more of what you want.

Article writing is something that everyone thinks they can do. The truth is that writing a good article is hard work! There are a lot of steps that need to be taken to create a good article. Just consider the numbers of people who pay others to do their article writing for them. However – no need to be concerned if you have difficult with the expense. It’s very possible to improve your own writing with some time-tested, proven suggestions and tips. Article writing is, simply, one of those skills that every internet marketer needs to master. The ability to write a fundamentally content-rich article will go a long way to achieving online success. Here are several proven article writing lessons you can learn and put to use right away.

Ok, always keep in mind that online readers have really short attention spans. You’ll find that most just don’t care to read anything of any length. Your articles need not be, should not be, works of literary length. For article marketing purposes, you’ll want to keep it at about 400 words plus or minus – no more than 500. The danger with writing far above that amount is that their ADD will kick-in, and you’ll begin to lose their attention. You can write more, 700 words for example, but best to avoid that unless you’re very experienced and a good writer.

It should go without saying but here it is anyway: you should always take the time to make sure that your spelling and grammar are correct. At least run the utility that’s in most word processors. A typo or other simple mistake is forgiven, usually, but more than that you’ll have some problems with people taking you seriously. People will tend to avoid giving you their trust if you have difficulty with simple things like spelling, grammar, typos, etc. Sometimes breaking the rules of grammar is a good thing. So, really probably the best thing to do is just abide by the common rules for writing.

Always write an outline before you write anything. Inexperienced writers report this is extremely helpful. It doesn’t have to be highly formal, just write out the major topic, points you wish to make, and the order you want to present them. Then add the intro and conclusion, and then you’ll be finished. Experience will prove that the outline helps maintain your focus, and you won’t get stuck walking all over three counties. It can also speed up your writing process by quite a lot! Article marketing is a very good way to attract visitors to your websites and products. Unfortunately if your articles are not well written, you run the risk of alienating your visitors and turning off potential buyers before they know what you have to offer. Learning how to write articles well is just good business sense. If you do this, they will come – and you’ll be rewarded.

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Technorati Tags: Article Marketing, dominating google, google, terry bains

The word “mean” has many meanings. As a verb, it can indicate definition (Five means 5), significance (a smile means she’s happy), or intention (I didn’t mean to drop the cup).

In a mathematical context, “mean” is the same as “average”.

“Mean” can be used as an adjective for stinginess or miserliness.

When people say that someone is mean, it is usually because the person is intentionally cruel or hurtful.

Someone who is insensitive will hurt people by accident. Someone who is mean will hurt people deliberately.

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Technorati Tags: mean, the meaning of mean, Writing Tips

Some people like to read and others like to watch learning materials, so both are offered. The text version and the Flash version of the learning materials cover the exact same information, just present it in different ways. A person can study for the exam in the middle of the night or at high noon depending on their personal schedule and it usually takes up to two weeks to prepare although many people have gotten through it in much less time.

Since this is a self-paced learning tool, if a person is unsure of the presentation, repeating it causes no hassle to anyone. At the end of each presentation there is a self-quiz available to see if the person has mastered the material presented. It gives an in-depth overview of Google Analytics and gets into the AdWords Toolbox highlighting some of the tools every advertiser should be familiar with like the Keyword Tool and Traffic Estimator. It goes on through costs and billing, cost control, invoicing and tracking ad performance, ad visibility and finally reports. Targeting is then addressed with subtopics on search and contextual targeting, site targeting and language and location targeting.

It goes through account types, setup and structure, account navigation, organization and keywords, ad text and using different advertising formats. After getting familiar with the program, the second section covers how-to get started with AdWords. There is also a section on pricing and ranking and how it works. Google covers everything including link, editorial and image policies, trademarks, copyrights, Google’s invalid clicks policies and how invalid clicks are identified. Starting at the beginning, the introduction covers the AdWords basics including: the difference between Google and Google advertising, features and benefits.

It is designed to take someone who has absolutely no knowledge of AdWords and turn them into an expert. There are extensive training lessons that are both comprehensive and enlightening on everything from the basics through advanced optimization and usage. After enrolling in the program, individuals can begin preparing for the test by either watching or reading the Google advertising materials available online in the Google Learning Center. There are both text and multimedia lessons available leading up to a 100 word test prepared by Google. The Google Advertising Professional program, designed for managers and individuals administering multiple AdWords client accounts, is a comprehensive, step-by-step course designed to elevate candidates to the status of AdWords guru.

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Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the brave fireman, the damsel in distress, the strict schoolmistress. The best characters are those who evoke emotions within the reader – fear, admiration, affection, laughter, horror? If the writer fails to make us care about the characters, no matter how ingenious the plot, we will toss the story aside without a second thought.

Every character should be unique. There are no two people in this world exactly the same. Each of us has an individual personality; everything we do derives from the governing aspects of that personality. The following factors contribute to our uniqueness:

Names
Appearance
Possessions / props
Speech
Body language
Habits
Behaviour
Background
Major traits

These factors are best used in combination. For example, Charlie’s broken spectacles combine with his habit of tripping over things. Natasha’s boasting photographs of her new house combine with her loud voice that demands to be heard. A character who displays only one of these factors is nothing short of mundane.

Let’s look at these issues more closely.

1) Names

Everyone needs a name. Names identify who we are; they can be associated with status, be notorious, unusual, or nondescript. Some beginning writers struggle over naming their characters. Names often hold symbolic association. Pip in Great Expectations is like a seed growing through childhood to adulthood. Lemuel Gulliver is ‘gullible’ in his travels through Lillput, Laputa and beyond. A character should not be given the first name that pops into your head. It requires more thought than that.

2) Appearance

We do not remember every detail of someone’s appearance, but hone in to something that differentiates them from others. In Harry Potter, Ron Weesley’s distinguishable feature is his red hair. In Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, the title character has a large nose. Appearance can be used to reveal personality moreover. For example, someone with dirty fingernails, besides being unclean, is far from a perfectionist; they are neither fussy nor obsessive. The relationship between appearance and reality has always fascinated authors. Appearances can be used to deceive after all. Frankenstein’s monster is inhumanly ugly and yet his natural impulses are benevolent. Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray is stunningly beautiful in everything but his soul, his reality, which is as foul as the rotting canvas hidden out of sight.

3) Possessions and props

Appearance ties in closely with personal possessions (or props). Everyone has possessions, including their homes, clothes, books, and cars. Even a homeless beggar views the street corner on which he sleeps as his own. Let’s look at more examples. Margaret never leaves the house without her bulging handbag. Charlie wears a pair of broken spectacles fastened together with sticky tape. Natasha goes nowhere without a photograph album containing pictures of her new five-bedroom house. Such concrete objects reveal aspects of character. Margaret carries her handbag, stuffed with everything she could ever need, because she feels insecure without it. Charlie is so clumsy that he doesn’t bother to buy a new pair of spectacles for he will only sit on them again. Natasha’s photographs scream out, “I am a shameless show-off!”

4) Speech

Speech evokes personality, both what is said, the content, and the way in which it is said, the manner. Nick is arrogant; his speech is long, loud, and self-interested. Emma’s occasional social shyness, on the other hand, is mirrored in her short speeches. Sometimes she only utters a monosyllable in reply to a prying question. Content and manner, moreover, reflect social class. A university lecturer will use different language than a pub barmaid (even if talking about the same subject.) Also note that people have their own set of speech idioms: Nick waffles, “etc, etc” at the end of each sentence; Emma utters, “don’t you think” to engage her listener’s approval.

5) Body language

Body language falls into two categories: voluntary and involuntary. We shake our head when we mean to say “no,” for example; we smile when we mean to be friendly. Voluntary body language, conversely, may be used to deceive. Sophie laughs loudly at her boss’s jokes even though they bore her to tears. Involuntary gestures are difficult to feign, however, as we tend not to realise we are making them. Sally rubs her left earlobe when she is nervous. Daniel folds his arms across his chest when he feels defensive.

6) Habits

No one is perfect; we all have habits (sometimes very irritating habits!) Mike blinks his eyes excessively. Anne clears her throat every five minutes. Adam picks invisible bits of fluff off his jacket sleeves obsessively. Aunt Hettie pushes her 50 year old false teeth in place, each time they slip from her gums, with a tongue as red as a slab of raw liver. Yuk! Habits can be revolting, irritating, amusing or endearing. Whatever they are, they make characters memorable.

7) Behaviour

Most of us have behavioural patterns such as working long hours, over-eating, spending too much money, heavy drinking, or taking an evening walk at 8:30 precisely. Behaviour under stress reveals a great deal about a character’s personality. Alan’s wife dies unexpectedly, and yet he continues his usual daily routines – he is pretending that nothing has changed, that she will be home for dinner as usual. Even under extreme stress, however, behaviour should remain consistent. For example, Sue never drinks alcohol. It would be out of character for her to turn to alcohol when she loses her job. Instead she turns to something that is consistent with her previous behaviour – her voluntary work at the local hospital perhaps. Even the most spontaneous of individuals is consistent in his/her spontaneity.

Background

No one just ‘exists’ as they are. We become what we are because of our background and past experiences. Our history shapes our thoughts, actions and motivations. Sam’s mother died when she was eleven years old. As an adult she is far more independent than her friend Jane who was mollycoddled by a protective mother. Luke is scared of animals because, as a small child, a stray dog viciously attacked him. Daniel is overly ambitious because his older brother ridiculed him. Background is especially important when creating believable ‘villains’. Very few people are innately evil. Serial killers crave power over another person’s life; it makes them feel important to dictate who can and cannot live. Why do they seek this perverse power? Maybe they were abused and beaten as helpless children. That does not justify their crimes in our minds, but it justifies them in their minds. But how do we explain why not all abused children grow up to be abusers? Some grow up to be excellent parents. Clearly, background alone doesn’t make a person what they are. It is their major psychological trait, because it dictates how they interpret their background, which makes them what they are.

9) Major trait

All characters have a major trait that dictates their personality and motivates their actions. Greed. Fear. Kindness. Guilt. Envy. Ambition. Worry. Creativity. Obsession. Kate is ruled by kindness and always puts others first. Steve is ruled by arrogance and always puts himself first. A ruling trait reveals itself in action and speech. How would arrogant Steve act in a crowded street? He would forge ahead single-mindedly, pushing everyone out of his way. How would Kate act in the same situation? She would allow herself to be pushed aside by the likes of Steve. Major trait affects every aspect of a person’s life. Kate never moved away to university with her friends, although she was bright enough to, because she felt it her duty to stay at home with her widowed mother. No
one is all-perfect however. Kate worries excessively, despite her kind-heartedness, about anything and everything. No one is all-imperfect either. Steve has a wonderful sense of humour when he is not being arrogant. Even your most beloved heroes and heroines have faults and weaknesses.
Technorati Tags: writing, fiction, characterization

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