by Jocelyn Anne

With the wealth of content on the web these days (beyond human comprehension or imagination, I think), it becomes imperative to know the secrets and tricks to capturing a reader and making them your newest, biggest fan for life. If your title is boring, your paragraphs long and wordy, your sentence structure awkward, and your tone dry and dull, it doesn’t matter how ground-breaking, helpful or informative the content is. People aren’t going to bother reading it, or if they manage to start, they are highly unlikely to push through and take the effort to finish. If you’ve got something to say, you might as well take the extra time and make it written well! Follow these 4 easy steps to take your content from just “good” to “captivating.”

Content Gives You the Right to Write

You can no longer be “good” in terms of content, you have to be the highest superlative of that. Better than good, better than great. But what does that mean? You’ve gotta be unique. You’ve got to pull things from angles that people haven’t considered. New information. New ideas. You’ve got to help your reader. Whether that help is equivalent to entertaining or teaching, it doesn’t matter, but it does have to be useful. And if you don’t’ have good content, you don’t have the right to write. Bottom line, you can put all you want out there, but no one is going to read it. Why would they, when they can find better, newer, more helpful somewhere else with a click of the mouse?

The Title Buys You a Reader

If you want to share a recipe for a salad you just created, the title, “Try this New Green Salad” isn’t going to get you the number of readers you want. In fact, it may not give you any readers. You wanna know why? There are about 3 million (just checked that number, it’s true) other sites on Google alone that will take a reader to another boring content page about green salad. And really, you think I want to spend my precious time reading about another “green salad”? Not likely. I don’t care if it is green or new to you, it sounds boring and it sounds generic. If, on the other hand, you posted something titled “Wacky Green Veggie Salad with Candied Dates to Blow Your Mind,” I would probably click that just because it sounds entertaining, even if I wasn’t looking for a new salad recipe.

Your Conciseness Gets Your Reader to the End

If you want to get your reader to read your article from start to finish, you have to be concise and you have to be succinct. This is the age of instant gratification. We are willing to expend very little effort, and less willing to spend extra time to get something. You may have a lot to say, but break it up. Cut two entries into one. Shorten your paragraphs. Shorten your sentences. And, unless you’re writing a story, cut the flowery, descriptive language and just get the info out clearly.

Your Voice Brings the Reader Back

If you’ve got the content down, a winning title and solid, concise copy, then all you’ve left to master is your voice. Even in informational realms of content, people still appreciate a good voice. It doesn’t always have to be witty or sassy, a good voice can also mean authoritative and strong. A voice, though, is what will keep someone coming back for more. One good piece of content that proved useful but without a voice to create that intangible “pull” is just that: one good read that your reader will probably forget sooner or later. Lure ‘em back, hook and sinker. You just might find yourself a loyal reader for life.

Freelance writer Jocelyn Anne writes whenever and wherever she can. She primarily focuses on green and eco-friendly content and is currently working alongside Air-n-Water writing about eco-friendly uses for a portable air conditioner. (Image Credit: State Library and Archives of Florida)

Update: This product is being discontinued. Watch for news of more great products from TOP.

I’m always interested in reading books about writing, so I was pleased when Andy Hayes asked me to review Write Right Online. Andy’s a travel writer and the 30 page book shares what he has learned about online writing.

Who The Book Is For

This book is aimed firmly at the new online writer. In 18 short sections, Write Right Online takes you through everything you need to know about online writing. What I love about the book is that it is a model of simplicity – anyone can follow it – yet it somehow gives new writers information – and examples – they can take away and use to improve their style, their visibility and the reach of their content.

Best Feature

For me, the best feature is the checklist, which goes with the book. Each point on the checklist relates to a tip in the book, so you can easily refer to it if you need a refresher. Even experienced writers will benefit from pinning this checklist up on a notice board in their office, as we all need a reminder some time.

Summing Up

What’s great about this book is that you can read it very quickly and start applying the lessons immediately. If you’re a new writer and want to get it right first time, then £17 ($27)  is a small price to pay.

(Disclosure: I have not been paid for this review, though it does contain affiliate links.)