Steps to writing a powerful article

How do you create an article that people want to read? How do you entice them into wanting more? It's not as difficult as you might think.

1. Determine the topic of your article.
   You will first need to decide what general subject want to write about. Will it be about cars, real estate, horses, e-commerce? Once you have a basic area, you will need to focus in on a more specific subject. There are several ways to do this and this lens will cover one specific way.
2. Research your market for the topic you have selected.
   Once you determine a topic, research your target market to determine a specific topic for your article. What specific questions are people asking, or what specific problems are they experiencing that you can help with?
   Perform a search online in your area of interest and see what they are talking about. You can also so a search for forums and blogs in your area of interest and see what is being discussed there.
   The easiest way to create an article that people find valuable is to actually answer questions that real people are asking.
3. Find the keywords used by the people of your target market.
   This step is important because it tells you how your target market is looking for answers to their questions. You will want to use these keywords in your article.
4. Brainstorm topics for your articles.
   Once you have the information from the previous steps, brainstorm some specific topics you can write about. This process is vital because it will help the creative juices begin to flow. Just begin writing down a bunch of words and phrases that relate to some of the problems people are experiencing, or questions they are asking. You can find a good book about brainstorming from the list below.
5. Create a Title for the Article
   Once you have a good list of topics based on the keywords, and problems/questions of your target market, create an effective article title that will get a reader's interest and entice them to read your article. Good titles include "How To" lists, "Top 10" lists, "Things to Avoid" lists, and many others.
6. Begin Writing
   Now that you have the topic, title, foundation and structure of your article, you can begin writing. Start on the body of the article first. If you have a "Top 10" type of article, then write a paragraph for each of the items in the top 10. Your paragraph should explain why for that item in at least 2 to 3 sentences.
7. Write the introduction of the article.
   Once you have written the entire body of the article, It will be easy to write the introduction. Remember, a basic article starts out with telling the reader what you are going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you just told them. After you have written the article, it should be easy to tell them what you just wrote about.
8. Write the conclusion of your article.
   This should be easy because you are re-capping what you just wrote about. If you are promoting a product or service, I find that leaving a question, or giving the reader a teaser of something more is very helpful. I know it isn't proper 'etiquitte' (etiquette), but it helps in leaving the reader wanting more.
9. Proofread your article
   Once you have written it, look it over for grammar, spelling, flow, and if it speaks to the level of your audience. Double check for factual accuracy. If you can, get someone else to read your article
10. Step away from the article
    Don't look at your article for at least 1 day.
    Step away and do something else.
11. Re-read your article and proofread again
    You'll be amazed at the way your article reads to you when you look at your article again after some time off. Make the appropriate changes and then you are ready to finish it. If you still aren't happy, repeat steps 9 and 10 again.
12. It's now time to create your resource box.
    The resource box is the place you want to direct the reader to a specific call to action, like signing up for your mailing list, calling you, sending them to your website, or buying a product or service. A good structure for the resource box is to state a problem and what they need to do to avoid it. If you have enough space, it is helpful to leave credentials about who you are, and why they should listen to you.
13. Let the world know about your article! You can find places to promote your article.