How to Write a Short Article Under 500 Words

Online publishers, ezine subscribers, and Web visitors want short, useful information. Use this "500-Word Article Formula" to create trusting, confident, and lifelong clients and customers.

How to Write this Short Article

1. Create a benefit-driven title so people will open your email. Put pizzazz into your title. Dare to be outrageous!

2. Create a snappy one to three-sentence introduction preceded by a hook. Include what's in it for your audience. How will your article improve their lives or business?

3. Know your article's purpose and specific audience and narrow your slant or focus just for them.

This article's audience includes business people who want to promote their product or service through a short article. It appeals to small business people, professionals, coaches, or consultants who have a book or service to sell. It appeals to Web site publishers and opt-in (no spam) ezine publishers who want free articles to attract new customers.

4. Write an outline with four to six major points you want to make before you write.

My outline and headings for this article include the seven ways to write this article:

1. Write for Your Targeted Market.
2. Write an Outline First
3. Write Each Paragraph to Support Your Outline Headings
4. Write An Outline With Four-Six Sub Points
5. Write Two- Four Sentences for Each Paragraph
6. Create Four-Six Paragraphs from Each Heading
7. Revise Copy Looking for Ways to Tighten Your Article

Remember each sentence must support the thesis statement, that's the one major benefit of how you will solve your reader's particular challenge. In this one, I give you 7 solutions for writing a short article.

Break down each paragraph into three standard-length sentences (15-17 words each). For drama, write one or two shorter sentences. One paragraph contains around 100 words. Five paragraphs of five sentences of 20 or less words will equal close to 500 words.

6. Create Four to Six Paragraphs From Your Outline

All sub points must also support the thesis. Write concise, compelling paragraphs that explain and give examples.

If you write over 100 words, tighten your copy. Leave out stories or analogies. Shorten examples. Cut redundant sentences, phrases, and words. Drop most "is" verb forms and "ands." They slow the copy and the reader down, a cardinal sin in writing. Bored readers will leave. Instead, use vital, action verbs and colorful nouns.

7. Revise Looking for Ways to Tighten Your Article

- Use bullets to clarify and shorten copy

- Reduce or eliminate quotes and anecdotes.

- Replace -ly adverbs and adjectives with picture or feeling power verbs and nouns.

- Let go of superfluous words like "that."

- Use one or two-syllable words for readable, direct copy.

For your conclusion, write only a sentence or two to either sum up or point out benefits. When you write under 500-word-articles of about one page, Online publishers, Web Masters and potential clients will read them, pass them on, and eventually buy from you.

Judy Cullins ©2004 All Rights Reserved.

Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "How to Market your Business on the Internet," and "Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says..." and "Business Tip of the Month" at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 155 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.

---

6 Best Places to Submit Your Articles

You know that writing articles is the best free way... Read More

Article Marketing: Why 2 URLs Equal Pure Champagne

If you are using articles to promote your business then... Read More

Article Writing: 10 Easy Ways To Generate Highly Read Article Ideas

If you're writer, I am sure sometimes you may have... Read More

4 Ways to Outsource Your Article Writing Needs

Not every web designer has the time ? or skills... Read More

Writing for the Internet - How to Market Yourself on the Web

Writing articles for online newsletters and websites can be a... Read More

Newbies Guide to Writing and Submitting Ezine Articles

How many times have you read the following? If you... Read More

1 Powerful Strategy To Craft Your Article For Maximum Readership

Do you know one of the most powerful marketing techniques... Read More

Building Websites with Articles

I've been blogging occasionally over the last two months about... Read More

Dont Miss These 10 Must Know Facts About Promoting Your Website with Article Writing

Most all ezine publishers need fresh content. Article writing is... Read More

Articles: How To Turbo Charge Traffic When Your Promotion Budget Is Tiny

Writing articles for your site and for the use of... Read More

How to Write Great Movie Reviews for Your Entertainment Website

If you have an entertainment website then you're always looking... Read More

Essential HTML Skills For Article Authors - 7 Tips

Many successful authors close their mind to learning HTML because... Read More

Get Traffic to Your Web Site with Articles

It is not my intention to give you a 5... Read More

Promoting Your Affiliate Programs with Articles

If you are not creating articles for your website and... Read More

Reprint Articles Hijacked by Text Link Ads - Great for Authors!

We all know that online publishers earn revenue from our... Read More

Increase Your Visitors By Writing Articles

If you want to increase the amount of visitors to... Read More

How Webmasters Can Become Experts and Write Expert Articles!

Write articles, be recognized as an expert, drive a surge... Read More

Your Writing Anxiety - 10 Ways to Bring Relief

Anxiety, apprehension, cold feet, consternation, dismay, distress, dread, fear, fright,... Read More

10 Article Writing Quirks

Much has been touted about the effectiveness of article writing... Read More

Articles and Internet Branding: 5 Steps to Success

Are you ready to become an internet marketing expert? Are... Read More

Checklist for Writing Articles That Get Read

When writing articles for publication, it is important that you... Read More

Visibility, Credibility and Position Through Articles and Celebrity Testimonials

A huge problem for many people who are working on... Read More

Using Anecdotes - Remember, People Like to Read About People

Okay, I admit it: I'm a keen people-watcher. (Most writers... Read More

Increasing Web Traffic With Original Articles

The name of the game as far as Internet marketing... Read More

Content and Articles to Improve Revenue

It is important for all webmasters to realize that if... Read More

Writing Articles - Two Aspects Of The Surge

Writing articles for publication on the Internet is, at the... Read More

Web Content Barn Blasted by Shotgun Software - Article Marketers

As we prepared to move our 12,000 article database from... Read More

Boost Your Expert Status, Write Articles

Writing an article is not an easy task. You have... Read More

1000 Ways to Improve Your Business

One of the best things you can do for your... Read More

7 Steps Toward Successful Article Writing

As you write the outline for your next article, there... Read More

Seecrets on Website Promotion: The Hard Truths on Writing Free-reprint Articles

This author started with a clean website and wrote 5... Read More

How To Write Effective And Unique Articles That Are Optimized for the Search Engines

It is a well known fact that writing, distributing and... Read More

How to Write Inspirational Articles for Newsletters

Inspirational articles were once limited to self-help and religious publications,... Read More