Writing the Perfect 'How-To' Article

[Rigmonkey]

Anybody who might be considering a career in writing will inevitably look towards web content as a work stream and one of the biggest markets is the world of instructional 'how-to' articles. A 'how-to' article gives the reader a step-by-step guide on how to complete a task and the perfect piece will comprise of the following characteristics:

• An engaging first line that gives a benefit to the reader. If you are writing an article about 'How to Weed a Garden'. you might wish to start with something like "Encourage active flower growth and enjoy the experience of sitting outside in the perfect environment by weeding your garden on a regular basis".
• Use your opening paragraph to introduce the piece. Explain the problems that a garden full of weeds might present and continue to list benefits to make the task more appealing. Don't fill up word space with bland comments such as "you will not need any special tools to complete this task". Keep it snappy, punchy and packed with strong content.
• Write down a list of all the tools and materials you will need and put them beneath the opening paragraph. The list format makes it easier for the reader organise their task. Use bullet point to make them stand out.
• Break down the task into bite-sized chunks with a heading for each part. Number each step and keep each one related to a particular phase of the task. Describe each step in simple detail, using active words at the start of each sentence to force the reader into taking action.
• Try to use at least 5 steps on each article and treat the piece as a 'walkthrough' where the reader can assess those steps and follow the task through to the end with ease.
• Avoid passive voice use to retain authority.

Any writers who might be considering 'how-to' articles can drop me a PM and I'll happily send over some samples.

[IM Today]

Instructional articles are great for building authority websites. The likes of Ehow and doityourself.com had the market cornered for ages but targetted websites that explain tasks in detail seem to be making a big comeback. If you stick to a particular niche, it's not that difficult to attract a following. My advice is to get your articles written by experts instead of writers. Although the don't read as well, you can always pay to get them edited. The result is superior work that is factually correct and reliable. People just seem to like that kind of thing!