When addressing specialist subjects, many business writers can slip into the jargon of their trade. Where the target audience is known to be of like-minded professionals, this approach is often expected, lest you appear to be underestimating your readers’ intelligence. However, where a document is designed for more general consumption, it is important that it be accessible to all.

The one big faux-pas in article writing is abbreviations, well recognised within a certain field but unknown, or in alternative usage, in the wider world. Full descriptions should be used wherever possible. If this proves difficult due to word count, it is perfectly acceptable to ‘introduce’ an abbreviation at the first use of the phrase; ‘sites looking to achieve Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)’. Hereafter, you can use SEO as shorthand. When forming this introduction, it is crucial to use capital letters on each part of the phrase and bracket out the abbreviation, also in capitals, for clarity.

Another alternative, if using a phrase sparsely, is to provide a short definition on the first usage; ‘the process of search engine optimisation, improving a site’s ranking in search engine result, begins…’.

Implementing these simple rules will ensure your articles are accessible and easily understood by more potential clients.

Talk to Write My Site if you would like to explore business blogging, article marketing or web content. All work is covered by our Quality Guarantee to ensure you’re 100% satisfied with your content.

When you first sit down to write an article, it can be a daunting task. Here are Write My Site’s top tips for writing an article that grabs attention.

Make a list – Bullet point all the ideas you would ideally like to cover in your article. Do they fit together as a set? Are there any duplications? Which points are essential and which can you remove?

Take some time – Once you’ve sorted your list, take some time out. Focus on something else while the ideas germinate. When you sit down to write the article, you’ll feel calmer and more prepared.

Don’t force it – Write for as long as the words flow. If you hit a wall, don’t fight it.  Change task, maybe go for a walk - you’ll come back refreshed and ready to jump back into the fray.

Don’t censor yourself – On the first pass, don’t edit your own writing. Trust your ideas and abilities and express them in the most comfortable way to you. This will eventually lead to a more natural and personable article.

Proof read carefully – Of course the flip side of this is the need for a number of revisits to edit and correct your article. This gives you the opportunity to refine and crystallise your concepts, while ensuring you put your points across.

Talk to Write My Site if you would like to explore business blogging, article marketing or web content. All work is covered by our Quality Guarantee to ensure you’re 100% satisfied with your content.

When it comes to writing an article for web publication, structure is king. It allows you to outline your key ideas and creates an obvious path for the reader to follow you down as you expand upon your introduction. Follow our bulletpoint guide for succinct, effective article writing.

The basic structure when writing an article is simple:

• Your introduction should outline the following paragraphs and any through-line of the article you’re writing. You want to grab your reader’s attention right away, so don’t be afraid to open with a potentially controversial statement or leading question.

• The body of your article will then expand upon these points each in turn. There should be no more than one point per paragraph and each should meld seamlessly into the next, which will enable your reader to follow the train of thought more clearly.

• Your summary will draw these points together and bring out any conclusions to be drawn from them. This is the time to answer any leading questions raised in your introduction – don’t leave your audience hanging or confused as to your intentions.

• It has often been said that a good article shares many attributes with a strong public address – it should have a carefully considered tone, flow logically and fit within the allotted time frame. This comparison can be taken a step further – an acid test is to read aloud your article once written. This will help you identify any cracks in the structure – points where the text is stilted or unclear. If the article works in speech, then you know the writing is sound!

To experience the full range of benefits that article writing can bring, take a look at Write My Site’s unusual article marketing service.