Bright Ideas #101 – How to Write Articles at Light Speed

If you’ve been around the block a few times (or listened to my teleseminar with Nancy Juetten last week), you already know what a powerful marketing tool articles can be. You can…

Use them in email or print newsletters to stay in touch with clients…
Post them on your Website and/or blog as new content…
Submit them to online article databases to drive Website traffic …
Hand them out at networking events and workshops as bonuses…
Get ‘em published in newspapers or magazines for all the f*ree PR…
Even use bits of them in marketing copy…

The best part is…A single article can be used multiple times. And every entrepreneur needs marketing materials that do double, triple or even quadruple duty.

I like to write articles for my e-newsletter, post them to my Website (I don’t have a blog yet, or I’d put it there first instead), edit and submit them to article databases, use them as handouts at workshops and networking events; and have them form the basis of new info-products.

Now, you’re probably thinking… “Sounds great, but how am I going to find time to do all this writing?”

Good question. And one I hear all the time. So today I’m going to share a few tricks that make writing articles fast and painless.

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5 Ways to Write Articles at Light Speed
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1) Tips are Tops

The easiest articles to write are tips articles (much like this one). I call these Reader’s Digest style articles because they give you “5 reasons to…”, “10 steps for…” etc.

Everyone loves to read them ‘cuz they are quick and easy. And you’ll love writing them for the same reason.

Just pick a topic you know a lot about. Then write down 5-10 key things about it. Or the sequence of steps to doing it. Simple as that.

2) Read to Write
If you want fresh ideas to come out of your head, you have to put fresh ideas in.

I subscribe to a monthly marketing newsletter with CD, and read Entrepreneur plus 6 or 7 weekly e-newsletters on marketing, copywriting, business, investing, life coaching and health.

Whenever I run across an interesting idea or fascinating tidbit, I add it to my file (either electronic, or my physical one stuffed with torn out magazine pages). Anytime I’m out of ideas, I just whip out my trusty idea file, pick one, and start writing about it.

You can quote info from an article. Debate it. Discuss it in greater depth. Or talk about how you’ve applied the same thing in your life or business.

3) Step on Your Soapbox
I admit it. About half of my newsletter articles are the direct result of something that annoyed or frustrated me.

When I see someone making a bad or shortsighted business decision, I can’t help but want to talk about it. So I write an article.

The key here is to make sure you aren’t bitching or pointing fingers. Simply explain the mistake/problem and why it was a bad choice. Then give tips for fixing it.

Readers will appreciate the info, and you’ll feel better too.

4) Be the Answer Man (or Woman)
A super-simple way to come up with article ideas is to ask “What are my most common client questions?” Or, “What problems are many of my clients struggling with?”

Make a list of every question or problem you can think of. Or do a quick client survey via email, or surveymonkey.com, and find out firsthand.

Then write articles that answer these questions, or offer solutions to the problems. Voila!

5) Timing is Everything
You never know when the muse might strike. So always be prepared to jot down your ideas.

I have a small pad in my purse, a larger one in my car, and one on my nightstand for midnight epiphanies. And I often leave myself voice mails when I have an idea.

If I’m in my office and an article idea strikes, I immediately open a Word doc and start writing it down. I don’t worry at all about how it sounds, editing it, or finishing it. I just write until the idea peters out. Then I save it in my newsletter file.

Whenever I need an article, I search in the file find one that suits my fancy, and finish it off. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to do this than start from a blank page.

Once you start writing regularly, you’ll find it gets easier each day. So don’t keep putting it off. Use these tips to unleash your inner writer and start growing your business. Happy writing!

©2002-2006 Success Stream. All Rights Reserved. www.success-stream.com

Do you have a marketing, advertising or writing question you’d like to have answered? Email me and you might see the answer in a future edition of Bright Ideas.

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©2002-2006 Success Stream. All Rights Reserved. www.success-stream.com

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