How to Write Articles That Will Sell
We’re all looking for that “secret sauce.” Is there a magic recipe for selling our articles? Will our words win out over everyone else’s? If you’ve recently launched a blog or are selling content on a publishing platform, content marketing is a familiar term.
One of the most significant ingredients in content marketing is what you’re creating – the blog posts, articles, or other pieces of content. Here, we’re going to talk about how to write articles that sell. That’s the most significant ingredient in the content creation we’re going to discuss today.
After all, you want the articles you’re creating to generate sales.
Those who aren’t familiar with freelance writing, or the craft of writing for that matter, believe content writing is simple. These individuals assume content generation can occur within a few minutes – you’re only going to knock out a 500-word post or article, right? How difficult can that be?
If you’re writing an opinion piece, something you’re an expert in, or a piece that isn’t backed by evidence, then it’s possible to write these pieces quickly. Take this article, for example. After I hit period on that last sentence, the word count was at 184. What differentiates an article between one that is mediocre and one that sells, though?
The Key to Article Sales is Solid Research
If your readers always feel like you’re trying to sell them something, they’re going to click away. They’re there to:
- Learn something new.
- Solve a problem.
- Find entertainment.
- Read engaging content about a particular topic.
- Make a buying decision without feeling pressured.
Write valuable articles that engage your audience and entice them to want to come back for more information. Yes, your articles should contain keywords for SEO purposes. However, it’s even more important for your articles to contain solid research.
What Does That Mean?
Are you tackling controversial or scholarly topics? If so, look up high-value data, statistics, and evidence-based resources to include in your articles. You can use the statistics you find on the web at websites like the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, for example, if you’re writing about salary expectations for a college student earning the master’s degree in engineering.
How Do You Know You’re Presenting Solid Research?
Look at the webpage you’re referencing the material you’re researching. Take Wikipedia, for example. The main reason this website isn’t considered a “trusted” resource is that anyone can edit the entries. Yes, it does have a .org ending on its URL indicating that it’s a non-profit.
However, not all .org URL websites mean they’re ones you should use as a reputable resource.
Instead, look at the content as well as the URL. For example, you likely can trust URLs ending in .gov and .edu because those are government and educational websites. Look closely at the content being published on the .edu site, though.
Is it a personal website about education with a .edu ending? For example, students may be running website pages that aren’t monitored by the educational facility. So, be sure to scrutinize the website.
The timeline of the data you’re presenting must also be taken into account. If you’re present outdated information, it’s not solid research. Look at current topics, like the most recent news in your Google results, for example, and publish those in your article.
Otherwise, your work won’t be considered credible. For example, if you’re writing an article about how younger generations aren’t watching the news on television, but are still interested in knowing what’s happening throughout the world, you must find the most recent news article citing this development.
Keep Researching!
Even if you’re an expert on a topic, it’s still necessary to conduct research. Taking this step is beneficial for three reasons:
- You’ll be developing a further understanding of your topic.
- It allows you to dive deeper into understanding how everyone is discussing your topic.
- If anyone is asking questions about your topic, you’ll find them during your research.
Conducting this research will also help you with collecting ideas. Before you begin the writing process, this is an essential step in helping present yourself as an expert. When your readers trust your articles, they’ll share them more often.
During this research, it’s easier to identify resource material, as well as high-quality articles and influential writers to link to in your article. In doing so, you’re providing critical references for your audience to use when they’re attempting to gather more information when they’re trying to solve a problem or make a decision. Ultimately, your goal is to help your readers find value.
Final Thoughts
We all know anyone can put together pieces of content and publish them on the Internet. You can stand out by publishing high-quality articles that sell by using solid research. These articles should include reliable and valuable resources. Include information that helps your audience solve a problem, make a decision, or learn something new without feeling pressured into buying anything.