css Zen Garden

I hope I’m not the first to tell you that if you have a business, you need a blog, or at least a place to submit original articles (try ezinearticles.com). If I am the first, please take it to heart. People search the Web to read about issues that interest or concern them even if they are completely unfamiliar with whoever the author may be. You are reading my blog. Case in point.

But before you begin typing frantically about what you ate for lunch that gave you indigestion or how outraged you were when your spouse didn’t use a coaster on the authentic-wood side table, please heed my suggestions. It is imperative that you not only write these blogs or articles, but that you write to win over your audience. If there weren’t rules, work would simply be too much fun.

First, you must do your research. Whether you are writing about how perfect your service or product is for your audience or blogging a review about the movie you watched last night, you must know what you are talking about. If you’re bluffing, your readers will catch on and, most likely, will not return to read any more of your posts.

But take this lightly. Your research-paper writing days are probably long gone with the memories of college. Take five minutes. Maybe ten. Check out what other experts are writing about the subject, and gather multiple points of view. To establish yourself as an expert, you must be able to not only defend your theories and thoughts, but make a case for why your theories and thoughts are the best.

Remember: it’s okay to use other experts’ words, but you MUST directly attribute them in your writing.

Second, include hard facts. Your article or blog does not have to read as if it could make the front page of the Wall Street Journal. In fact, I advise against that (I’ll mention that in a second). But you do need to include a foundation for whatever you are presenting to your reader. If you’re writing about bubblegum flavors, mention bubblegum was invented in 1928 – and it was pink! Quirky, fun and something I’m sure everyone has wondered at least once in their life.

In short, no one really wants to read your babbles and coos. Maybe your mother, maybe not. Give your readers something they can take with them.

Third, write with your own voice. Let your audience hear you when they read your words. Throw in a “gnarly” or a bit of sarcasm – however your thoughts flow through your mind. (Advice: keep it clean). Again, if people want to read flat, no-attitude compositions, they’ll grab a newspaper. This is your chance to show your audience that not only do you know what you’re talking about, but you can keep their attention while you’re talking about it too. If you can master this, they’ll keep coming back.

Finally, in all things you do – especially writing articles and blogs – give your audience a call to action. They’ve read what you had to say, loved it and want more. But if they don’t know where to go from here, they’ll find someone else who guides them. Always include your Web site and e-mail addresses, Facebook and Twitter links and any other destinations that will keep them connecting with you over and over. This is the key: keep your audience depending on you. You depend on them.