Article Writing – Cash in on How-to Articles

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Teaching articles or how-to articles, often called “service” articles in the newspaper and print worlds and “tutorials” on the Web, are hugely popular.

Let’s look at some ways in which you can cash in on the hunger for practical information with your articles.

How-tos are popular, so what do you know how to do?

Once you start thinking about everything you know how to do, you’ll have a huge list. Perhaps you’re a keen golfer, and have many secrets and tips to share. You can write many articles to teach new golfers essential skills.

Or perhaps you’re a keen gardener. You grow prize-winning orchids, or vegetables. Again, you can write many articles to share your gardening expertise.

A tip: often you’re unconsciously competent, and don’t see your skills as anything special. Keep a notebook in your pocket, and write down what you do during the course of the day. You’ll find that you have the skills for dozens of articles, when you realize exactly how much you do know.

One writer complained that she had nothing to teach, until she wrote down what she did each day. Among dozens of other things, she was helping her husband run a business, home-schooling their three children, raising goats, and making goat cheese for sale.

She had enough expertise to write how-to articles for years, without losing inspiration.

Choose a market for your article – the print media and the Web have different formats and styles

Before you start writing an article, think about where you’ll sell it. Are you selling to a print publication (a newspaper or magazine) or to a Web site?

Choose a publication to which you want to sell your article, and look at the format the publication uses. Even Web sites have formats for their articles. Your article must match the format in word length and style.

Write a working title and outline of your how-to

Before you start writing, create a working title – “How to Teach your Dog to Stay”, “Seven Steps to Mouth-watering Brownies”, “Build a Bathroom Cabinet in an Hour” etc, and create an outline. Your outline can be a simple list.

If you’re writing for print, send a query letter to your chosen market

For print articles, you’ll need to “query” and editor. Just send a short letter or email (if they accept email queries) describe your article.

If you’re writing a tutorial for a Web site, send the site owner or editor an email first. You’ll often find that Web sites want you to write a series of articles, rather than just one, so make some notes on additional articles you could write about this topic so you’re ready if you’re asked for more.

How-to articles are perfect advertising for your Web site

When you have a Web site, you need traffic. How-to articles and tutorials send you great traffic when you post these articles on article directories. These articles are free advertising for your site.

How-to articles are a wonderful way to build your writing career. Once you get into the swing of writing them, they’re fast and easy to write. Good luck with your how-tos.

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