Quote:
Originally Posted by UKBDF
Hi,
Im just wondering what do you think makes good content?
How can you write decent content?
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Almost all content is there for a purpose - even articles - and is aimed at getting people to do something!
First of all it has to make them read it! to do that you need a provocative headline.
There are a number of forumulae which seem to work well..even when not trying to sell.
One good formula for most situations is
Headline compells you to read...
Problem
Agitate
Solution
Proof
What next
if you look hard - that is similar even to the structure of a shakesperian tragedy!
A headline should always "beg a question" - and get you to ask - I wonder what that is?
eg
The three mistakes
Five ways to..
How to ....
Why ....
Often including a qualifying condition helps to .
interest readership eg ...even if... .without... by at least....
eg
Five ways to motivate junior staff - without an extra penny on wages!
The problem - is a concise statement.
Agitate - gives examples of why the consequences of not attending to it are painful
Solve - explain what is new - how it is new and why it works - or the
five ideas
Proof - always give an example of success to do with your statement
What next..... tie up the lose ends....and then suggest an action.
A couple more points:
(a)
If you are trying to get them to go somewhere else eg to a site -
- then use the article to say WHAT needs tobe DONE and PROOF
- and say - for details of HOW to do it see HERE
(b)
Given a choice of pictures of things or people - always choose people - and give the picture a caption...
(b)
You must use subheadings to break up the text...which if they
are speedread - give a flavour of the article but still beg a question and force you to read.......
"days out like paintballing work - but not in situations like these:"
"but you cant try that with senior staff and heres why...."
"the problem of motivating trainees is now solved.....and it was this brilliant idea that fixed it..."
"in these three trials the results were outstanding"
Notice how words like "this" "these" "heres why" force you to read on.
If the content is a VERY long article - then use the
"tell em what you are going to tell em"
"tell em why they must read it all"
"tell em" (problem agitate solve)
"tell em what you just told them"
"tell em what to do next"
or you will lose people along the way.