Top 10 Article Generator

© Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com TOP 10 ARTICLE GENERATOR Linda Dessau You Talk, I’ll Write2 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com introdINTRODuctionCTIONThanks for joining me! I’m so glad you’ve decided to tap into the powerful strategy of article marketing to attract traffic to your web site and grow your business. The premise behind article marketing is that you distribute your articles for free, either online, in your newsletter or both. In exchange, you share some promotional information about your busineess either in another section of your newsletter or in an author resource box at the bottom of your article.Think of the potential! If your readers like what you have to say and see that you know how to solve their problems, they’re left feeling:Encouraged that they’ve found a solution to their problemGrateful that you shared this valuable information (and for free!)Curious about the products and services you offerImpressed with what you’ve put togetherEager to access (and buy) more of your great informationOne of the easiest and most effective types of articles to write is the Top 10 article. The followwin 10-step process will help you create your own article, and then you can come back and write a new one whenever you like. Are you ready to get started? Let’s go!Happy writing,Linda © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com 1. Personalize 2. Solve 3. Focus 4. Brainstorm 5. Select 6. Refine 7. Expand 8. Describe 9. Summarize 10. Call to Action10 Steps to a Top 10 Article© Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step One – PersonalizeCreate the persona of one specific member of your target market (e.g., Cindy Morus, the Money Mender, uses “Debting Debbie”). If you can imagine that you are writing directly to that one person, it will make all of the readers in your target market feel that you understand their unique needs. Describe that person now, in as much detail as possible:© Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Two – SolveConsider why this person is searching for help on the Internet today. Be careful of using coaching terms or jargon such as, “How can I break through my barriers?” if what’s really worrying your target market is, “How can I find a job that I love?” Think about how they might describe their problem to a friend. Describe the problem this article will solve for your reader: © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Three – Focus (the Article Topic Generator)Do you struggle with ideas when you’re faced with a blank page? Here are some ways to convert the information you come across every single day into article topics that will address the challenges your readers are facing:GoodD news stories Everyone loves hearing good news stories. Instead of just reporting, turn the story into concrete actions your readers can take to get the same results as the people in the story.BadD news stories, reality television or talk shows These types of stories and shows are chock full of examples of what NOT to do. If you had the opportunity to advise these celebrities, politicians, guests or players, what might you suggest they do about their relationships, finances, businees or career? How can you generalize that to apply to your reader’s less extreme circumstances?CoacChingG cCalls When you complete a coaching call, ask yourself if any of your readers could relate to what you were discussing. FAaQ’s in your emails andD cCasual cConversations What questions are you hearing over and over again from clients, friends, family members or colleagues? If they’re asking, chances are you’re looking at a hot topic that other potential clients want to know more about as well.Books, movies andD webBsites Sort through the crowded data stream and point out the best and brightest resources for your readers. But don’t stop there. Take ONE point from the source and write your own reflections about how it would be helpful to your readers.Now that you’ve focused in on a source for your article, choose a title based on what you want your readers to get from reading your article. Iinstructions about how to do something or make use of something, for example:Top 10 Ways ToTop 10 Steps To © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Motivation or justification to take action, for example:Top 10 Reasons WhyTop 10 Benefits OfMmore insight into their problem and its impact on their life, for example:Top 10 Signs That YouTop 10 Symptoms OfTop 10 Clues Thatmore knowledge or understanding about a topic that is important to them, for example:Top 10 Rules OfTop 10 Myths AboutTop 10 Qualities Of © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Four – BrainstormIf you’re the type of person who likes to brainstorm with a blank page, or in graphic form (e.g. mind mapping), then go ahead and grab your paper and pen now. Then see if you can fill all twenty-five spaces below with possible list items for your top 10 list.1 . 2. 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9. 0. 11 . 9 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com 1 2. 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 9. 20. 21 . 22. 23 . 24 . 25 . 1 0 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Five -SelectNow choose the 10 you think are best or that you already have lots of ideas about.. 2. 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9. 0. 11 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Six -RefineNext, check your 10 list items against this list of editing tips:Have you written short sentences or headings that are one to five words long?Are all of your list items approximately the same length?Does each list item directly address the title and topic of your article?Is each of your list items limited to ONE point?Do all of your list items use the same sentence structure1 ?Have you used active language in your list items?Remember that many readers will choose to skim the article’s headings to get the gist of what you’re saying. They may or may not return to read the whole thing, based on how compelling your headings are. Revise each of your 10 list items until they’re the best they can be.1 . 2. 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9. 0. 1 For more information about parallel structure and lists, please refer to The Customizable Style Guide for Coaches Who Write.1 2 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Seven – Expand Now, expand each of your points into one or two short paragraphs that give the reader more informattion Again, try to be consistent with the length and format of each item.Some ways you can expand the content are to:DefFine -Literally tell the reader what your point means or explain it further,Rrelate -Explain how the point relates to your readers and to the problem/solution you’re discussing,Sshow -Give the reader an actual example they can relate to, orIinstrucCt -Offer the reader tangible action steps for applying the suggestion or tip. You can use a combination of these in the same article, as long as you maintain consistency in the length of each list item. Begin drafting your paragraphs in the spaces below, or on your computer.. 2. 3 . 4 . 13 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9. 1 0. 14 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Eight – DescribeMany article bank websites and article submission systems allow you to enter the main keywords associiate with your article. Imagine yourself in the shoes of someone in your target market who needs the information you’ve put together in this article – someone who needs your services. What would they type into a search engine box? Refer back to your answers in Step Two.You may also want to consult a keyword popularity tool such as Wordtracker or Google, or just try typing a few keyword phrases into a search engine to see what kind of results pop up. Kkeywords: 15 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Nine – SummarizeWhen someone searches for articles about a specific topic, article bank websites will list all of the articles meeting the search criteria, with a short summary of each article. If you want the reader to click through and read YOUR article, you need to entice them about what they’ll find. A compelling summary will explain why the topic is important for your readers (refer back to your answers in Steps One and Two), and how your article will address their problem and provide them with instructions, motivation, insights or understanding.This is also where your personality can shine through. If you write authentically, the people who are drawn to your communication style will also be a good match for your products and services.So if you’re funny, be funny. If you’re clever, be clever. If there is a quote that inspires you about this topic, use it here or in your conclusion.This paragraph can serve double-duty as your article’s introduction.Aarticle Ssummary /Iintroduction: At the end of your article, sum up what you’ve told them and reinforce the importance of this topic. Suggest the next steps they can take to apply this information in their own lives.article Conclusion: 16 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Step Ten – Call to ActionYour Author Resource Box is an opportunity for you to build a relationship with your reader. You’ll do this by telling them a little more about yourself, and then inviting them to take a specific action.Wwho are you? Provide one to two sentences about who are you – you might include your professioona title and the name of your business, as well as a succinct description of what you do.who are they? Identify who you help and what you help them with. what shouldD they dDo? Invite the reader to take an action. Provide clear instructions about how to sign-up for your free newsletter, visit your website, subscribe to your e-course or register for a free tele-class. Here’s one of my author resource boxes as an example: Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. Feel like your creativity is blocked? Visit www.genuinecoaching.com to sign-up for your complimentary copy of the popular e-course, “Roadblocks to Creativity.”write your Aauthor Rresource Box:17 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com 1. Personalize 2. Solve 3. Focus 4. Brainstorm 5. Select 6. Refine 7. Expand 8. Describe 9. Summarize 10. Call to Action10 Steps to a Top 10 Article18 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Next Steps1 . I would love to see any articles you create using this tool. Please email me with your links, drafts and ideas!2. Do you need help refining the Top 10 Article you just created? Please visit www.youtalk-iwrite.com to get started with a Power Edit session today. Let’s turn your great ideas into some great writing!1 9 © Copyright Linda Dessau 2009 | www.youtalk-iwrite.com Linda Dessau, MTA, CPCC, is a certified coach and the founder of You Talk, I’ll Write (www.youtalk-iwrite.com). Her clients are coaches who have great ideas but are either too busy to write, intimidaate by the writing process or worried about making mistakes. Her ghostwriting and editing services are a welcome relief as she helps them finish, poliis and get better results from their writing.About the Author