What Makes a Great Article? Key Elements of Effective Writing
To write a great article, you need to do more than just meet a word count; you need to engage your audience while effectively conveying your intended message. As a writer, every article you write should include several key elements of success, no matter your topic or industry. Want to learn more? Keep reading to explore the essential core components of article writing guaranteed to hook your readers and keep them on the page.
A Distinct Voice
Your unique tone and voice are what give your writing its distinctive personality. Your article’s voice, whether that’s formal, friendly, humorous, or serious, shapes your reader’s experience. It’s essential to stay consistent with your voice throughout the article (for example, don’t abruptly include an irrelevant joke in the middle of a serious think piece). A clear and distinct voice helps your article stand out by building trust with your audience and making your writing more memorable.
A Strong Structure
Another essential element of an effective article is ensuring a strong structure and flow. In order to keep your readers’ attention, your article should be logically organized and easy to follow. Include clear headings, subheadings, and bulleted or numbered lists for simplified skim reading, which is especially important to readers on mobile devices. You can also use proven writing formats, such as the inverted pyramid or problem/solution blog post structure, to help organize your ideas and present them in a natural way.
Valuable Content
An impactful article is about more than just perfect grammar and a clearly laid-out structure. You also need to ensure the substance and content of your article are up to par. To write quality content, make sure you conduct thorough research into your topic, even if it’s a subject you have some familiarity with. When doing research, check that your sources are credible and grounded in facts, such as scientific studies or expert advice.
In addition, fact-check all statistics, figures, and other data you include, as citing inaccuracies could cause your audience to lose trust in your writing (hurting your reputation and credibility). The more trustworthy your content, the more likely your readers are to engage with it and share it. Without value and credibility, even the highest quality writing can fall flat with your target audience.
A Memorable Introduction and Conclusion
A strong article grabs your reader from the first line and ends with a thought-provoking and engaging conclusion. While the introduction should establish the purpose and subject of your article, it needs to capture the reader’s interest, encouraging them to read through to the body of the text. This can be done by referencing a relatable anecdote, including a surprising fact, or asking a rhetorical question. Similarly, the conclusion should bookend your content, which often involves ending with a call to action or reflective statement.
To summarize, writing a great article requires more than just subject-matter expertise. It involves valuable, meaningful content, thoughtful structure, consistency, and strong opening and closing points. When you combine these fundamental elements, your readership will continue to expand as your writing becomes more polished and professional.
