Your article content is critical, regardless of whether you submit articles for publication to magazines, newspapers or article directories. However, on the Internet, keyword-rich articles are given preferential rankings when they are indexed by the major search engines. However, many website owners try to abuse the ranking system by using software to create keyword-rich articles that most humans find difficult to read. I highly recommend avoiding the temptation to use article spinners or article creators for your newsletter, ezine, promotional articles, and especially for submission to the article directories... if you want readers to click your biography's website links and generate more sales.

I've compiled 10 simple tips that will eliminate your article writing fears and helping you avoid this temptation. You may not win a literary prize, but that isn't the goal either. In fact, the average article writer and blogger tend to write better material than most magazine and newspaper authors. These same authors made a commitment to write 1-5 articles every day, honing their writing and copyrighting skills literally overnight... and you can too! Starting today, follow these basic steps and you will produce highly-effective promotional articles that will catapult you into the next big online success story.

1. In the first paragraph, clearly state what the article is about. In standard journalism; this first paragraph would describe who, what, why, when and where an event is happening. In web articles you need to overstate a problem or overstate a solution, such as '10 Ways to Avoid Being Victimized By Your Plumber' or 'Discover The Hidden Source Of... (Your Topic)' to grab the reader's attention, and then explain how the article is going to solve the problem “by showing a simple step-by-step approach to (your topic)”.

2. Organize your material in a point-by-point fashion. Before you begin writing, think of the points your article is going to address. You may not necessarily show the points, as I am doing in this article (calling them ten tips). Simply know what you are going to say before you begin writing. Create a brief outline by writing these points on a small index card, and make sure you include them as you begin the writing process.

3. Make the reader feel at ease. You want to please your readers, because you are not trying impress a literary society or be approved for a scientific patent. Be sure to write in a simple style. And, if you introduce new terms, define them for your readers... especially if it includes industry jargon that may confuse someone who doesn't know much about the topic.

4. Always explain your points in short paragraphs. Short paragraphs are easier for a reader's eyes to follow, because no one enjoys looking at a long block of solid text. Three, four or five sentences are usually enough for one paragraph.

5. Spill the beans! Tell your trade secrets! And, I'm not crazy either. This will create more of a demand for your goods and services, by providing more information. This is called "moving the free line" and is a proven, effective marketing tool. By doing this, people will realize that you really are an authority on the subject matter.

6. Give concrete examples and personal experiences to back up your points. Explain a problem you faced and how you solved it. Or, give hypothetical examples of the California Widget Company and they could save time and improve their website traffic by using article submission software when submitting their articles to the directory sites.

7. Emphasize the benefits of your product or service. Benefits sell, features don't... and this is true for both online and offline sales or advertising. Toothbrushes did not begin selling until a wise marketer sold everyone on the benefit of whiter teeth and implied this makes you more kissable.

8. Provide resource information to your readers, by showing website addresses where your readers can get more information regarding the topic or your claims. These may be your own websites or other resources. This is very important, as it gives the reader a sense of comfort by showing your willingness to display your research materials.

9. Get another opinion on your article. Show it to your spouse or friends, and don't worry if they criticize you. I would rather have a spouse or friend find a mistake, before my article is distributed across the Internet. Never forget, behind every writer is a great editor and proofreader.

10. Try to provide your juiciest and most important information near the beginning of the article. Editors usually cut things near the end, so doing this will make sure your readers learn all the most valuable information. You should always provide a summary at the end of your article and leave the reader with the impression that more great information can be found at your website, in a book, or by subscribing to a newsletter.

The process can be slow at first, although numerous authors have achieved success in as little as 30 days. You will see an immediate increase in website traffic, which leads to more sales being generated from all the articles that you have submitted. Print this article, keep it near your computer, and choose high-quality article submission software to ease the burden of the submission process and help you distribute your articles faster. Some of my most popular articles have owned more than half of the top 20 Google search engine results. With a little bit of practice and the right piece of software, I'm sure you can see the same results too.