How do you develop an good article topic? A topic should be outlined in the beginning of an article, developed in the article body, and draw a satisfying conclusion at the end. If an article topic is developed effectively, readers come away satisfied.
While it may be relatively easy to come up with topics for articles, how can these be developed?
How to Choose and Develop an Article Topic
- Consider your topic's relevance and potential popularity. If you're stuck for ideas, Google Trends can help you to determine if your topic would appeal to a wide audience.
- Choose a topic you're passionate about and/or knowledgeable about. If you're enthusiastic about your topic, this will permeate your article, thus making it more interesting to readers. Just as a speech given in a dull monotone may put listeners to sleep, covering an topic via a dry recitation of facts may have slim chance of engaging readers.
- And speaking of facts . . . It can be tempting to research a topic and regurgitate known facts but it might be more valuable to cover the topic from a fresh angle/different slant. Topics that are common may not offer as much appeal as topics that include a twist or make readers think about something in a different light. For example, you may have chosen to write about interesting-looking tattoos--but this topic might be too broad because most people know that tattoos look interesting. Writing an article around a topic such as "telltale tattoos and the secrets they reveal" might stir greater curiosity.
Developing an Article Topic by Considering Your Audience
- Think about your audience. Who will be searching for your topic? What would readers, interested in the subject matter, find interesting? What information could you offer that they might not know?
- Get to the point immediately. Your title and your description should clearly outline what's in store for readers and should be intriguing enough that they want to read more.
- Keep your paragraphs short and focused on your topic. Internet readers want concise information that satisfies curiosity and/or offers tips and how-to's. Develop your paragraphs in logical progression around your topic.
Adding Value as a Method to Develop an Good Article Topic
- Enrich your topic by offering visual aids such as pictures or videos or informational resources which direct readers to additional topic-related information. Doing so adds value for readers.
Your conclusion should be limited to a sentence or two, which "wraps everything up and ties it with bow." If your topic is concluded effectively, the reader comes away satisfied by your coverage of it.
Knowing how to choose and develop an article topic is a powerful skill in a writer's arsenal.
Sources
- Writing Articles About the World Around You, Writer's Digest Books,1998, Marcia Yudkin
- Structure and Flow (Elements of Article Writing), Writer's Digest Books, 1996, David A. Fryxell
- On Writing Well--The Classic Guide to Writing Non-Fiction, Harper Paperbacks, 1996, William Zinsser
Earning Residual Income Online with Triond--Getting paid to write articles is a dream come true for many.
Benefits of Creating a Facebook Business Page--If you write online, Facebook can shine a spotlight on your endeavors.
Melody Rhodes - M. Rhodes is author of the Bedbug Books. She's been published in Canada, U.S. U.K. & NZ and has won awards for her poetry/prose.
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