How to write a good article

Introduction

A good article has the power to provide value to readers by offering information that is not only informative but also highly relevant. When writing an article, it is crucial to have a clear purpose in mind, focusing on what you want to deliver to your readers. Before diving into the writing process, ask yourself the following questions to ensure the effectiveness of your article:

• Is your article a good fit for UX Bonfire’s publication?
• What will your reader gain from this article?
• What type of content do you want to write? (Insights/ case study/ tools and tips/ etc)
• What is the point of view of your article? (First/ Second/ Third Person)

Anatomy of an article

Figure 1: Anatomy of an article

The infographic above is the general anatomy of an article. Use this infographic as guidance to structure your article. You might want to adjust this structure according to your specific type of content.

Tips to organize your content

1. Length

Consider the length of your article based on the depth of the topic. Aim for around 1,000 words for shorter content, while more in-depth articles can range from 1,500 to 2,500 words. This allows you to provide sufficient information without overwhelming or underwhelming your readers.

2. Content organization

Focus on optimizing your content for readability. Avoid creating fragmented or disjointed paragraphs that can confuse readers. Instead, aim for paragraphs with at least 3–4 sentences, providing enough context and information in each section. This helps maintain flow and clarity in your writing.

Additionally, use formatting techniques to enhance your content's visual appeal and comprehension. Consider using bold to emphasize important words, especially when highlighting main keywords or related terms.

3. Use table and bullet points

Incorporating tables or bullet points can strategically organize your content and improve the overall reading experience. This practice helps break down complex information into digestible chunks and improves readability.

• Tables: Useful to present data, comparisons, making it easier for readers to absorb and comprehend the information.
• Bullet points: Useful for creating lists, summarizing key points, or highlighting important details.

4. Use image

We recommend you include some images/ illustrations in your article to capture readers’ attention. Remember to give appropriate credit to image sources and have permission to use them. It is necessary to create a short description for each image used. The alt tag should contain the main keyword, but sparingly.

SEO

Keyword

Other than anatomy and structure, SEO is another important element to optimize the effectiveness of your article for search engines. You can improve your article’s ranking by implementing SEO techniques, ensuring it appears higher than competing sites targeting the same search terms.

According to Neil Patel, SEO is when:

1. You research keywords…

Conduct thorough research to identify relevant keywords for your article. Put yourself in the shoes of the reader conducting the search query to better understand their perspective. To perform keyword research, you can utilize the Google AdWords Keywords Planner. Follow these simple steps:

• Access the Google AdWords Keywords Planner. (You need a Google Ads account to use it)
• Enter your main keyword (e.g., ‘angel investors’) into the search box.
• Click on “Get results.”
• For instance, if you’re writing an article about angel investors and want it to rank highly for that topic, you can use the Keyword Planner to discover related long-tail keywords.

Figure 2: Screenshot of the Google AdWords Keywords Planner

2. Then select a particular keyword and …

Select a primary keyword that accurately represents the topic. You can consider including a secondary keyword if it aligns with the search intent and is highly relevant.

3. Use that keyword to write content …

Once you have identified the keywords to target, it’s important to incorporate them into your headlines effectively. Here’s an example:

• How to Find Angel Investors — 5 Simple Steps That Work
• Angel Investors List — Top 35 Angel Investors You Need to Know
• 20 Top Angel Investor Forum Boards You Should Definitely Check Out

After including the keyword in your headline, the next step is to optimize your content with it. The main keyword should be repeated in the body every 200–300 words. Also, it would be good to bold it at least once.

However, this time you are going to make sure the keyword doesn’t disrupt the user or appear too frequent or unnatural in any way.

Title

When crafting your title tag, consider the primary need of the end user and tailor it accordingly. Keep your title tag concise, around 50 characters, and place the main keyword at the beginning. Boost click-through rates by replacing stop words with action-oriented language.

Here are some examples of commonly used action words:

• Get
• Take
• Boost
• Learn
• Make
• Go

Meta description

Crafting a compelling meta description is essential for effective SEO. Aim for a length between 200 and 300 characters, incorporating the main keyword. The meta description should clearly explain how the article fulfils the user’s primary need.

Focus on creating a well-structured and enticing meta description that stimulates users to click on the search result. You can use call-to-action phrases such as “learn more”, “explore now”, and “visit our website” to engage with the readers on the search engine results page (SERP).

Alt tag of the images

For each image used, it is recommended to provide a concise sentence that describes the image’s content as an alt tag. You can also consider including the main keyword within the alt tag to optimize its relevance.

Internal Linking

Take the time to look for similar or related blog posts and link them to your article. Incorporating internal links within your article can enhance the reader experience.

External Linking

You can link to external resources if the resource adds value for our users. For example, you are describing a coworking space. In this case, linking the website is necessary and useful for our readers. Avoid linking any external resource:

• Only for personal benefit ( there will be the no follow tag anyway)
• With poor/shady/dodgy content
• With inappropriate content such as drug, sex, religion etc

Conclusion

Pheww…This is quite a lengthy guideline, but we hope you find it useful to write a good article. Take some time to digest it, and you will be ready to write with UXBonfire! 🚀