Criteria of a Quality Article

[foldingtablesm]

I don't think enough emphasis has been put on audience. With an audience in mind, it becomes easier and easier to break these other "rules" of article writing. Sometimes an audience might require longer or shorter articles. Maybe they want a serious article, or maybe they want humor. Let your audience be your inspiration. If you aren't writing for one, don't be upset if no one wants to read your article.

[Riklets]

The key to writing a quality article that anyone can read is to know your subject thoroughly and write directly to your readers as if you were talking to them. Keep your content interesting, fresh, and informative so that the brain surgeon, the homemaker, and their kids find and understand the information you are serving. Don't use technical terms that only the "in crowd" understands, but don't "talk down" or oversimplify too much. If you can explain your subject to either a rocket scientist or a sixth grader and still get your point across, then you have a quality article.

Excellent point. I was thinking along the same lines as I read through the replies. With the Internet you never really know. Targeting specific audience is effective when writing for, let's say print, and you have a definite demographic already in mind. This makes writing easier as the topic becomes almost conversational. But with a broad audience the risk of sounding too high and mighty or too simple is big. Finding the right balance between the two makes a quality article.

[lesterdonovan]

It all starts with the title, how else would you grab a reader? Hit two birds with one stone: use a catchy title, and try your best to insert your targeted keywords in it.

[Reflection]

Title should be desciptive and short.

Summery of the article should be related to title.

First para graph of the article should carry complete subject of the article.

Body of the article should descriptive information about the theme.

Conclusion should be according to the first paragraph.

Author resource should be clearly mentioned.

Combining all the above steps makes a better article.

[psychotoon]

You definitely need to understand that article writing is less about article writing and more about drama. So if you look at screenplays, you get an idea of what you should be doing.

Many articles are simply boring.
They're boring because few understand that to get the attention of the reader, you must first snap them out of whatever they're dreaming of, and then get them to pay attention to your article.

This is best done by the concept called the first fifty words.
The first fifty words aren't the first fifty words you write. They're actually found somewhere deeper in your article. You need to pull them up and give them prominence. Think of this as the middle of a story that's pulled to the front, and then the story rolls in sequence.

So instead of the Goldilocks story running like this: Once upon a time... it's more like this: Goldilocks wasn't a big fan of porridge. And today Goldilocks was madder than ever. Because... (and you continue the article).

Here's an article or two that may help.
psychotactics.com/how-to-jolt-your-reader-into-paying-attention

[TheAtHomeCouple]

In regards to Internet Marketing.. an effective article is as follows:

1- Keyword rich title, presenting the question or problem.
2- 300-400 words, with keyword density around once every 100 words
3- Should flow into the solution to the problem at around the half way point
4- Lead reader to the resource box at the end, which funnels the traffic to destination

[sprite123]

Hey all,

My criteria is to make it simple yet crisp.
The title can be formal or casual, depending on who is your target audience. As trainers we are always taught to judge who you are writing for!!

Cheers
SPRITE

[Reflection]

In regards to Internet Marketing.. an effective article is as follows:

1- Keyword rich title, presenting the question or problem.
2- 300-400 words, with keyword density around once every 100 words
3- Should flow into the solution to the problem at around the half way point
4- Lead reader to the resource box at the end, which funnels the traffic to destination

It will be better if the article is more than 500 words, because many article directories accept minimum 500 words.

[wilbek]

In regards to Internet Marketing.. an effective article is as follows:

1- Keyword rich title, presenting the question or problem.
2- 300-400 words, with keyword density around once every 100 words
3- Should flow into the solution to the problem at around the half way point
4- Lead reader to the resource box at the end, which funnels the traffic to destination

This is a great summary list. I'd add to that

5- A catchy lead paragraph. If it doesn't get reader's attention right away it probably never will.

[ReadingBuddy]

The criteria for high-quality text vary with the form of the material. What is critical for a news article may not be at all important for a sales letter and not particularly relevant for a description of a new widget. Few of us have the opportunity or the funds to hire focus groups to bounce ideas off of, so we often fly blind simply guessing whether we're meeting our audience's needs and expectation.

It might be helpful if you studied some sources that you read regularly or that you admire for some other reason for their quality. Try to discover what it is about their structure that you can adopt. For example, journalism students are taught to use an upside down pyramid for writing news articles, where the most important ideas are expressed in the title and first paragraph and the remaining text becomes less and less important. In that way, if the reader only gets through the first paragraph or two, they have covered the greatest points the writer has tried to get across.
Obituaries, recipes, editorials, press releases, announcements of grand openings, and Nigerian inheritance letters all can, in their own way, be effective. And they each have a fairly standard structure that can be duplicated successfully with entirely new content.

[Blackjane]

The article must be of very good quality and original. It must pass the copyscape. Main thing is it should gather readers.

[smurphy]

I think grammar is probably the most important thing (outside of possibly the title). If you have nothing but mistakes, people will assume the worst about you and will assume that you don’t know what you are talking about. Even if you have the most amazing content, you will lose out.

[philbutler]

This is the absolute best answer in my view. Just like a great movie, an article or even a book that makes the reader think or feel "beyond" the ending is the ultimate. Engaging, informative or however one wants to classify an article, in the end, any author wants the reader to "get" and carry the story with them.

It is not all about sticky ideas, but rather about the value or degree of conveyance. This is, of course, difficult to achieve and rare. Just my thoughts.

Phil

[MarbleHost.com]

You definitely need to understand that article writing is less about article writing and more about drama. So if you look at screenplays, you get an idea of what you should be doing.

Many articles are simply boring.
They're boring because few understand that to get the attention of the reader, you must first snap them out of whatever they're dreaming of, and then get them to pay attention to your article.

In my opinion, it depends on the theme of the article. You are right that most articles need to be written in similar way like the drama.

On the other hand, if you write article about e. g. what to look for in a good web hosting company, people will read it because they simply need this information. Especially when they came from google when they searched for information which they need to know before they order a web hosting package.

[Mahamaya]

I think there is no one particular criteria for a good article. Lot's of things go into making an article. First and foremost, the article has to be rich in content, crisp and to the point. Also, it has be free from errors like spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The number of paragraphs, the mod of the article, the format are other important factors that can make or break an article.

[yonya]

As for me an article must adrenalize the readers to click on the author bio box link leading to his web site to read more info. It means the artical must be not complete and stimulating for further actions.

[naijaecash]

Quality information presented in a down to earth manner is what I look for. Better if the steps required for action is broken into phases for implementation.

[TipCatch.com]

Add every tip you can add in your article, if it seems so long, split it into two article. 300 words per article is a good average.

[yonya]

Add every tip you can add in your article, if it seems so long, split it into two article. 300 words per article is a good average.

Majority of the articles directories require 500 words per article.

[Shyflower]

Majority of the articles directories require 500 words per article.

This thread had nothing to do with article directories. The title is "Criteria of a Quality Article". Please keep your posts on topic.

[naijaecash]

Adding links to other resources that the reader can consult for further information also adds to the value of an article. I've seen some articles that gives only short tips but provide links to resources that discussed the subject matter in a much more detailed way.

[denver8]

The article must be of very good quality and original. It must pass the copyscape. Main thing is it should gather readers.

I agree totally. It seems that in the online environment one cannot do without the approval of Copyscape and DupeFreePro as a complete benchmark to producing a quality article.

[artcodesign]

Title is important. It is the one that can make the reader click or not. Then it goes to content.

[henrychai]

from my knowledge and point of view.

There are few elements need to be consider.

Your audience. who are the peoples who is going to read your articles and who you expecting?

Use more emotional words

Good content and grammar free lol...

That's what i have in mind at the moment

[NeverKill]

Can you tell me what are the Criteria of a Quality Article?

informative, educational, and it should be original!