You’ve probably heard of article marketing as an effective way for getting traffic to your website. For many people, however, the thought of writing articles can be quite intimidating. It doesn’t have to be. Even if you were an average English student at best, you can successfully write articles and publish them to article directories.

Article marketing is an effective way of getting traffic to your website because if you publish quality information, the people who read it will want to know more. Here are five tips you can use to write quality articles:

1.    Write articles about what you know.
To make your articles sound credible, write about what you know. Articles are a great way to gain credibility as an expert in your field. Focus on areas that you know well, and your knowledge will show on the page.

2.    Write as if you’re talking to a friend.
Keep in mind that you’re not writing for an English teacher; you’re writing for an audience who needs specific information. Although you’ll want to proofread your articles for spelling errors, don’t get caught up in the perfection of a school report. As you write, imagine that you’re talking to a friend. Some people find it easier to transcribe their articles into a tape recorder first and then type it.

3.    Follow the five “W’s” and “H” guide to writing articles.
In order to make sure you’re covering all your bases, you’ll want to answer five simple questions as you compose your article.

• Who? Who will benefit from the information? Be sure to address specifically the target audience to whom you’re writing.

• What? What will your article cover? It’s always best to begin your introductory paragraph with general information and move toward one specific idea. Don’t try to cover too much. Keep your articles between 300-500 words for e-zine directories.

• When? Always indicate when your particular information should be used. Don’t forget what it was like to be new in whatever niche you’re covering in your article.

• Where? If it’s applicable to tell your readers where they should use this particular information, be sure to cover it. Never assume that your readers know where it’s appropriate to use the information.

• Why? Why do your readers need to know this information? Why is it important? Always cover the “why” of it, so they’ll know the reason behind using the information.

• How? This is very important. If you’re writing an article that covers the steps in a process, be very specific. Write your instructions clearly so that readers don’t have to “fill in the blanks.” This is how mistakes are made, and you won’t have happy readers if your directions are unclear.

4.    Proofread your articles aloud.Once you’ve completed the article, read it out loud. Listen for the rhythm and flow of your words. If you stumble while you’re reading a sentence or have to take a breath to finish it, chances are that you need to rework that part for clarity.

5.    Put it away for a day or two.
If you want to ensure that you’ve written the best article possible, put it away for a day or two and read it with fresh eyes. You may discover that you need to add something “here” or delete something “there” to make the article flow more smoothly.

Writing articles for article directories is really not that difficult. If you relax and write as if you’re talking to a friend, you’ll find that you’ll become very comfortable with the writing process in no time. Getting traffic to your website with article marketing is an easy and effective way for attracting attention to your business. With just a little practice, you’ll soon be able to write articles quickly, clearly, and effectively.