No one wants to read a boring story. But if you want your brand to get noticed, it’s important that you write news articles that people will actually keep reading—even if they’re not necessarily interested in the topic at hand.
We are often told that it is important to write content to promote your brand, or that it should be interesting and fun. However, we rarely get advice on how to do so. In this article, we will look at how you can make your content more engaging and less boring by making it easier for people to read and understand.
1. Write A Catchy Headline That Includes Your Keywords
Your headline has to be catchy and relevant to the content you’re writing. It’s also a good idea to use keywords you want to rank for, but don’t overdo it. Think about what would attract someone who doesn’t know anything about your company if they just came across it on Google.
2. Answer the 5 Ws Quickly
When writing a news article, it’s important to make sure you answer the five Ws.
Who is this for? What is the event? When does this take place? Where will it happen? Why should I care?
You may not be writing an article about a person or event, but you can still use these questions to help you organize your thoughts.
These might not apply to your topic or service but if any of them do, then hit them fast. For example, if you’re writing about a new coffee shop opening up in town, who would you want to read about it? Maybe people who love coffee and want to know where they can get their next cup. Or maybe people who love the local community and want to know what businesses are moving into their neighborhood. Either way, answering these questions will help you focus on your readership so that they feel like they’re part of something special when they read your article!
3. Avoid Cliches
You can’t avoid them completely, but it’s important to be aware of how overused cliches are and how they can negatively impact your content.
They are a quick way for readers to lose interest in what you have to say, so try not to use them in headlines or copy. Instead of writing “the sky is the limit,” write something more original such as: “There are no limits when it comes to success.”
4. Embed Videos
Video is an excellent tool for explaining complicated topics. If your product or service is new, or particularly difficult to understand, consider creating an introductory video that explains the basic premise of what you’re offering.
You can also use video to show how your product works in practice. For example, if you have a software program that helps people become healthier by eating better and exercising more, include a demo of the app on YouTube or Vimeo so readers can see it in action.
5. Use Natural Language
Using natural language will make your content easier to read and digest quickly so people can scan it more easily.
This means using language that is easy to understand, conversational, and simple. It also means your writing should be clear and concise, which are different from each other.
6. State Clear Solutions To The Problems
State the problem and solution as clearly as possible, using relevant examples and statistics. Make sure the solution is easy to understand and relevant to your audience’s needs.
Give a call-to-action at the end of your article: ask readers what they think or invite them to check out more information on your website.
7. Use Quotes That Make Sense And Bring In New Information
Quotes can be a great way to add credibility to your article. If you’re writing a piece about problems with public transportation, for example, you might quote an expert in public transportation or another person who has experienced the problem firsthand.
If you’re writing a piece about customer service, it could be good to quote someone who works in customer service or who has had trouble with their own company’s customer service. This gives your article more authority and feels more legitimate because there is proof that what you’re saying is true–it’s not just coming from one person’s opinion!
8. Keep The Paragraphs Short And Concise
This may seem obvious, but when you have a lot to say, it can be easy to get carried away with your writing. This is especially true if you’re used to writing longer pieces for school assignments or professional publications where word count is important. However, when it comes to news articles—which should be quick reads—you’ll want to keep things short and sweet. Readers won’t enjoy reading lengthy paragraphs if they aren’t interested in what you’re saying!
9. Find Relevant Statistics To Back Up Your Claims
You can use numbers to back up your claims. But here’s the thing: Make sure that those numbers are relevant to what you are writing about. If they aren’t, it might not be worth it to include them at all.
For example, if your article is about how many people in California have fruit trees in their yards, citing statistics on state-wide homelessness would not be appropriate because these two things are unrelated and likely won’t add anything useful or interesting for the reader.
On top of making sure that the statistic is relevant, make sure it’s also up-to-date and not outdated by more than a couple years.
10. Keep It Short & Sweet
So how do you go about making sure people don’t fall asleep while reading? You should keep your sentences as short as possible without sacrificing meaning or clarity. This is especially important when writing something like an online news article that needs to be easy enough for anyone with basic reading skills to understand quickly.
You don’t have time for a novel-length piece of writing when there are so many other things vying for people’s attention. Keep it short and sweet with an eye towards quality over quantity.
Not All News Articles Are Created Equal
Some news articles are boring, some are exciting, and some are so boring they’re actually exciting! So be sure to keep in mind the these tips we’ve discussed here. Of course, there are a ton of other ways to make your content more interesting and less boring. But these are some good places to start! Remember: always be yourself and true to your brand, and try not to offend anyone along the way.
If you need help with any of these steps or just want more information about ampifire’s content marketing services, book a free call with one of our experts today!
