Article writing means you have a subject, you understand the subject, and your knowledge demonstrates some understanding of your subject. Too often, articles lack content or something I can bite. Make me think when you write.

Tom Schaffer wrote the article, “Some Must-Have Items When Writing for the Internet. Tom lists 4 major facets of an article; number three is “Good Article Content”. Authors must “entertain” and “provide good information”. Readers want solutions, a better life. “What will you tell me that gives me more than I have?” This is what a writer must do.

When you stake a claim in your article, you better give readers evidence that there’s gold in those words. Tom Shaw elaborates, “People respond well to figures, facts and statistics. Try to get great information and as many facts as you can.”

Whether you write or look for what’s right, you need data, “figures, facts and statistics”. This means searching, scouring, digging for information that supports your view.

To do that, you need a tool, and I think Zotero provides the best shovel to dig-up and pile those facts. Zotero is an open source allowing you to “collect, manage, and cite your research sources”. You can save pages to read offline, create notes, tag, and file. You’ll find the Zotero Firefox add on.

When using Zotero, I also discovered the WorldCat Registry, you can register your user account at WorldCat.org. Use your local library! Be sure to register with your local library and library consortium. Libraries provide vast resources, and librarians understand the Internet.

At WorldCat.org you can create a list of “books, videos, articles, and more”.

Frankly, I’m not sure. So many blogs with more added daily. So, who has time to read them all, and what would attract them to yours (or mine)? This is the important question. No one can read many blogs, but we can read blogs that interest us if the content answers a question, provides direction, and gives us a suggestion.

Here are my guidelines (and there are many more that could be added).

1. Timely topics - what search topics come up within your specific niche?

2. Timely entries - add to your blog at least one time per week.

3. Give readers a reason to leave a comment. Stir-up some thoughts, some emotion, some controversy

4. Link your blog to your web site.

5. Link your blog to specific pages on your web site.

6. Write about topics that interest your readers.

7. Don’t step outside of your expertise, interest, or passion.

Jerry Work offers similar suggestions in his article A 7 Step Plan for Writing a Blog that No One Will Ever Read.

Jerry makes two important points. Ping blog directories each time you add a blog comment, and make sure you link your comments to other sites that provide further elaboration to your comment. As Jerry states, “If your blog is good, they (readers) will be back.”

Sun Microsystem’s blog policy includes three points I’ve mentioned.

1. “Be Interesting Writing is hard work. There’s no point doing it if people don’t read it.”

2. “Write What You Know”

3. “Quality Matters” All the grammar, spelling, and punctuation stuff.

4.  “Think About Consequences” Don’t write what you cannot defend. Don’t forget what your grandmother told you, “Be nice.”

You’ll find the “Sun Microsystem’s Policy on Public Discourse” in The Corporate Blogging Book, by Debbie Weil (the list is on page 161).