Increasing Pageviews: Value in Educational Articles

Pam Gaulin
One way to increase pageviews is to create content with some kind of educational value.

The educational value article can be written with straight-forward how-to articles, tutorials, the writer may teach through example, or introduce alternative methods for achieving a common goal.

Endless Subjects for Educational Articles

A popular way to include educational writing in your article portfolio is to write instructional content. Subject matter for instructional content is endless, when you think about all of the things you know how to do, and can share with others. The opportunity to write instructional content broadens even further when you consider thedifferent audiences that could benefit from the same information.

The same information, for example, teaching someone how to create a web site, can be focused on people of different age groups, computer experience, and based on their goals. If creating web sites is something you know how to do and can write about it, you may brainstorm a whole series of articles that are niche-based.

For example, a writer with this knowledge could write any of the following articles: How to Create a Web Site for a Writing Group, Designing Web Sites for Teens, Tutorial for Pre-Teens Creating Web Sites, How to Create Web Sites With No HTML.

Or, tap into a common problem, like time: How to Create a Web Site in an Hour, or Re-Design Your MySpace Page in 5 Quick Steps.

Educational Articles and Audience

Writers can also write educational content focused on specific age groups: How to Change Careers in Your 20s, How to Change Careers in Your 30s, How to Change Careers in Your 40s, etc. Each niche audience has their own goals, their own common obstacles, and they may be in the same life experience as their peers.

Any group broken down by age can be broken down even further, when writing educational content: "How to Change Careers After Being a Stay-at-Home Dad, or How to Return to Work When the Kids Start School.

Common Elements in Educational Articles

All educational articles share certain elements. One, the reader clicks away from the page having learned something. While readers may learn something from other types of articles, it is an essential element to educationalarticles.

Another common feature of educational articles is that they are written in clear, direct and concise language. The reader wants to learn, and while you can entertain them while they do it, the main focus of the educational article needs to be actual instruction.

The educational article delivers the information. An article is not educational if it simply refers readers to 10 other web sites. Then the article becomes a reference article. Reference articles are very useful, and have their place on line. Writers should not try to market their reference articles as educational articles, though, because that will lose readership, and ultimately, pageviews.

Style of Educational Articles

The style of educational articles can also vary to your needs and writing style.

For a computer-based tutorial, some writers find very specific, direct and numbered instructionsare the best way to go.

To teach by example, writers may use anecdotes from their own lives, from the lives of family and friends, or draw from popular culture, or broad cultural knowledge.

Another way to write educational articles is to give the readers a new method or technique for accomplishing a mundane task, a common task, or a hard task.

Educational articles, when well-written and actually teach the reader, can help writers build a solid audience, and grow their pageviews.

Published by Pam Gaulin - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment and Lifestyle

Pam Gaulin is a freelance writer, journalist (B.A., Journalism), new (and next!) media writer and artist. Associated Content named her 2007 Content Producer of the Year. "First for Women" magazine featured...   View profile

5 Comments

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  • Rosa Hayes 9/26/2007

    I can honestly say that you have tought me the most about writing for an audience that will continue to come back. If I could give you a (hug), I would. Thank you so much and thanks for writing that great tutorial of helpful links on squidoo.com

  • Melanie Schwear 4/20/2007

    Very good article - very helpful.

  • Pam Gaulin 4/13/2007

    For those of you following along.....this is "A to Z Guide to Increasing Pageviews: E is for Educational Articles."

  • Melody Jones 4/13/2007

    Thoughtful and valuable tips.

  • Carol Gilbert 4/13/2007

    I was just noticing that... I guess you are a bit quicker. :)

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