Tips for Getting Your Content Read

Do you spend hours writing content but find no one is reading it? Or you're not getting the response you'd like? It's not that you're a bad writer; it's most likely you just need a few improvements in your presentation.

How can you get the reader interested in your material?

The Beginning

Write great headlines - I know you read that tip everywhere, but it's so true. Without a great headline, most people just aren't interested in the rest of your article. Your headline should capture the reader's attention.

Write a great opening paragraph - At this point they still haven't read your article. The headline piqued their interest, now it's time for you to really get them engaged in the material. Start with a great beginning. Ask something controversial, ask something personal, mention a struggle they may be facing so they'll finish reading to find the solution.

Speak to the reader - You can be conversational. Chances are you aren't writing a term paper or essay, so you can relate to the audience in your writing with your choice of words. You can also use direct statements if you need to get to the point quickly.

Once you've written your opening paragraph you'll want to scrutinize it. Does it grab attention? Can it be better? Have you asked the right question or presented your topic in a way that gets people interested? Have you connected with the audience?

Use statistics - Using statistics can present a shock and awe factor that can be very eye opening and get the reader engaged.

The Middle

Keep the middle strong - Don't let your writing get boring in the middle. This should be the meat of the article. This is where you deliver the goods of your headline and opening paragraph.

Try to create pictures with words, or incite emotions in the reader. You want the reader to see and feel the message you're trying to relay.

Use short paragraphs - Shorter paragraphs are easier to read. Make sure that each paragraph answers the questions you've presented.

The Closing

Have a well rounded, strong closing - You don't want to flop at the end. You want the reader to feel like they've gained insight and learned something valuable.

Use a closing statement that wraps up the entire article. This is where many writers fall short. I've been guilty of it many times. You want to wrap things up and then use a call to action so the reader will respond. You can either ask for comments, agreements, disagreements or just general thoughts on the subject.

Let the reader know you're interested in what they have to say.

Getting your content read can take some finesse. It takes a great headline and opening, a good follow through with a meaty middle and ending with a good wrap-up. If you can deliver these things to the reader, you'll have more people wanting to read your content.