Article Marketing Success: Do Your Articles Show Your Personality

Recently I surveyed a community of people interested in online articles, and I asked them what makes a really excellent piece of content in their eyes.

What makes an article memorable, sharable, and helpful and sets it head and shoulders above the crowd of other online content?

The feedback that I received was eye opening.

Among other things, the readers I polled were craving articles that reveal the personality of the author.

These types of articles that are unique, compelling and genuine are superstars amid a sea of online content that is often rehashed and where the author is faceless.

Think about your own articles:

*Do they reveal your personality?

*Would a reader see your article and say "Now that's a unique perspective!"

*Are you willing to be open and step out from the crowd?

If so, then it's very likely that you are creating compelling content that hits home with your target market.

If not, then it's not too late to change your writing strategy to give your readers what they are craving--a connection with you.

Here are a few ways to write articles that authentically show who you are:

=> Write Original Content

This means that you are not "borrowing" portions of anyone else's articles. You are writing from a position of expertise in your field, and you have your own teaching style, methods and ideas. The articles you produce are not like anyone else's. They are one of a kind.

Suppose you would never consider copying anyone else's work--are you rehashing your own articles?

Do you sometimes feel like you're writing the same article repeatedly using different words?

Are you bored with your article topics because it feels like you've "been there, done that"?

Particularly if you've been writing articles for a long time, it is easy to get stuck in a rut. Here are a few tips to jolt you out of mediocrity and into the realm of personality-filled original content:

1 - You can increase your originality by becoming a student again. Expand your knowledge, experiment with new ideas in your niche, and share your insights with your readers. If you are not taking any changes or trying anything new, there's a good chance that your articles will start to feel stale.

2 - Approach your topic from a different perspective. An expert does not always deal in the most advanced ideas. As an expert you should be able to teach the newest of newbies how to navigate your niche. Undertake to write articles that are geared for beginners. Break your topic down as far as you can and teach on the tiniest bits of information that you take for granted but which a newbie would be confused by.

=> Deliberately stand out from the crowd.

Do your articles look like mashed potatoes on white bread on white rice? Blah, bland, predictable, with no differentiation?

If you are in a very popular niche it is easy to get in this predicament. You need to consciously develop a voice that is unique. Here are some tips for standing out:

1 - Resist the urge to read your colleague's work in preparation for writing your own articles. It makes it too easy to imitate the other author.

2 - Experiment writing in different voices if you are not sure what yours is yet. Maybe you are the humble guy next door who is kind and supportive. Maybe you are more hard-nosed in your teaching style, and you enjoy getting a rise out of your readers. Maybe your teaching style is filled with humor and great illustrations. You may have to put on a few different hats before you find the one that feels most natural to you.

This Week's Homework:

Let your guard down and write an article that shows at least a little of your personality. It may help to imagine that you are writing for someone you trust--your spouse, your mother, or your best friend.