The day I learned this writing tip was the day my writing got a whole lot easier, faster, and more fun. It’s no secret really, but this one tip could change the way you write articles for the Web, for your ezines, your blog, for all sorts of marketing content:

It’s called the “Make a list” technique.

That’s right. Not too complicated, is it? As Jeff Herring, The Article Guy, puts it: "If you can write a 7-item grocery list, you can write an article."

Ever since I learned this, getting started with writing (some say this is the most difficult part) has become a snap. If I’d known it was this simple, I might have skipped graduate school.

Here’s how it goes in my head: Say I need to write an article on “ezine publishing.”

How do I know that I need to write about ezine publishing? I did a keyword search and my newsletter site www.CustomizedNewsletters.com doesn’t come up on the first page of Google when people search on the keyword phrase "ezine publishing." The site comes up on page 3.

If I have more web pages using the keyword phrase "ezine publishing", I should improve my page ranking. Therefore, I need to publish more articles using those keywords on my website, on my blog, and in my ezine, which gets archived on the Web, and submit these articles to article directories.

Here’s how the "Make a List" writing tip works:

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Yesterday while I was writing about the one "secret writing tip" that has made my writing easier and faster (make a list) I ended up with a list of 10 steps I go through each time I write an article.

That’s how powerful the "make a list" technique is for writing. You will actually create another article while writing the first one.

So here’s my new list of writing tips:

1. Find out what keywords you need to use in your next article.
2. Write out a headline or general subject title (you will revise the title later).
3. Make a list.
4. Write one or two sentences about each point on the list.

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Here’s what to do if you struggle to find and create content for your e-newsletters:
Always keep the reader in mind. It helps to clearly define and describe your ideal reader. He/she is probably similar to your ideal client, so that step should be easy.

Determine what your ideal reader wants to know. You can probably estimate this pretty well, and you should also explore this with them. Ask. Ask in your newsletter, on your blog, through surveys, even on your website by creating an “ask” page whereby they can submit questions. You might also provide incentives to readers for submitting questions.

Remember to use your content antennae, scanning for these two criteria:

1. What do readers want to know?
2. What can your business do for them?

Next, you can turn to these resources to become inspired for content:

• Where is the pain?

• What current event ties in with readers’ problems?

• What client situation can you use as a case study?

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The Publicity Hound has a lot of great writing tips on her site, and Joan Stewart generously shares with our readers here. In a recent comment to the post about her headline tips, she shared this web page with more great headlines to use for your articles:

Here’s a sample:

Once you’ve chosen a topic, it’s time to select a title. Here’s a list of possibilities. Simply fill in the blank, depending on what you’ve decided to write about.

A Part-Timer’s Tactics for a Full-Timer’s ______________
A Quiz: Test Your ______________ Smarts
Cash in on _______________ Trends
Chasing the Right ______________
Cool Tools for Today’s ______________
Common Errors That Kill ______________
Discover the 7 Essential Elements That Guarantee ___
Finding the ______________That is Uniquely You
Good News for ______________
How to Bounce Back from ______________