When bloggers and Web content writers compose articles and Web content, they always keep an Internet mantra in mind: content is king. SEO techniques, marketing techniques, and social networking come in a close second.

But how do you actually make content the king? Remember that there are two reasons why people visit your website: one, to connect and to know more about you or your business and two, to find articles that are informative and helpful. Focusing on the second reason, they want to view you as an authority in your field. They want to learn from you.

Excellently composed articles grab the attention of the crowd. Search engines love well-written articles, and if you have good ranking on the search engine, viewers who come across your site will want information. They expect an article that entertains them, engages with them, and provides them a reason why they should browse deeper into your website.

Here are the 10 characteristics of highly effective articles.

1. Proper grammar

Diligently following the rules of grammar gives your readers the perception that you are intelligent and professional. Faulty grammar, typographical errors, wrong syntax, and other mistakes make you look less intelligent than you really are. Your credibility and authority receives a big downward blow.

2. Lack of Jargon

It is tempting to use big, complex words and terms to astonish your readers with your intelligence and acumen. However, unless you are catering to a very specific group of readers, do not do it. It is better to use simple, straightforward words and sentences; doing so makes your article more fun and easier to read and comprehend.

3. Relate to personal experiences

Sharing your personal experiences is one of the most effective ways to interact with your readers. After all, people love human-interest tales and stories that say something about the person behind the website. Display your successes, failures, bloopers, and surprises to liven up your articles.

4.  Humor, when applicable

Bloggers and writers aim to elicit some kind of emotion from their readers. Thus, captivating your readers’ attention and making them smile while reading your article is the holy grail of articles. Mix jokes, ironies, or satires in your posts to make people stick longer.

5. Incorporation of stories to convey truths

Another way of making readers understand the point you are trying to make is to tell them an established story. For instance, if you want to talk about the consequences of corporate greed, you can incorporate the well-known Aesop’s fable “The Dog and His Bone” into your article to drive the point home.

6. Brief and to the point

Long articles contain a lot of information and may seem to be the best way to mesmerize readers. In reality, they often scare your viewers off; long articles look too complicated and take a lot of time to read. Remember that in the Internet, people have a different style of reading than in a book: they skim the highlights. Thus, keep your articles short and straight to the point.

7. Call to action

Effective articles tell your readers to get out and do something after reading. That is why it is important to place call to action statements or buttons after your article. Phrases like “Click here to start your business,” “what are you waiting for? Contact us now,” or “Hurry! You are just one step away,” are examples of good call-to-action statements.

8. Interaction

Ask your readers for feedback about your article. This makes them feel important, and at the same time, it lets you gain first-hand information and recommendations from your target audience.

9. Rich with information

The best articles provide valuable information that readers can use to make their lives better and their work easier. You can explain how something works, provide a detailed step-by-step tutorial, warn them of harmful consequences, cite advantages why they should use a particular product, etc.

10. Well-organized

Well-written articles are easy for the eyes. Furthermore, subjects are grouped into clusters which people can easily skim and understand. Thus incorporate lists, headlines, and sub-headings to your article. You may want to include graphics, charts, or tables to further clarify your articles.

Follow these tips if you want to have a highly readable, effective article