How to write successful online jobs articles

There are two ways to find a good online jobs title. The first is to go to the Helium Jobs & Careers channel and select the Online Jobs leaf.  There are three sub-channels to select from.  The second method is by using the Helium Title Finder. This will allow the writer to select specific keywords as well as the leaf channel. If there are no appropriate titles, writers may elect to suggest a title of their choosing.

Some writers will elect to create an outline before they begin writing an article. This is largely a matter of personal preference. For some, writing the article then going back to the beginning and breaking the article into sub-sections and adding headers is easier. Finding which method works best is a matter of personal preference for each writer. 

Keep in mind when crafting articles that if you are using Word that coding may be left in the article after pasting in a Helium window.  Google Docs is a good choice for many writers as it provides a good plain text editor and allows the writer to store their writing as well.

Opening paragraphs should be carefully crafted to entice the reader to read further. In addition, the opening paragraph must be search engine friendly. Most writers can craft their opening sentence to include the title (properly written without capitalization).  Generally, an opening paragraph should be designed with the reader in mind to let them know what they should expect through the article. Avoid asking questions during the opening paragraph. Another good thing to avoid is a platitude such as "now you will learn" in an opening paragraph.

When crafting the article body, make sure that there are headers used in the appropriate areas. Keep in mind that headers allow a reader to "scan" and find the portions of the article that most appeal to them. Headers also allow a reader to find specific information they may be searching for.  Avoid all capital letters, for example:

Do not use:

FINDING AN ONLINE JOB

Do use

Finding An Online Job

or

Finding an online job

Make sure that the body of the article flows well. Avoid jumping from subject to subject and repeating key points in different paragraphs.

While most people understand the value of a strong opening paragraph, some overlook the importance of a closing paragraph. Readers can feel that they have been let down if the closing paragraph is not a strong one. Here are some things to avoid:

Don't use "summary", "conclusion" or "in closing" to designate the end of the article. The purpose of the closing paragraph is to tie the body of the article to the opening paragraph and let the reader make their own determination.

Don't end an article by simply including one line about the overall article then stating "now you have learned" or "now you can" or similar platitudes. Avoid ending articles with endings like "good luck", "go and do well with your interview' or similar statements. This takes away from the reader experience.

Whenever possible (and practical) it is a good idea for search engine purposes to weave the title into the closing paragraph. For example this how to is titled how to write an effective jobs and careers article. For a closing paragraph I might state:

"Communicating a solid message to readers is one of the most important goals of writing an effective jobs and careers article.  Include a strong opening paragraph, strong closing paragraph and pay attention to the structure of the article, to help a reader get more information from the article. Readers must feel like they have invested their time wisely.  Writers can help make sure the readers needs are served by following some simple writing guidelines."

Tips on suggesting titles for Helium articles

Why should I suggest titles on Helium?