Article writing is the method of crafting content material to tell, educate, entertain, and/or persuade a reader.
And writing an article from scratch doesn’t must be overwhelming.
We’ll clarify the best way to write an article in seven steps.
Whether or not you wish to develop your weblog, land your first freelance consumer, or write an article for college, this information will assist.
Methods to Write an Article in 7 Steps
Writing an article boils right down to seven steps:
1. Be taught About Your Viewers
To jot down an article that resonates, you should perceive what your viewers needs to know, how they assume, what they battle with, and even the precise phrases they use.
Right here’s the best way to find out about your target market:
- Go the place they hang around. Seek for your area of interest on social media or carry out a Google seek for issues like “[niche] reddit” or “[niche] discussion board” to seek out locations the place your viewers spends time (subreddits, Fb teams, LinkedIn communities, and so on.)
- Speak to them. You probably have prospects, associates, or co-workers who suit your target market, ask them immediately. What do they care about? What questions have they got? What do they battle with? The extra you possibly can find out about them, the higher.
- Ask an AI instrument. AI instruments like ChatGPT will help collect insights about your target market’s habits and desires
For instance, one in all our goal audiences at Semrush is advertising and marketing professionals—search engine optimization specialists, content material entrepreneurs, and PPC managers. Individuals who create and promote content material for a dwelling.
So, we requested ChatGPT to inform us the place these individuals hang around on-line. We gave it the next immediate:
“My ideally suited viewers is advertising and marketing professionals—search engine optimization specialists, content material entrepreneurs, and PPC managers. Individuals who create and promote content material for a dwelling. The place do these individuals hang around on-line? The place can I am going to study extra about them and the matters they’re enthusiastic about?”
Right here was the output:
Do the identical to your viewers. Go to the locations ChatGPT suggests and peruse the posts and feedback.
As you’re shopping, attempt to discover the solutions to the next questions:
- What questions have they got?
- What are they battling?
- What do they care about proper now?
- What particular phrases do they use to explain their ache and wishes?
Use these insights to information you all through the remainder of this text. And keep in mind that AI is a supporting instrument—not a alternative for in-depth analysis.
2. Select a Related Matter
Ideally, write about one thing in your space of experience that can curiosity your viewers.
So, how do you select the proper subject?
Begin by asking your self why you’re writing the article. It will information your selection:
- For web site site visitors, select a key phrase individuals are looking for—you possibly can determine this out with key phrase analysis
- To teach or inform, choose a standard query or ache level your viewers has (This will overlap with discovering a key phrase to get extra site visitors.)
- To construct thought management, share your distinctive insights or expertise on a distinct segment topic
- To promote one thing, concentrate on issues your services or products solves
Right here’s an instance:
Let’s say you’re a coach who helps entrepreneurs develop their companies. And your objective is to get extra shoppers.
a lot of your shoppers battle with productiveness when nobody’s holding them accountable. So, you may write a couple of subject with a headline like “Methods to Get Issues Finished When You Don’t Really feel Like It.”
Your content material ought to educate readers on the issue (lack of accountability as a solopreneur) and current your service (teaching) as the answer.
Nonetheless caught? Use Semrush’s Matter Analysis instrument.
- Enter a broad subject associated to your space of experience
- Discover article headlines and questions individuals are looking for
- Select one which looks as if a match and construct your article round it
3. Analysis Your Matter
Take time to assemble data earlier than you begin writing to make your article extra correct, extra helpful, and simpler to put in writing.
Here is how:
Head to Google and seek for the subject like a reader would.
For instance, whereas researching this text, we looked for key phrases like “article writing” and “the best way to write an article” to see what already exists.
Learn by the highest 10 articles on the search engine outcomes web page (SERP). Observe every article’s angle, prompt ideas, and format. And see if there’s something lacking from these articles that you would be able to add.
However don’t cease there.
Proceed your search on YouTube, Instagram, and even TikTok. Learn discussion board posts. Attain out to trade consultants. Learn information research and trade experiences.
You’re searching for tendencies, information factors, and professional insights to assist your writing.
4. Create Your Define
A content material define is a doc that particulars what an article ought to embrace. Creating a top level view helps you make clear your concepts, manage them right into a logical stream, and write quicker and with extra focus.
Right here’s the best way to create a top level view:
- Give you a working title that summarizes the content material and entices your viewers. For instance, “Methods to Write an Article Audiences Need to Learn (7 Steps)” is best than simply “Methods to Write An Article.” Use Semrush’s Title Generator instrument to provide you with higher title concepts.
- Add the primary sections and subsections of the article in a logical format. Your title must be the one H1, then you possibly can have H2s as your predominant sections and H3+ as your subsections that additional break down/clarify your predominant sections
- Break down what key factors can be included in every part. You should utilize bullet factors to indicate essential data.
- Collect supporting proof and examples. Add any hyperlinks you wish to use within the article, corresponding to information research, supporting articles, and even discussion board posts with different individuals’s private expertise
One simple solution to create a top level view is to make use of AI instruments like ChatGPT.
Enter a immediate like this:
“Create a top level view for an article on the very best worldwide journey ideas. Point out locations like Paris, Bali, Tokyo, New York Metropolis, and the Maldives. Cowl budget-friendly ideas associated to packing, air journey, discovering accommodations, and navigating unfamiliar places.”
It’s going to generate a top level view for you:
Then, make changes as wanted. Be happy so as to add or take away any sections or key factors based mostly in your analysis.
If you happen to’re writing a weblog put up to your web site, use Semrush’s search engine optimization Content material Template. It offers you a content material transient that’s optimized for search engines like google to extend your possibilities of exhibiting up in search outcomes.
Enter your subject key phrase and click on “Create content material template.”
When the instrument is completed, you’ll see suggestions associated to phrase depend, semantically associated phrases to incorporate, and extra.
Use these insights to replace your define.
5. Write Your First Draft
Lastly, it’s time to put in writing. Comply with your define and your analysis to make the method smoother and quicker (that’s what you probably did all that work for).
And keep in mind:
Your first draft doesn’t should be good. In reality, it shouldn’t be.
Your job proper now’s to get phrases on the web page—you possibly can repair awkward phrasing, grammar points, and weak phrase selections later.
Right here’s the best way to strategy it:
- Begin with a powerful introduction. Seize your readers’ consideration from the very starting. Think about using an fascinating reality, a thought-provoking query, or a compelling assertion to attract them in.
- Write in a transparent, conversational tone. Except you are writing for a extremely technical viewers, intention for a method that is simple to learn and perceive. Think about you are explaining the subject to a pal.
- Use brief paragraphs and sentences. This makes your content material extra digestible and fewer intimidating to readers.
- Incorporate visuals. The place acceptable, embrace pictures or video for instance your factors and break up textual content.
- Write a compelling conclusion. Summarize your details and depart the reader with one thing to consider or act upon. Attempt to use just one name to motion (CTA) on the finish to keep away from complicated the reader.
If you happen to’re struggling to put in writing your article, you should use an AI content material generator for assist. ChatGPT can write a whole article for you in seconds based mostly on a single sentence.
However right here’s the catch:
If you happen to simply say “write an article about XYZ,” what you get can be generic and bland. As a result of it lacks issues like private expertise, experience, and particulars that matter to your viewers.
The hot button is to craft higher prompts and strategy it as a back-and-forth dialog—refine the enter to enhance the output.
And keep in mind that AI isn’t a alternative to your personal voice. So, edit the output and make changes to make sure the article is as much as your requirements.
6. Optimize Your Article for Search Engines (Elective)
Utilizing SEO (search engine optimization) greatest practices will increase the chances that your article will present in search outcomes customers see after getting into associated queries—which might drive extra readers to your article.
Plus, studying search engine optimization is a implausible solution to earn cash from writing articles.
You possibly can promote your individual services in articles that drive site visitors from Google. Or you possibly can provide search engine optimization article writing as a service for shoppers.
Listed below are some easy methods to optimize your article for search engines like google:
- Embody your key phrase within the title. As an illustration, in case you’re writing about “worldwide journey ideas,” it’s pure to incorporate that phrase within the title.
- Embody the key phrase within the title tag. The title tag is an HTML title that may seem in search engine outcomes. And it ought to match or be similar to your article title.
- Craft a compelling meta description. A meta description is a short article abstract that may present in search outcomes. And whereas it doesn’t immediately affect rankings, one can entice customers to click on in your article when it seems in search outcomes.
- Use a brief, descriptive URL. Clear URLs assist readers perceive what your put up is about at a look. The best strategy is to make the URL slug replicate your subject.
- Add alt textual content to your pictures. Google depends on the transient descriptions that seem as alt textual content to interpret pictures. Guarantee every picture has concise and correct alt textual content.
You should utilize the search engine optimization Writing Assistant that can assist you optimize your article.
Open the instrument and add not less than two key phrases (one must be your major key phrase). From right here, copy-paste the content material you’ve already written to your article.
Click on the “search engine optimization” tab to see suggestions to optimize your article, like extra key phrases to incorporate and any points your article has.
Make the prompt adjustments to enhance your article’s general rating and enhance your possibilities of exhibiting up larger in search outcomes.
7. Revise and Get Suggestions (If Doable)
The enhancing and revision course of is essential to chop fluff, guarantee every thing is smart, and tighten up your phrase selections.
Step away out of your draft for a couple of hours (or perhaps a day), so you possibly can come again with recent eyes.
Whenever you sit right down to edit, begin by studying the article out loud. This is likely one of the best methods to catch awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, or areas the place your tone feels off.
If you happen to can, get suggestions from another person.
At Semrush, we’ve a workforce of editors who completely evaluation our content material. They offer suggestions on:
- Sections that could possibly be restructured for higher stream
- Grammar and utilization errors
- Elements that could possibly be eliminated to keep away from redundancy
- Sentences that could possibly be written extra clearly
- Factors that want extra rationalization
Right here’s an instance:
Suggestions and enter like this usually results in enhancements.
3 Good Article Writing Examples
Listed below are a couple of particular articles that stand out from the competitors:
1. Content material Writing: What It Is + 15 Ideas for Success
Our content material writing article is a must-read for anybody able to degree up their content material writing expertise.
Right here’s why this text is so good:
- It kicks off with readability. The article begins with a easy definition and immediately solutions the reader’s largest query: “What’s content material writing, and why ought to I care?”
- It’s full of worth. With 15 particular ideas which can be supported by examples or instruments, it appears like a mini course in content material technique.
- It’s expertly written and simple to observe. Rachel Handley brings over a decade of writing expertise, and it reveals. The recommendation is skilled, however the tone stays pleasant and accessible.
- It makes use of visuals and formatting to maintain issues shifting. Screenshots, bolded ideas, and brief paragraphs make the information really feel digestible, despite the fact that it’s comparatively lengthy.
- It connects writing with real-world outcomes. Whether or not readers try to land shoppers, develop their manufacturers, or simply write higher content material, this information helps them see how robust writing ties into success.
There’s information to assist that this can be a good article, too. We seen it has 124 backlinks (hyperlinks pointing to it from different websites) from 65 totally different domains once we studied it utilizing the Backlink Analytics instrument.
This implies others see the article as a invaluable useful resource.
2. Video Advertising and marketing 101: Methods to Construct a Profitable Technique in 2025 (+ Examples & Professional Ideas)
This complete video advertising and marketing information is a superb instance of writing articles for full novices.
Right here’s why this text is so good:
- It meets novices the place they’re. The information doesn’t assume prior information. It breaks down your entire video advertising and marketing course of into easy-to-follow steps.
- It has a step-by-step framework. Every part flows naturally into the subsequent, serving to readers go from zero to revealed video with out getting caught in choice fatigue.
- It consists of sensible recommendation readers can apply. From selecting the best digital camera to realizing the place to put up content material, it tells readers precisely what to do.
- It’s relatable and fashionable. By spotlighting actual creators and present instruments, it makes the concept of beginning a video technique really feel achievable.
We selected this text for example as a result of Natural Analysis reveals there was an enormous enhance in key phrase rankings in April 2025.
The piece was up to date in April 2025. So, the uptick in rankings means that it’s on the cusp of getting much more site visitors from search engines like google now that it has been refreshed.
3. How Inventive Writing Can Enhance College students’ Resilience
This inventive writing-focused article is a superb instance of the best way to join with the viewers and ship worth.
Right here’s why this text is so good:
- It’s on a subject the viewers cares about. The piece addresses an actual problem college students face—resilience—and makes use of inventive writing because the lens to discover it. It’s an ideal instance of selecting a subject based mostly on the reader’s struggles and wishes.
- It makes use of the right tone. It speaks on to educators, college students, and psychological well being advocates in a approach that’s empathetic, clear, and inspiring—with out being too educational or too informal.
- It’s supported by analysis and actual tales. The article blends emotional storytelling with cited research and professional commentary, making it each credible and interesting.
- It follows a logical construction. The stream of the article is simple to observe, with well-formatted sections and clear transitions between concepts.
- It ends with a transparent takeaway. The ultimate part ties every thing collectively and reinforces the article’s predominant message: that writing is usually a highly effective instrument for development and therapeutic.
We selected this text for example as a result of Natural Analysis reveals it carried out nicely on the SERPs in 2020, shortly after it was written. Nevertheless it had a site visitors dip shortly after that:
This can be a signal that this text can be an ideal candidate for a refresh, just like the Buffer instance we gave above.
Write Your First Article Right now
Now that you recognize the steps, there’s just one factor left to do:
Write.
And if you wish to make the method simpler and quicker, attempt the instruments talked about on this information with a free trial of Semrush.
