How to Or Not How to
People are always teaching each other. We show each other new and easier ways to do things. As writers we teach people what we’ve learned. As readers, they teach us new stuff. All of this teaching surrounds one question, How?
How do I spot trends before they happen? How do I brand my business blog? How do I write compelling articles? How do I become an idea magnet? How do I code links? How do I make a contact form?
As a reader ready to learn, I find nothing more frustrating than a how-to article that doesn’t work. As a writer writing one, I know how hard it is not to miss something important. I’ve scoured my files to compile a list — a baker’s dozen — of things readers want when we answer How?
12+1 Things Every Reader Wants from a How-To Article
Every how question has a how-to answer. Unfortunately, not all how-to answers are equal in their information value. Some get us exactly what we need to know. Others, well, others leave us scratching our heads and wondering why the writers wrote them. Here are the 12+1 things that every reader wants from a how-to article.
- 1. Know your subject inside out. If you don’t know the subject, get to be an expert on it or don’t write about it. My time is short and I came for solid information. This is your chance to make yourself a trusted source. Don’t blow it.
2. Write with confidence so that I don’t worry. I don’t see any logical reason that I should have more confidence in what you’re saying that you do.
3. Give the article a clear title that tells me what I’ll learn by reading it. Now is not the time to be esoteric. If I came to learn, I intend to read an article to answer my questions and solve my problems. Make it easy for me to see whether your article has what I’m looking for.
4. Give me a separate materials list. If I’m have to gather things, make it easy for me to do that. While you’re there, tell me how long It should take to complete the project successfully.
5. Grab and keep my attention with an introduction that lets me know what you’re going to teach me, the materials I need to do this new thing, and WHY I want to know how to do it.
7. Put all of the steps in order as they need to be completed. This isn’t a movie script — no flashbacks, please. Bold the materials in the text of each step, so that I know which one I’ll use next.
8. Remember to give the relevant details. I know it takes a little longer, but those details are the difference between my understanding and my misinterpreting your directions. I’m trusting you to provide all I need. Getting this one right, and I’ll see you as a great teacher.
9. Write on a need-to-know basis. Read the finished article to take out everything I don’t need to know. Extraneous information is fun, but it’s confusing to a learner. It will stop me and make me wonder. I’ll wonder whether I’m supposed to do use it. If you must include that little extra tidbit, put it in the introduction or conclusion as a benefit or explaination.
10. Make your directions imprerative sentences. That is, start each sentence with a verb, as I did with the steps in this list. That helps me focus on what the task is without have to sift through extra words.
11. Tell me — in the conclusion — what product I’ll have if I follow your directions. Also tell me why having made or done that as you suggest will make my life better, easier, or more successful. I want to feel the satisfaction of having read your article. I also need the call to action that will get me try the project you’re suggesting.
12. Test the directions. Do every step in order or better yet, get someone who doesn’t know how to do the project by following your directions. Your credibility will be safe, sealed, and delivered, if your tester gets the results your promise.
PLUS ONE: To fill out this baker’s dozen, don’t forget to let folks know why you do the what you’re teaching and how it has had a positive impact on your own life.
The Impact of a How-to Article
How-to writing is a genre used by every day by almost every person. It’s a particularly strong business and blog tool. When the topic is well-chosen, how-to articles are automatic promotion. Readers are searching for answers. How-articles provide them. Articles with answers have the power to establish expertise and credibility, especially when they’re written with depth as a cohesive series. Using a series approach, how-to articles can be a strong tool to establishing brand expertise as well as providing business and blog promotion.
What’s the worst experience you’ve had with a how-to article? What’s the best?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Hey Liz,
Looks like your back up… Yeah!
I had a rant a few months back about some equipment I uas using for DSL. I have had so many hits from that (I was complaining, not teaching), maybe I should write a How-to and link them.
Think something like that would work?
You are a writer, therefore you care very much that your words accurately convey your thoughts.
For information then: a baker’s dozen is not a dozen. It’s thirteen. That’s why we still have ‘baker’s dozen’ as an expression; if it meant the same as a dozen we wouldn’t waste time with the extra word.
From the Wikipedia:
“The oldest known source and most probable origin for the expression ‘bakers dozen’ dates to the 13th century in one of the earliest English statutes, instituted during the reign of Henry III (r. 1216 – 1272), called the Assize of Bread and Ale. Bakers who were found to have short-changed customers could be liable to severe punishment. To guard against the crude punishment of losing a hand to an axe, a baker would give 13 for the price of 12, to be certain of not being known as a cheat. Specifically, the practice of baking 13 items for an intended dozen was to prevent ‘short measure’, on the basis that one of the 13 could be lost, eaten, burnt or ruined in some way, leaving the baker with the original dozen. The practice could be seen in the guild codes of the Worshipful Company of Bakers in London.”
Yeah, Joe. I think it would work. Got for it!
dalroth5
I’m not quite sure I understand why you’re saying what you’re saying. There are 12 +1 or 13 items in the list. That is why I call it a baker’s dozen.
I love that you gave the background of where the term comes from. I didn’t have all of that detail, though I did know some of it.
I hopw you’ll keep reading and adding your insight to what I post. It’s nice to know someone is keeping watch. 😛
Doh!
Yup, guilty as charged…I counted the 12 numbered items and missed the unnumbered one. Apologies, and thanks for being so magnanimous. As for why I’m here: you writtit, so I reddit. 🙂
Hi Dalroth5,
Believe me. There’s a reason I don’t write Math Books very often. It’s the other side of my brain and I can transition from reading to writing.
My mistake is usually that I put 6 reasons in the title and 7 reasons in the list.
So no worries here friend. Mistakes are what we all make at Successful Blog.
You are welcome to participate in every part of what we do here. Even the mistakes. 🙂