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 need to be overwhelming.
We’ll clarify the right way to write an article in seven steps.
Whether or not you wish to develop your weblog, land your first freelance shopper, or write an article for college, this information will assist.
How you can Write an Article in 7 Steps
Writing an article boils right down to seven steps:
1. Study About Your Viewers
To put in writing an article that resonates, you need to perceive what your viewers desires to know, how they suppose, what they wrestle with, and even the precise phrases they use.
Right here’s the right 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 search out locations the place your viewers spends time (subreddits, Fb teams, LinkedIn communities, and so on.)
- Discuss to them. In case you have clients, associates, or co-workers who suit your target market, ask them straight. What do they care about? What questions have they got? What do they wrestle with? The extra you’ll be able to find out about them, the higher.
- Ask an AI device. AI instruments like ChatGPT may also help collect insights about your target market’s habits and desires
For instance, one in all our goal audiences at Semrush is advertising professionals—website positioning 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 splendid viewers is advertising professionals—website positioning 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’m going to study extra about them and the matters they’re occupied with?”
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 fighting?
- 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 device—not a alternative for in-depth analysis.
2. Select a Related Matter
Ideally, write about one thing in your space of experience that may curiosity your viewers.
So, how do you select the appropriate subject?
Begin by asking your self why you’re writing the article. This may information your alternative:
- For web site site visitors, select a key phrase persons are trying to find—you’ll be able to 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, deal with 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 aim is to get extra purchasers.
You understand lots of your purchasers wrestle with productiveness when nobody’s holding them accountable. So, you may write a few subject with a headline like “How you can 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 device.
- Enter a broad subject associated to your space of experience
- Discover article headlines and questions persons are trying to find
- Select one which looks like a match and construct your article round it
3. Analysis Your Matter
Take time to assemble info earlier than you begin writing to make your article extra correct, extra helpful, and simpler to write down.
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 right way to write an article” to see what already exists.
Learn by way of the highest 10 articles on the search engine outcomes web page (SERP). Notice every article’s angle, advised ideas, and format. And see if there’s something lacking from these articles you can add.
However don’t cease there.
Proceed your search on YouTube, Instagram, and even TikTok. Learn discussion board posts. Attain out to business specialists. Learn knowledge research and business studies.
You’re on the lookout for tendencies, knowledge factors, and knowledgeable insights to help your writing.
4. Create Your Define
A content material define is a doc that particulars what an article ought to embody. Creating a top level view helps you make clear your concepts, manage them right into a logical movement, and write sooner and with extra focus.
Right here’s the right way to create a top level view:
- Provide you with a working title that summarizes the content material and entices your viewers. For instance, “How you can Write an Article Audiences Wish to Learn (7 Steps)” is best than simply “How you can Write An Article.” Use Semrush’s Title Generator device to provide you with higher title concepts.
- Add the primary sections and subsections of the article in a logical format. Your title needs to be the one H1, then you’ll be able to have H2s as your essential sections and H3+ as your subsections that additional break down/clarify your essential sections
- Break down what key factors might be included in every part. You need to use bullet factors to indicate essential info.
- Collect supporting proof and examples. Add any hyperlinks you wish to use within the article, corresponding to knowledge research, supporting articles, and even discussion board posts with different individuals’s private expertise
One straightforward method 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 inns, and navigating unfamiliar areas.”
It should generate a top level view for you:
Then, make changes as wanted. Be at liberty so as to add or take away any sections or key factors primarily based in your analysis.
If you happen to’re writing a weblog put up to your web site, use Semrush’s website positioning Content material Template. It provides you with a content material temporary that’s optimized for serps to extend your probabilities of displaying up in search outcomes.
Enter your subject key phrase and click on “Create content material template.”
When the device is completed, you’ll see suggestions associated to phrase rely, semantically associated phrases to incorporate, and extra.
Use these insights to replace your define.
5. Write Your First Draft
Lastly, it’s time to write down. Comply with your define and your analysis to make the method smoother and sooner (that’s what you probably did all that work for).
And keep in mind:
Your first draft doesn’t have to be good. In truth, it shouldn’t be.
Your job proper now’s to get phrases on the web page—you’ll be able to repair awkward phrasing, grammar points, and weak phrase decisions later.
Right here’s the right way to strategy it:
- Begin with a robust introduction. Seize your readers’ consideration from the very starting. Think about using an attention-grabbing 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, purpose for a mode that is straightforward to learn and perceive. Think about you are explaining the subject to a buddy.
- Use brief paragraphs and sentences. This makes your content material extra digestible and fewer intimidating to readers.
- Incorporate visuals. The place acceptable, embody photographs or video as an example your factors and break up textual content.
- Write a compelling conclusion. Summarize your details and go away 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.
Set a timer for 25 minutes to focus completely on writing. You’ll be able to edit later. Proper now, you simply need to get phrases on the web page.
If you happen to’re struggling to write down your article, you should utilize an AI content material generator for assist. ChatGPT can write a complete article for you in seconds primarily based on a single sentence.
However right here’s the catch:
If you happen to simply say “write an article about XYZ,” what you get might be generic and bland. As a result of it lacks issues like private expertise, experience, and particulars that matter to your viewers.
The secret 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 (Non-compulsory)
Utilizing search engine marketing (website positioning) finest practices will increase the chances that your article will present in search outcomes customers see after coming into associated queries—which might drive extra readers to your article.
Plus, studying website positioning is a unbelievable method to earn cash from writing articles.
You’ll be able to promote your individual services and products in articles that drive site visitors from Google. Or you’ll be able to supply website positioning article writing as a service for purchasers.
Listed here are some easy methods to optimize your article for serps:
- Embody your key phrase within the title. As an example, when 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 straight affect rankings, a very good 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 only strategy is to make the URL slug replicate your subject.
- Add alt textual content to your photographs. Google depends on the temporary descriptions that seem as alt textual content to interpret photographs. Guarantee every picture has concise and correct alt textual content.
You need to use the website positioning Writing Assistant that can assist you optimize your article.
Open the device and add at the very least two key phrases (one needs to be your main key phrase). From right here, copy-paste the content material you’ve already written to your article.
Click on the “website positioning” tab to see suggestions to optimize your article, like extra key phrases to incorporate and any points your article has.
Make the advised adjustments to enhance your article’s total rating and enhance your probabilities of displaying up increased in search outcomes.
7. Revise and Get Suggestions (If Potential)
The enhancing and revision course of is essential to chop fluff, guarantee every thing is sensible, and tighten up your phrase decisions.
Step away out of your draft for just a few hours (or perhaps a day), so you’ll be able to come again with contemporary eyes.
While you sit right down to edit, begin by studying the article out loud. This is among 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 crew of editors who completely assessment our content material. They offer suggestions on:
- Sections that could possibly be restructured for higher movement
- 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 clarification
Right here’s an instance:
Suggestions and enter like this usually results in enhancements.
3 Good Article Writing Examples
Listed here are just a few particular articles that stand out from the competitors:
1. Content material Writing: What It Is + 15 Suggestions for Success
Our content material writing article is a must-read for anybody able to degree up their content material writing abilities.
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 greatest query: “What’s content material writing, and why ought to I care?”
- It’s filled with worth. With 15 particular ideas which are supported by examples or instruments, it looks like a mini course in content material technique.
- It’s expertly written and simple to comply with. 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 transferring. Screenshots, bolded ideas, and brief paragraphs make the information really feel digestible, regardless that it’s comparatively lengthy.
- It connects writing with real-world outcomes. Whether or not readers try to land purchasers, develop their manufacturers, or simply write higher content material, this information helps them see how robust writing ties into success.
There’s knowledge to help that it is a good article, too. We seen it has 124 backlinks (hyperlinks pointing to it from different websites) from 65 totally different domains after we studied it utilizing the Backlink Analytics device.
This implies others see the article as a invaluable useful resource.
2. Video Advertising 101: How you can Construct a Profitable Technique in 2025 (+ Examples & Professional Suggestions)
This complete video advertising information is a superb instance of writing articles for full newcomers.
Right here’s why this text is so good:
- It meets newcomers the place they’re. The information doesn’t assume prior information. It breaks down your entire video advertising course of into easy-to-follow steps.
- It has a step-by-step framework. Every part flows naturally into the following, serving to readers go from zero to revealed video with out getting caught in determination fatigue.
- It contains sensible recommendation readers can apply. From choosing the proper digital camera to understanding 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 instance 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 serps now that it has been refreshed.
3. How Inventive Writing Can Improve College students’ Resilience
This inventive writing-focused article is a superb instance of the right 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 primarily based 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 means 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 knowledgeable commentary, making it each credible and fascinating.
- It follows a logical construction. The movement of the article is straightforward to comply with, 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 essential message: that writing generally is a highly effective device for development and therapeutic.
We selected this text for instance as a result of Natural Analysis reveals it carried out nicely on the SERPs in 2020, shortly after it was written. But it surely had a site visitors dip shortly after that:
This can be a signal that this text could be a fantastic candidate for a refresh, just like the Buffer instance we gave above.
Write Your First Article Right this moment
Now that you understand the steps, there’s just one factor left to do:
Write.
And if you wish to make the method simpler and sooner, attempt the instruments talked about on this information with a free trial of Semrush.
