Article Descriptions

Lesson 7 from You Can Make Money Writing

Most article directories require short article descriptions with each submission. Just as with the title, this is another chance to "sell" the article to the reader. Here are some guidelines for good article descriptions.

One or Two Sentences Only

Many directories will allow more, but not all. To avoid having to write different descriptions for different directories, just stick to one or two sentences. If you have three sentences, you can use "and" between two of them to make them into one, or otherwise join them together. Examples...

Not sure how to make a budget? Just follow the steps outlined here. You'll be able to cut your expenses and pay down your debts.

Becomes:

Not sure how to make a budget? Just follow the steps outlined here, and you'll be able to cut your expenses and pay down your debts.

Another example:

You can increase you IQ. Just use the simple techniques outlined here.

Becomes:

You can increase you IQ using the simple techniques outlined here.

Try to keep the whole description to less than 30 words. Some directories require longer descriptions. If you choose to submit to them, they usually allow you to use the first few lines of your article for a description.

Primary Keyword in the Article Description

This is just another way to increase the odds that the article is found when people do a search using that keyword. It is said by some that the keyword should be in the first few words of the description, but I am not sure this is important (websites that use the article generally won't even use a description, or will make their own).

There is also some debate about whether the keyword phrase should be used exactly as it is searched or if just having the crucial words there is enough. For example, if you are targeting the keyword, "daily motivation," you might have a description that reads, "Here are six specific things you can do daily to increase your level of motivation." It has the individual words of the keyword phrase in it, and in order ("daily" comes before "motivation") which seems to help the search engines.

But it may be better to use the keyword phrase exactly as it is searched. For example, "Try these powerful daily motivation exercises." It is speculated that given a choice between the two, some search engines would place the latter ahead of the one with a "broken" keyword phrase. To be safe I try to use them as they are searched, except where it becomes too awkward.

Sell the Article

Article descriptions shouldn't really describe the article as much as they should tell the reader why he should read it. If you write an article on making candles, for example, don't ever say something boring like, "You'll find good advice here on making candles." Involve the reader more, perhaps with a question. For example: "Want to have the most unique gifts for your friends? You can start making artistic candles today, using these simple directions."

Read your description with the question in mind, "If I was seeing this for the first time, would it make me want to read the article?" Let's look at a couple examples (the keyword being targeted is in bold):

Title: How to Remove Carpet Stains Fast

Description: Six tips on how to remove carpet stains.

Better description: You can get that nasty stain out today with this simple lesson on how to remove carpet stains.

Title: Unusual Money Saving Tips

Description: Some money saving tips you haven't heard of.

Better description: These unusual money saving tips may keep you from wasting hundreds of dollars unnecessarily.

Article Descriptions Versus Page Descriptions

Making a description for a directory submission into a "sale's pitch" for the article is a good idea. However, if you are writing a description for a page on your website, to be used in the "meta description" tag (<META NAME="DESCRIPTION" CONTENT="description here">), you have to keep it objective. Don't use the word "you" or "great" or any "salesy" words. The article above, for example, might have a description like this:

A collection of unusual money saving tips for consumers.

The search engines will not use your page description if it is considered "non-objective." a description like, "You need to try these money saving tips," is too much of an opinion. So here's the challenge: You want a description that will attract visitors when they see it in the search engine results, but it will only be there if it is deemed appropriate, relevant and objective. If the search engines don't use your description, they'll use excerpts from the page, and then you don't know what they'll choose to display.

Here is what I might try for that description to "juice it up" a bit while still keeping it objective:

Money saving tips meant to help consumers avoid common mistakes and save money in many areas of their lives.

This should still be acceptable to the search engines, and would be a little more enticing to potential visitors who see it in their search results (people always want to know if they're making the "mistakes" referred to).

As for those article directory submissions - a strong reason to read (a sale's pitch) is still a good idea. Make clicking that link irresistible.

Keywords

Most article directories will also have a a place on their submission form for keywords. The primary keyword is the important one, and should be listed first. This is the one that you're targeting with your article.

Directories have different expectations here, but generally you need to include a minimum of three keywords. Many authors stuff this form full of keywords, but three or four is probably enough. Don't bother to do research for this part. Just look at the article and pick out those words and phrases in it that are most likely to be searched for.

Breaking down and rearranging the primary keyword is a good way to find others too. For example, the keyword "writing online articles" also contains the often-searched "online articles," and "articles," and "writing articles," and "writing." You could use all of these. Normally, you have to separate the keywords with a comma, and possibly a space (most ask for this now), like this:

writing online articles, online articles, writing, writing online, writing articles, articles