How To Write A How-To Article

The purpose of this article is to provide practical steps to writers on how to write a how-to article.

1. Decide on a topic about which you know a lot.

The subject you choose will be what you center your how-to article around.

2. Pick a title that’s clear and concise.

Make sure your title is straightforward enough that people will readily know what your article is about. And be sure to put “how-to” in your title.

3. Try to keep things simple, but if it’s a complicated topic, use multiple parts.

Simple is best. However, some subjects are fairly complicated, so you’ll need to break things down into manageable, easily digestible parts.

4. Describe different ways if there are multiple methods to do something.

Often there is more than one way to do something, so you’ll need to detail what are the different methods.

5. Be sure you tailor your content to your intended audience.

Think carefully about the audience you are targeting, and then tailor your content to fit their needs and interests.

6. Use reliable sources to research your subject.

Reliable sources will give your article proper authenticity. So choose your sources carefully.

7. To stay organized, you should first write an outline.

Creating an outline before you start writing will help to ensure that you cover all the things you need to write about.

8. Summarize your article in your introduction.

Get things off to an excellent start by providing a good summary of what your article is about. A compelling introduction will draw your readers in and make them want to read your entire article.

9. For every action that you want your reader to take, write one step.

Break things down for your reader, so he or she knows what steps to take and in what order, to accomplish what you want them to get done.

10. Whenever you can, organize the steps in chronological order.

A reader can often accomplish things in chronological order. If that’s the case, make sure you list the steps that way to make things easier for your reader.

11. If the process isn’t chronological, follow a logical order.

If the how-to steps don’t lend themselves to being done in chronological order, then list them in whatever logical order makes the best sense.

12. Use clear, commanding language to describe your steps.

Use directive language that tells your reader what to do. Be sure you clearly state what you want him or her to do.

13. Be sure you address your reader directly.

Explain things to a reader the same way you would to a friend if you were telling that person how to build a bookcase, for example. Write informally when it’s appropriate.

14. So that your reader gets more information, include bulleted lists or substeps.

Most readers like to see how-to steps listed as substeps or bullets, so use this method where appropriate.

15. If there are any ingredients or supplies, include a list of them.

In many cases, you’ll need to tell your reader what supplies or ingredients they need to complete the tasks.

16. If you mention any sources in your article, be sure to include citations for them.

Cite any sources you use, which is always expected and is, of course, the proper thing to do.

17. Add in any additional tips, cautions, or advice.

After covering all the main areas of how to do something, there may still be some other things you want to mention. If so, add them to your article.

18. Enhance the steps listed in your article by including drawings or photographs, where appropriate.

The steps listed in how-to articles often benefit from photographs or drawings. If so, pick out some that illustrate things well.

19. You can find any mistakes you may have made by proofreading your article carefully.

You would think that proofreading would be self-evident, but a surprising number of authors don’t do a good job of checking their work carefully before submitting it. Don’t make this mistake. Proofread what you wrote very carefully. Software tools such as Grammarly can be especially helpful.

20. Complete the above steps and then you are ready to submit your article.

Congratulations on completing your how-to article. Now it’s time to submit it for publication so your readers can learn something new and useful from you.

References:

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-How-To-Article

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-great-how-to-article#how-to-write-a-great-howto-article-in-8-steps

https://www.practicalecommerce.com/Content-Marketing-How-to-Write-a-How-to-Article

https://copyblogger.com/how-to-write-a-killer-how-post-that-gets-attention/

__________________

Thanks for reading. Copyright © Terry Mansfield. All Rights Reserved.