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Best of eHow 2009
It’s a tall order: selecting my three favorite eHow articles from the hundreds of thousands of how to articles published this year. I knew I could never review them all, so I decided to give Studio writers a look at the type of writing eHow wants to showcase as we continue building out our content and building up our credibility. We want more articles like the ones featured here: articles written in an authoritative voice unique to the author—a voice capable of pulling the reader in and gaining their trust. These are well researched, thoughtfully constructed articles that fit within the parameters of eHow’s “how to” format.
How to Make Custom iPhone Ringtones for Free
Who wrote it: Alexia Petrakos
What I like about it: The introduction presents a pressing and common problem in a clear, yet engaging way: How do you get free ringtones for your iPhone?
The task in the title is both specific and simple, and it’s an issue faced by anyone with an iPhone who balks at paying for a song more than once. The steps are clear and sequential, as we hope is the case for all eHow ‘how to’ articles. I also like that the article engaged so many users: it generated more than 1,000 ratings and more than 360 comments.
How you can copy it: Start by stating the problem in the overview and using this as the launching point for the first step in your article. Keep the steps simple for articles that involve technical steps. You run the risk of confusing or distracting readers if you give more information than is needed to complete a particular step.
Assume as given only what is obvious by the problem statement. A person searching to “make iPhone ringtones” is likely confident enough with software and computers to take on such a project, making it unnecessary to explain how to open programs (such as iTunes) or navigate a web page.
How to Play Santa for Soldiers
Who wrote it: Linda Natali
What I like about it: Relevant, timely and engaging content for a good cause. It contains a ton of options for supporting troops around the holidays, but the information will remain relevant year-round and the article offers strong details on what the troops need. Clearly this article involved some research. I also like that the Tips & Warnings include specific information about what soldiers don’t need and that the Resources included in the article are credible sources make it simple for readers to take action.
How you can copy it: This article, featured as today’s eHow of the Day on the eHow homepage, is longer than your typical “how to” article. It’s an example of our “premium, featured content,” which utilize the step-by-step format to offer discrete, specific examples in each step of how to accomplish the goal (in this case, how to support the troops). This is a twist on the usual sequential format that instead answers the question posed in the sub-heads in each step.
Strong research and detailed information take an article to the next level and I encourage writers to do their due diligence when writing an article, even when the subject is within their sphere of expertise. Extra research and corroborating sources improves your credibility and that of the article. When article titles may be addressed in several ways, it can be perfectly acceptable and interesting to construct the article by writing each step as a way to resolve the question posed in the title. But to do this effectively, steps must provide a clear explanation for how to act, and how that action helps complete the task of the title.
How to Capitalize When You’re Underemployed
Who wrote it: Kristen Fischer
What I like about it: It grabs readers’ attention in the overview and reveals the relevance of the article in a compelling manner. You’re happy to have a job, but it’s not your dream job. What do you do when the market is too risky to look elsewhere? In the light of the current economic crisis and high unemployment rates the article looks particularly timely, yet the content is evergreen. It also approaches the problem on several levels and provides factual information that enhances the article’s credibility.
How you can copy it: Write an engaging overview/intro; capturing readers’ attention is essential to getting your article read and socialized. Another key is including specific facts about your subject and quoting experts in the field, both of which heighten the authority of your article.
Make headlines—or at least subheadings. Use appropriate, gripping subheadings to direct the article and keep readers’ attention. This also affords the article narrative flexibility and allows you to write in a magazine feature style.
Pick up the phone. This author is an expert on work and careers and has written books on the subject. If you aren’t the go-to person on the topic of your article grab the phone and call someone who has the experience and expertise to satisfy your readers.
Honorable mentions:
How to Lose Weight Like a Top Chef
How to Make Your Boss Adore You and Keep Your Job
How to Get A Guy To Call You Back (A Guy's Perspective)
How to Make Custom iPhone Ringtones for Free
Who wrote it: Alexia Petrakos
What I like about it: The introduction presents a pressing and common problem in a clear, yet engaging way: How do you get free ringtones for your iPhone?
The task in the title is both specific and simple, and it’s an issue faced by anyone with an iPhone who balks at paying for a song more than once. The steps are clear and sequential, as we hope is the case for all eHow ‘how to’ articles. I also like that the article engaged so many users: it generated more than 1,000 ratings and more than 360 comments.
How you can copy it: Start by stating the problem in the overview and using this as the launching point for the first step in your article. Keep the steps simple for articles that involve technical steps. You run the risk of confusing or distracting readers if you give more information than is needed to complete a particular step.
Assume as given only what is obvious by the problem statement. A person searching to “make iPhone ringtones” is likely confident enough with software and computers to take on such a project, making it unnecessary to explain how to open programs (such as iTunes) or navigate a web page.
How to Play Santa for Soldiers
Who wrote it: Linda Natali
What I like about it: Relevant, timely and engaging content for a good cause. It contains a ton of options for supporting troops around the holidays, but the information will remain relevant year-round and the article offers strong details on what the troops need. Clearly this article involved some research. I also like that the Tips & Warnings include specific information about what soldiers don’t need and that the Resources included in the article are credible sources make it simple for readers to take action.
How you can copy it: This article, featured as today’s eHow of the Day on the eHow homepage, is longer than your typical “how to” article. It’s an example of our “premium, featured content,” which utilize the step-by-step format to offer discrete, specific examples in each step of how to accomplish the goal (in this case, how to support the troops). This is a twist on the usual sequential format that instead answers the question posed in the sub-heads in each step.
Strong research and detailed information take an article to the next level and I encourage writers to do their due diligence when writing an article, even when the subject is within their sphere of expertise. Extra research and corroborating sources improves your credibility and that of the article. When article titles may be addressed in several ways, it can be perfectly acceptable and interesting to construct the article by writing each step as a way to resolve the question posed in the title. But to do this effectively, steps must provide a clear explanation for how to act, and how that action helps complete the task of the title.
How to Capitalize When You’re Underemployed
Who wrote it: Kristen Fischer
What I like about it: It grabs readers’ attention in the overview and reveals the relevance of the article in a compelling manner. You’re happy to have a job, but it’s not your dream job. What do you do when the market is too risky to look elsewhere? In the light of the current economic crisis and high unemployment rates the article looks particularly timely, yet the content is evergreen. It also approaches the problem on several levels and provides factual information that enhances the article’s credibility.
How you can copy it: Write an engaging overview/intro; capturing readers’ attention is essential to getting your article read and socialized. Another key is including specific facts about your subject and quoting experts in the field, both of which heighten the authority of your article.
Make headlines—or at least subheadings. Use appropriate, gripping subheadings to direct the article and keep readers’ attention. This also affords the article narrative flexibility and allows you to write in a magazine feature style.
Pick up the phone. This author is an expert on work and careers and has written books on the subject. If you aren’t the go-to person on the topic of your article grab the phone and call someone who has the experience and expertise to satisfy your readers.
Honorable mentions:
How to Lose Weight Like a Top Chef
How to Make Your Boss Adore You and Keep Your Job
How to Get A Guy To Call You Back (A Guy's Perspective)
BradleyB2
Dec 22, 3:34 PM
It was humorous, very informative, and honestly a very good piece. I'm thinking of doing a "Best of 2010" with our ankle rehab program project (http://www.sprainedankle.org/) - although, not a whole lot has really happened. So, I'm not sure. Maybe it would be good to wait another year.. Thanks for the idea though!
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