Whenever you post anything, ask yourself: "why will online readers find your item interesting?" So, be on the topic and try not to write the same old story everyone else is writing. Search for duplicates and related stories on Bighow before posting something.
 

Say it out loud before you write it. Check for a natural delivery.
Seth Godin: "Are you adding anything new?" "Be clear, be generous, be kind. Can't hurt."

Blog Posts

1. Start with a great headline, a magnetic headline that brings out the essence of your story. Most people will judge your article on your headline alone. There is just so much competition. Don't use any uncommon word in your title. Many users would not bother to search the meaning of a word in the dictionary. Doo not use unnecessary adjectives in your titles unless they bring out the juice of your story.
2. Write in an active voice. 3. Include some relevant graphic or image [check for copyright issues]
4. Divide long stories into short 4-5 lines max. paragraphs. Pithy Para heads will make it more attractive.
5. Be specific and to the point without being verbose - Come to the point from the headline and first two lines of your story onwards.
6. Use Bullets or Lists.
7. Be opinionated - Don't hesitate to put forth your case however outlandish you may think it is, provided it is backed by logical data.
8. Be unique and have a voice - try not to write in a bland manner.
9. Give Data - Support your opinions with relevant examples and data.
10. Be known - Providing your real identity will build credibility and reputation for your work [registering with your real name helps] However, if you want to be anonymous, it is okay.
11. Finally, do not write about a topic about which you do not know much.
12. Unless it is breaking news, do not make your post too short. Try to make your post at least 400 words long.
13. Revise and revise before you post. Double check for mistakes.
14. Write one high quality and well researched article at least once a week to hone your online writing and develop a following.
15. Tag your post intelligently - use keywords that describe the story lucidly and so that readers might discover your articles easily.

16. Omit needless words - "Elements of Style"
 

Topics

Lists- Most popular form of online stories. readers love them. e.g. 10 things Biodiesel will make expensive; top 10 movies on War in Vietnam,
Interviews are easy to do.
Summaries - Summarizing articles on an important topic, found on different web sites- Who said what, etc. For example, reviews of stocks, books, movies, etc.
Case Studies - For example, how Wikipedia became so big.
Profiles - Of people, companies, etc.
Contrasting two options - Where you compare two or more different positions on a topic. For example, people who choose Microsoft products and those who hate it.
Explaining your position - For example, On why you do not like George Bush.
How to - Instructional Articles.
What is - Where you write in detail about some specific issue or topic after having done detailed research.
Inspiring, feel-good stories - For example, how I overcame Asthma and ran the marathon.
Report an experience - For example, how is it like living in Baghdad today, or 24 hrs in the life of a BPO worker.
Stories and opinions about high-profile names [celebrities, experts] and brands work well.

Links

Ask yourself every time you submit a link: "Is it something important?"

1. Look for stories with a human touch
2. Do not try to write a controversial topic unless you have a clear idea about it.
3. If you submit a link to a video or pdf, say it so and provide the link.
4. Try to link to the original source, instead of a blog post about other blog post about...this practice is referred to as linkjacking.
5. If you want to modify the title of the linked story, great but do not be off-topic.
6. Use the text area to write at least 3-4 lines about the story.
7. Actually read an article before you submit it. This one is a big problem on popular social news sites harming their effectiveness eventually.
8. Do not post hoaxes or promote snake oil.
9. If you find a good post on Bighow and want to tag it on services like Del.icio.us or Technorati, use the "bighow" tag in addition with tags.

Comments

Before you comment, ask yourself, "would you say this face to face?" and follow it up with "does it improve the quality of conversation about the topic?"

1. Be civil.
2. Don't spam with links. Write a few lines.
3. Don't post inane comments like," so true."
3. The correct way of disagreeing in comments: Instead of "This is useless post", try "The author does not make ample arguments for..."
4. The best comments use the point -by-point style when adding their opinion.

Participate and Promote

Don't limit yourself to Bighow.

1. If you have your own blog/site, there is nothing wrong in submitting your own writing on Bighow. For sake of variety for readers, just do not submit multiple entries at a time.
2. If you have your own blog/site, you can always request your readers to discover all your writings and activity on Bighow.
3. You can email your friends and even ask the forum members of a forum (if you are a member of any forum) and encourage them to read your links and stories on Bighow.
4. Elsewhere, start group around your topic on popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Orkut, Twitter and post your latest bighow article. Polls work well on such groups.
5. Become members of other sites and make yourself and your writing popular.

Classified ads

The best classified ads explain the benefit/gist of the posting in the headline:

e.g. Great looking, highly maintained 3 year old Prius on sale for only $20,000; or, PHP Developer with 4 years' experience available for contract jobs.

last updated: Feb 2009