Nailing the Sections of a Ghostwritten Article

by Cris Yeager
DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST
Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting can be one of the most fulfilling forms of writing, but it’s easy to make mistakes when you’re new to the field and don’t know what to expect from clients. Ghostwriting allows you to produce content without having to take on the significant time commitment that writing an article from scratch requires. Whether you’re writing in the business, health, or education fields, ghostwriters can also provide an extra level of expertise that you might lack if you were creating the content on your own.

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Ghostwriting web articles can be a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field, whether you are an established writer seeking to branch out into new areas or you’re just getting started and want to build up your portfolio. These tips will help you nail all sections of your ghostwritten article (intro, body and conclusion), so your clients get exactly what they’re looking for!

The basics
What makes articles different from blog posts? Well, blog posts are typically more informal and provide more personal opinions, while articles tend to be focused on providing information for people who may not have as much knowledge about the topic. An informative web article might have graphs and statistics, in order to show data collected by professionals. 

Some bloggers will write a blog post on one specific topic that they have experience with. They may do this because they're passionate about that topic or because they want to share their expertise with others. Articles typically take up broader topics and try to answer any questions or present new research or findings on a subject for people to learn more about it.

Blog posts are generally written much like a blog post, however, they are typically 300-600 words in length when it's just offering basic details but as much as 1500 words when used as a guide or tutorial (like this one!) as opposed to an article being closer to 1000-2000 words for a more formal discussion that often includes statistics and data.

Web articles also require more research. Writers take a deep dive into the chosen topic and organize the information neatly within the writing.

As a writer or ghostwriter, you already know that a catchy headline is in order. Don't forget about the SEO in the introduction and the meta description to round out the basics of writing a web article. Assuming, as a writer, the research about the chosen topic has already been done, let's start our journey on how to nail the sections of a ghostwritten article!

The introduction
The introduction of an article is where the reader learns about everything they are about to read. It's filled with snippets of information that help the reader to decide to keep reading. You can start off with a hook or use an anecdote or quote as your opening line. The possibilities are limitless. A good introduction will also include information on what the article is about, what makes it special, and any other relevant details that set it apart from other articles on the subject matter. Standing out IS the ultimate goal. Why? Because no one wants to read the same stuff over and over.

The length of your introduction depends on what kind of content that you’re writing about. While different niches can have different styles. Keep the hook to one or two sentences. Use vital key points and SEO keywords but don't give away everything. You want them to keep reading! The formula to a great introduction is simple and unfortunately the one thing most writers get wrong! The formula should be organized like this: The hook, the issue at hand, a hint at a resolution and finally, a reminder of what they are about to read. 

Here's an example of a two-paragraph introduction on "Cooking for One":
Being single certainly has its challenges, but is cooking for yourself one of those difficulties? Cooking at home has major benefits especially when it comes to our health and our finances. Finding ways to make it work doesn't have to be a burden. It can be a daunting task to find ways to not overspend on groceries because oftentimes, you can't just buy one of something due to multiple packaging or you only need a small amount of spice and have to buy the whole container. 

However, there are ways to make it work! By forming new habits and thinking outside of the box, you can learn to cook for yourself every day of the week and improve your health, not to mention the size of your wallet. Keep reading to learn how to cook for one efficiently and with confidence!

Here's an example of a two-paragraph introduction on "Cooking for One":

Being single certainly has its challenges, but is cooking for yourself one of those difficulties? Cooking at home has major benefits especially when it comes to our health and our finances. Finding ways to make it work doesn't have to be a burden. It can be a daunting task to find ways to not overspend on groceries because oftentimes, you can't just buy one of something due to multiple packaging or you only need a small amount of spice and have to buy the whole container.

​However, there are ways to make it work! By forming new habits and thinking outside of the box, you can learn to cook for yourself every day of the week and improve your health, not to mention the size of your wallet. Keep reading to learn how to cook for one efficiently and with confidence!
​

Let's break down the formula.

• The hook: Being single certainly has its challenges, but is cooking for yourself one of those difficulties? Cooking at home has major benefits especially when it comes to our health and our finances.
• The issue at hand: Finding ways to make it work doesn't have to be a burden. It can be a daunting task to find ways to not overspend on groceries because oftentimes, you can't just buy one of something due to multiple packaging or you only need a small amount of spice and have to buy the whole container. 
• A hint at a resolution: However, there are ways to make it work! By forming new habits and thinking outside of the box, you can learn to cook for yourself every day of the week and improve your health, not to mention the size of your wallet.
• A reminder of what they are about to read: Keep reading to learn how to cook for one efficiently and with confidence!

It looks pretty straightforward because it is! It may seem simple, but there are a lot of things happening in those two paragraphs. Not only does it peak interest, but offers a relatively generous solution to a problem. 

The body
The body of an article offers detailed information that readers are always hungry for. Ghostwriting an article body is no different than crafting words for any other written piece. Always take the advice of organizing the researched material by creating an outline. This ensures safety in keeping it all in line and garnering views that are strived for. If the reader is tempted enough by the introduction, they WILL continue to read, so you must keep the information flowing in the right direction.

Break down the information in subheadings and keep each section to a few paragraphs. The body formula should include general knowledge of the section topic and critical key points per sub-headline that leads to the solution to the problem.

Here's what the initial section of "Cooking for One" should look like:

​Before you shop, be kitchen-ready Assuming you already have cooking appliances at home, let's take an in-depth look at how to prepare your kitchen in advance ahead of shopping. Clean. Having a clean kitchen is not only crucial to your health, but it's also comforting to have a nice sparkly area to prepare your food and there's no guesswork in knowing where your ingredients are because it's already organized. Here are some sturdy tips: Wipe down all surfaces with a safe cleanser used in kitchens to kill bacteria and germs. Make sure you choose a pleasant scent that allows you to be happy to cook there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should always clean when surfaces are visually dirty after you've prepared food, after visitors and while and during sickness in the home. Also, sanitize the inside of your refrigerator, stove, microwave dishwasher and sinks. Organize your cabinets, pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Everything you'll use should have its own designated space in your kitchen. Group spices, baking essentials, canned foods cereals, pastas and other cooking components like oils and vinegars in the pantry. Chill fresh vegetables, cheeses and meats separately from one another in the refrigerator to avoid cross-contamination. Keep all frozen meats in the freezer wrapped or contained securely with dates of when they were placed there.

Let's break down the formula.

General knowledge of the section topic: Assuming you already have cooking appliances at home, let's take an in-depth look at how to prepare your kitchen in advance ahead of shopping. Clean. Having a clean kitchen is not only crucial to your health, but it's also comforting to have a nice sparkly area to prepare your food and there's no guesswork in knowing where your ingredients are because it's already organized.
Critical key points: Here are some sturdy tips:

1. Wipe down all surfaces with a safe cleanser used in kitchens to kill bacteria and germs. Make sure you choose a pleasant scent that allows you to be happy to cook there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should always clean when surfaces are visually dirty after you've prepared food, after visitors and while and during sickness in the home. Also, sanitize the inside of your refrigerator, stove, microwave dishwasher and sinks.
2. Organize your cabinets, pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Everything you'll use should have its own designated space in your kitchen. Group spices, baking essentials, canned foods cereals, pastas and other cooking components like oils and vinegars in the pantry. Chill fresh vegetables, cheeses and meats separately from one another in the refrigerator to avoid cross-contamination. Keep all frozen meats in the freezer wrapped or contained securely with dates of when they were placed there.

That's all there is to it! There isn't a standard limit on the number of sub-headlines or sections to write about as long as the information is clean and tidy and has no fluff. Unnecessary sentences should be omitted to keep the piece flowing.

The summary
A summary or conclusion is a simple recall of what you've just read and usually, for best measure, contains motivation. This ensures an invitation for the reader to follow the advice of the author. Normally this can all be placed into one paragraph. The formula for concluding an article should be a reading reminder and a call-to-action for motivation.

Let's take a look at what the summary paragraph of "Cooking for One" would look like:

Wrapping up Learning to cook for yourself even if you aren't single doesn't have to be a burdensome task. Many stay-at-home moms may feel the need to cut costs while their children are in school. Military spouses, teenagers after school, college students, widows and widowers, and the elderly alike can find the comfort of their home to be more viable than running through a drive-through and grabbing a less-healthy option. Start the journey of learning to prepare meals at home that will not only make you happy but will improve other aspects of your life.

Let's break down the formula.

A reading reminder: Learning to cook for yourself even if you aren't single doesn't have to be a burdensome task. Many stay-at-home moms may feel the need to cut costs while their children are in school. Military spouses, teenagers after school, college students, widows and widowers, and the elderly alike can find the comfort of their home to be more viable than running through a drive-through and grabbing a less-healthy option.
A call-to-action for motivation: Start the journey of learning to prepare meals at home that will not only make you happy, but it will improve other aspects of your life.

This brings all of the vital knowledge into a full circle and completes the article with an encouraging prompt to follow the suggestions.

Conclusion
If you've never ghostwritten a web article before, knowing the basics of each section and how they differ from other pieces you've written will guide you in the right direction. Have confidence that you can fulfill a client's wishes and be able to do it again, over and over, in the future. Nail those article sections and continue to learn, you'll never gain too much or enough knowledge about ghostwriting!

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