This is a simple question that ALL can answer

[threeg5]

What really makes a good article in general?

Guidelines:

1. No directory rules should apply here
2. This is probably more a matter of opinion
3. List everything you can think of
4. Give a real explanation of your thoughts
5. Please add in where I have went to sleep

[Takuya Hikichi]

OK, to start out,

I'd say an article that

1. generates traffic.
2. is interesting and thought provoking.
3. motivates me to do something after reading it.

[BIG Mike]

4. Makes me want to bookmark the author's site.

[GrantFreeman]

A well written article makes the reader want to read more.

Grant

[ripsnorta2]

After seeing my copied article.

1. An article should be readable and understandable by the audience for which it is intended.
2. An article should provoke an emotional response in the reader.
3. The emotional response should encourage the reader to take action. That could be to find out more, buy something, or look for another article by the author.

I'd actually apply those principles to any writing. If the author of a work of fiction has done his job right, I'm going to not want to put the book down. I'm going to want to see the hero defeat the villain and save the damsel in distress (or vice versa.)

Even a technical document is going to need to convince a reader to implement the solution. It might not be the same style as the Perils of Penelope, but the writer will need to convince the reader that he knows what he is talking about. That should generate the emotional response of confidence, or even happiness that a solution has been found.

[threeg5]

So far It looks like Tak has it generalized AWESOME

Originally Posted by Takuya Hikichi

OK, to start out,

I'd say an article that

1. generates traffic.
2. is interesting and thought provoking.
3. motivates me to do something after reading it.

Rip has it explained as in took each of the above mentioned and explained them (except I don't like the word "readable" I always thought that we should use the word legible, but I Googled (notice the verb not a noun) it "readable" and the response was that legible was a description of. Anyways rambling now.)

Originally Posted by ripsnorta2

After seeing my copied article.

1. An article should be readable and understandable by the audience for which it is intended.
2. An article should provoke an emotional response in the reader.
3. The emotional response should encourage the reader to take action. That could be to find out more, buy something, or look for another article by the author.

I'd actually apply those principles to any writing. If the author of a work of fiction has done his job right, I'm going to not want to put the book down. I'm going to want to see the hero defeat the villain and save the damsel in distress (or vice versa.)

Even a technical document is going to need to convince a reader to implement the solution. It might not be the same style as the Perils of Penelope, but the writer will need to convince the reader that he knows what he is talking about. That should generate the emotional response of confidence, or even happiness that a solution has been found.

[purple]

When I write articles I am to make them pleasing to read, functional and easy to link or use keywords in (should they not be specifically ordered that way). They should engage the audience and not cause them to immediately get bored and click away. Even an article about rain gutters should be a joy to read and not a chore.

[threeg5]

Originally Posted by purple

When I write articles I am to make them pleasing to read, functional and easy to link or use keywords in (should they not be specifically ordered that way). They should engage the audience and not cause them to immediately get bored and click away. Even an article about rain gutters should be a joy to read and not a chore.

I agree that that they should be easy to read. I do not understand the Easy to Link statement. Keywords, this I normally have done before I write and I normally just research the keyword that I wanted to use at 3 different places then I figure out which ones had the most searches and put a little creativeness on them so that there are now some new long tail keywords that can be found via searches as well as the popular ones.
The Fun and Engaging part is an absolute necessity.
Just My Ramblin's

Thanks for replying