White papers and content articles are among the most in-demand types of writing today. Yet some writers dread the idea of writing them out of fear that no one would bother to read them, especially since online information is vying for people’s attention. For the target audience, reading an article seems like hard work or a waste of time, especially if the writing is bland.

Whatever their purpose, articles are written to be read. The technique is in making them stand out. Writing an outstanding article does not have to be a gargantuan task. The well-informed writer is aware that it only takes some useful points and guides to make an article attract attention. By adhering to these guides, writing quality articles becomes smooth and profitable.

That old dictum about writing what you know applies. You have a site because you want to have a home where you can establish your niche. Your niche is the area that you are knowledgeable about. Writing something that you know does not give you a hard time. It is all a matter of creativity and execution.

If you want to make sure that your articles attract attention, consider these tips:

1) Make your paragraphs short. Don’t give your audience the run-around. Online marketing guru Neil Patel will tell you to avoid long paragraphs. Visit his site and see how he delivers paragraphs in his articles. Long paragraphs can be overwhelming for a busy audience. For the rest of us, we have short attention spans so we prefer condensed ideas. When writing content online, your paragraphs can be one or two sentences.

2) Use numbers or bullet points. Numbered or bulleted points can easily direct the eye to the idea you want to convey. For example, if you are talking about the advantages of social media, you can put these advantages in bullets so that readers will know where the advantages start. This approach avoids clutter and prevents your article from looking like a boring block of sentences.

3) Sub-headings help to organize your ideas on the page. Sub-headings break your ideas into points that are easy to read. It allows your audience to focus on one idea after another without breaking your article as a whole. It keeps their attention focus on the point you are trying to make before moving on to your next point.

4) Your title makes all the difference. If your title doesn’t grab your reader’s attention, what are the odds that they will read your piece? In writing an attention-grabbing title, take advantage of hooking your audience to their needs. For example, if your niche is about dating and relationships, write a title like “How to Make Your Man Become More Romantic.” You could also command people into taking action like “Make Your Employees Become More Productive.”

5) Keep your audience engaged from start to finish. Using real-life situations makes your article connect with your audience better. Telling a story or an anecdote is a great advantage. Have you ever noticed why politicians running for office often tell personal stories during their campaigns? To reach out and connect. As for your article, don’t overdo it. Drive your story to the message you want to convey. Use similes and metaphors sparingly.

6) Facts and figures add credibility. Use statistical data and facts to drive your point. For example, if you are talking about keyword research and competitive analysis of a particular firm, you can cite data from Alexa, or if you are talking about the performance of fast-moving consumer goods, try obtaining data from Nielsen. Do not make it sound too academic. Make it blend with your casual tone to make you sound as if you know more than the other person but minus the condescension.