Many web site owners and writers on the Internet are constantly looking for the next big secret to creating outstanding content in any niche. Fortunately, there are ten secrets to content writing that every writer and web site owner should know to help them draft the best and most effective online content to drive traffic to their sites and create an opportunity to make more money through conversions and referrals. Whenever you draft a piece of content for the Internet, keep these 10 secrets in mind.

1. SEO Isn't Everything. True, it is one of the most important aspects of content creation. However, straight SEO is not enough to drive traffic to web sites. Your content needs to be well written for humans, not just robots.

2. Take Breaks. It may seem like taking frequent breaks might slow you down, any writer that has spent a significant amount of time trying to meet a deadline knows how quickly a brain can turn to mush without a fifteen minute break at least every hour.

3. Avoid Hedge Statements. You can feel free to make some broad statements from your research as long as they are true. You do not need to be specific when making a statement.

4. Always Write Actively. Avoid switching the subject and object of a sentence to boost word counts. For example: "The frog jumped over the log" is active. "The log was jumped over by the frog" is passive.

5. Keep it Short. Try to express your ideas in as few words as possible while still fully covering the topic. The average web reader will only read about 20% of your content. Keep that in mind when considering a 30,000 word epic story on the price of cheese in Mexico.

6. Keep Sentences Succinct and Punchy. Short sentences are much easier to scan than long ones. If you must combine multiple ideas into one sentence, try using dashes to break up the ideas rather than commas.

7. Watch the Adverbs. Adverbs like "very" and "extremely" are unnecessary and simply add filler to web content. Avoid them as much as possible.

8. Use a Direct Approach. Target the reader specifically and don't sugar coat anything. Make simple and powerful statements rather than using filler to ease in to an idea.

9. Create Stories That Draw Readers In. This doesn't just pertain to the overall writing. You can use real world examples to give your readers something to latch onto while they absorb your information. This story telling can be a powerful and magnetic draw for your readers.

10. Write Informally When Possible. If you are not writing specifically as a reference or as a professional, you can feel free to address the reader directly and use language to humanize your writing. Most web readers want information presented to them as if they were having a conversation. Keep this in mind when writing creative web material.

Guest Post by :- Corry Cummings

Best Article Directories of 2010

Well if you are considering submitting articles to article directories for either traffic generation or seo reasons like back links, You should seriously think about submitting them to niche article directories.

1. Ezinearticles.com Alexa TR = 132  Page Rank 6

EzineArticles.com is a service which brings writers and ezine publishers together. A website that (began in 1999 has now over 1,000,000 quality original articles and over 100,000 expert authors sharing their best ezine articles. From health to fasion, building to romance, you can find articles about anything using the search option.

Each article is (origional in its own way. The main attraction for both author and publishers is that authors can upload articles and if the articles is good enough that some publishers like it then it can be published in different magazines, producers to publish their work with an easy and free process.

2. ArticlesBase.com Alexa TR = 432 Page Rank 6

ArticlesBase.com Free Articles Directory was established in 2005 as a website to provide a free platform for content producers to publish their work online with an easy and free process.

Over the past two years their platform as grown at a rapid pace, over the last 9 months they have rolled out 4 new versions for French, Russian, Spanish and Chinese speakers to reach their target audiences. Currently there are over 55,000 (publishers to their website and growing daily.

3. Buzzle.com Alexa TR = 1286  Page Rank 5

Buzzle.com consists of a dynamic network of authors and content contributors who they proudly refer to as their Intelligent Life on the web. As subject experts, their authors and content contributors create an informative, yet comfortable place for finding information about all things from animals to tourism.

With current news in their What's the Buzz? section, thousands of interesting categories, endless entertainment from their Escape Hatch, an interactive online community, and thought-provoking polls, Buzzle.com offers a medium through which to share knowledge of the world.

4. SearchWarp.com Alexa TR = 5286 Page Rank 5

their mission is to build intelligent discussion from wide range of viewpoints while providing useful information to the World. they pledge to do what they can to use their small corner of the World Wide web to make the Internet a better place.

5. ArticleAlley.com Alexa TR = 3147 Page Rank 5

They have been collecting articles and been writing their own articles since 2002, their database became so large that they decided the time was right to build a site based around these articles, and to encourage and promote authors to submit fresh content.

Articles can be a great way of promoting sites, by sharing your knowledge and experience you can demonstrate your understanding and expertise, if readers are impressed with your copy, they will visit your site to learn more.

They also allow text links, which are one of the most important ways you can promote a site on the web, links bring direct traffic and contribute to your rankings. Article sites are also a great place to find free web content to add to your own site.

6. GoArticles.com Alexa TR = 1599 Page Rank 6

GoArticles.com is an article search engine and directory, updated daily. The staff at GoArticles are dedicated to meeting the needs of contributing Authors, newsletter Publishers and visitors by providing the best and largest article database on the web. Their goal is to make great content available to you when you want it, not when someone decides to send it to you.

GoArticles.com is one of 15 web sites comprising the Jayde Online Network, most of which focus on niche areas of particular interest to webmaster's, marketers, newsletter publishers, authors and entrepreneurs. Watch for the launch of other newsletter and resourrce sites in the coming months.

Jayde Online was founded in 1993 and incorporated in early 1998. The company has been internet-focused from its creation and primarily involved in the publication of email newsletters and the development of niche and general search engines. they are currently located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

7. Web-Source.net Alexa TR = 12740 Page Rank3

web-source.net is owned and maintained by Shelley Lowery, President of Brajusta Publishing, Inc., a direct marketing company located in Lewis Center, Ohio, specializing in providing instructional electronic books, software and publications.

Before launching her Internet career, Shelley was employed by Worthington Industries, a Fortune 500 company, where she was a "Production Scheduling Coordinator." That's where she discovered her true passion for business and computers.

She quit her job in 1995, after ten years of employment, to pursue her dreams and launch her full time Internet business. She has been through all of the trials and errors of web design and development, Internet marketing and promotion, writing a weekly publication and running a full time Internet business and now shares her experience with her visitors.

8. ArticleSet.com Alexa TR = 171805 Page Rank 0

ArticleSet.com is a free online article directory that provides new articles for websites. their big article database is a good source of free articles for your website.

Authors can submit new articles.

webmaster's can choose some content for websites from their free articles by picking a category.

Readers can enjoy their time reading their new articles.

9. WebProNews.com Alexa TR = 2114 Page Rank 6

WebProNews is your comprehensive resource for news, information, and tips related to online business. they cover the latest developments in search engines, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), social media marketing, advertising, and online branding.

they offer not just news, but analysis of developments in the online business space, and tutorials and insight into how to build a better online presence. That means the topics they cover stretch beyond just their aforementioned specialties and include new concepts and developments affecting online business (think web 2.0, podcasting, video, various media), and even include financial, legal and political issues that have direct bearing on the web industry.

In addition to that, they attend and cover major industry conferences like Search Engine Strategies, SMX, PubCon, and the Portable Media Expo. With us there for you, it's like saving a few bucks on registration and travel costs. By signing up for the WebProNews newsletter, you can receive conference information and the latest e-commerce news and tips right in your email inbox.

All in all, they can help you make a better web brand and web site, and they can help you build the right kind of web exposure.

10. Amazines.com Alexa TR = 4353 Page Rank 2

The Article and Ezine Publisher Database is dedicated to offering quality products, and services to help ezine publishers develop more business. Plus provide the hobbyist, and those serious about their special interest with electronic newsletters of their choice in just about every category you can imagine!

11.ArticleDashboard Alexa TR=2986 Page Rank 5

Submit articles to the Article Dashboard directory, search and find free website and ezine content,
and open an author submission management account.

[Updated 16-02-2010]

Added ArticleDashboard on request of Chai