In my previous article, I laid out seven great steps you can take to write articles that get read and shared on social media. Those steps laid the groundwork for a concise, high-quality article, but now it’s time to take article writing mastery even further.

Writing an article that contains information that the reader is looking for is not necessarily too difficult. The biggest challenge is to give the reader an experience that he will remember and want to share. Below, I cover in detail eight more practical steps to boost your reader’s overall experience and takeout.

1. Does the article offer any new, refreshing and useful tips or ideas?

Almost everyone understands that in order to produce something new, you must use at least some aspects of the work that has already been done. In other words, nothing is ever 100 percent original. Despite this, it should never be painfully obvious that you’ve ripped off someone else’s (or your own) previous work.

Take a few minutes to contemplate how you can add some originality to the piece you’re currently working on. Does your article provide useful information that you haven’t covered before? Do you give the reader your honest and professional opinion on a new industry practice or technology? Does the article take a new perspective on a recent experience of yours?

All of these (and others) are ideal elements that help your article to be and remain original. A fresh and invigorating article packed with practical information is exactly what your readers want.

2. Are the paragraphs short, well organized, and flow smoothly from one to the next? Are the prizes short and well constructed? Are punctuation and grammar appropriate and correct?

Too often, writers produce a decent article or blog post, but neglect formatting. Keeping your writing easy on the eye and simple enough to understand is Really as important as the writing itself. You may have written the best new ebook in your niche or compiled a ton of case studies and real life examples, but if your readers can’t understand visually your writing at first, they will ignore you completely or find another expert to learn.

Visual comprehension, put in one way, is the ability to skim or flip through a piece of writing and be able to understand most (if not all) of it. Having to “strain” your eyes through a massive block of text is exhausting, and if this is detected in your article, readers will avoid it like the plague.

People need the opportunity to consume your content quickly and efficiently. In addition to editing for visual comprehension, make sure grammar is correct, spelling is correct, punctuation is accurate, and sentences flow well.

3. Is your article descriptive, sensational, thought-provoking, emotional, or inspirational?

Any article you write should be at least one of these. If you can’t inject at least Some emotional power in your writing, you should reevaluate and edit it until it has been improved.

Readers love what sticks best in their memory! If your writing is emotional, it will be memorable, and if it’s memorable, it’s because it was emotional. These two elements of writing are inseparable.

4. Have you revised the article to remove irrelevant ideas and strengthen your points?

Every piece of writing you write should be as succinct and action-oriented as possible. If readers aren’t engaged and don’t get the accurate information they need, they’ll be disappointed and rush to another expert.

Ruthlessly edit your work until only the most valuable sentences remain. What can be said in fewer words should be. Keep all paragraphs related to their respective subheadings and stay to the point at all times.

5. Is your article at risk of copyright infringement, defamatory statements, or other unsavory actions?

Using a real-life example of someone from a recent news story to prove your point can be very appealing, but it rarely has the payoff you hoped for. On top of this, it is all too easy to criticize or belittle someone who has already been painted in a certain light by the news.

Despite all this, refraining from libel is the wisest choice. No statement within your writing, regardless of the person mentioned, is worth sacrificing one’s reputation or career. Keep your writing clean in all aspects and you will be able to sleep well at night.

6. Have you waited a few hours to give your article “fresh eyes” and polish off some awkward phrases?

When you have finished an article or publication, it is best to wait at least a few hours before it is published. That’s because nine times out of 10, you’re going to find something on the second read that you missed on the first.

Avoiding always posting right away is a fantastic, easy, and free way to improve your writing. You’ll be more confident sharing your writing after doing this than if you just spread your new post without reviewing it.

7. Does the article make sense?

Here’s another often overlooked component to constantly improving your writing. You should be able to look back at your article, see the piece from a bird’s eye view, and have the entire article still make sense.

A common obstacle that writers of all kinds face is delving so deeply into the writing itself that the end reader’s experience is confused and illogical. You should be able to read the article, understand the individual points, and still absorb the key takeaway and call to action.

Speaking of…

8. Have you closed your article with a killer call to action?

If you’re writing an article and your goal is beyond personal enjoyment, you need a call to action! No writing piece is complete without it.

Simply put, a call to action is the final paragraph or sentence that consumes readers; one that prompts them to take a specific action. It’s pretty straightforward; however, most writers neglect quality here or forget about it altogether. Always end your article with a precise call to action. Otherwise, the reader will forget who you are and you will have missed the opportunity to engage more with him.