An appropriate Title:
When selecting your title, try to create one that reflects the actual content of your advice...
When people do a search on a topic, or see your advice in the advice list, they will be expecting your title to be expanded on in your
advice. Think of the base topic, then add a little enhancement to provide more detail to your title. This will indicate whether or not it is going to be of interest, or helpful to a potential reader. Having a sensational title to get attention, or a misleading title is actually quite annoying, and it can result in a low vote, as it isn't what the reader was expecting at all. I try hard to keep my own titles short and simple, yet explanatory. Feel free to point out if I am not conveying the topic of my advice very well in my titles, as I would appreciate the feedback.
Choosing a suitable topic:
Many great advice topics can be sourced by reading Q & A, member’s blogs, group blogs and comments.
This has shown me what things people might be interested in, and if I feel passionate about that topic, or have experience in that area – I write something that I hope other people will find helpful and interesting. I personally try to write in a way that encourages people to comment and add more information that will enhance my advice posts - this is one of Minti's great features. You may choose to write about life experiences that you have had, subjects that are important to you, or things that are topical at the time. Check to see if there is already advice on your topic on Minti. If there is, read it first, and if you feel you have more helpful information, or a different point of view about that subject, then post it.
Why write advice?:
There are many good reasons to write advice - if you are doing so just to increase your rankings, you could be disappointed.
It is a combination of participation throughout Minti that will increase your rankings. Members are often disappointed when they post a lot of advice that doesn't get read, or ranked very highly - think
quality, not
quantity. You may deserve 5 stars for making the effort - your actual advice may not be worthy of 5 stars... Individual readers may measure quality
on things like the accuracy (if applicable); the readability (which includes the layout and language); originality (writing in your own words, not cutting and pasting from other sources); tried and true (writing from your own experience, or that of someone you know); how helpful it is (to genuinely help one person is great); providing
actual advice (a solution, a clear resolution, some tips, or moral to your article). It pays to keep this in mind as you are writing and editing your advice post, think about your target audience, and how you want your advice to help them.
Before you write your advice:
(This is actually from the page that you write advice on - it is written by the site administrators)
When you click on 'write advice' on the green bar, take the time to read and fully comprehend the information that is provided on the page BEFORE you write or post your advice to avoid disappointment. These include the following titles, with links, they are written by the sites administrators, and these are the guidelines that they want us all to follow - especially the copyright rules.
- Your article must be parenting advice. Will your advice help parents be better parents? See examples here.
- Please remember to respect copyright rules. If you are using someone else's content then ensure you have their permission and that you reference the original source.
- How much should I write? It's up to you, however 50 words (approximately 5 lines) is generally considered the minimum.
- What advice should I write? It's up to you, however you may like to see what people are requesting here. If you are still stuck maybe write advice on the following topics... pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, babies, early childhood, schooling, tweens, teenage years and beyond.
- Your article must not breach Minti's Terms of Service or our Code of Honor.
- If you are wanting to post a question, you are in the wrong area. You need to go to Q&A.
If you are unsure about whether your advice is breaching any conditions above, how to cite and give credit to your sources, add appropriate links and information - ask someone else, or read all the advice on Minti Basics and advice about Writing Advice first - type the topic into the search bar above and take your pick, there are many great articles on these subjects already.
Writing advice is rewarding:
1. Publishing Advice/Articles
You are sharing information, experiences, research, opinions, solutions, and ideas that you are passionate about, and that could potentially help others; now, and in the future.
Even if you only help one person, you are helping to improve someone’s life – how great is that!
2. Reading and Responding to Comments
Receiving responses from readers in the comments section is a great experience. Whether or not readers agree with you, it’s an opportunity to ‘meet’ new people online that also find the subject interesting.
This is a great way to grow as a person, learn more about your topic, and even challenge your current views.
3. When Publishing Advice/Articles
Readers vote on your advice, to give a ranking as an indication to other readers, how helpful, well presented, or accurate they found your advice to be. This means that in future, readers searching for information on this subject will know how highly it is regarded.
If you aren’t happy with your ranking – on a particular piece of advice – think about ways, or ask someone else about ways that it can be improved.
Even more ways that publishing advice can be rewarding:
- You get to air your views, research topics, practice presenting them, improve your language skills, and computer skills.
- If you tend to have a more timid personality, it can help you with your own confidence and self esteem – each completed project is an achievement.
- When writing in regard to an experience that you went through, it can help you to feel better by sharing it with other people - it will help people get to know you better as well.
Remember, that feedback you receive is about the
topic that you have chosen to write, and the overall finished presentation of that subject, not about
you. Ask someone you trust to help you before you publish your advice if this concerns you. If you think your feedback could be better, then get back in with the edit button, there is always room for all of us to improve, and no limit on how many changes you make to your advice. (For the record, this is my 3rd edit for this advice - so far).
Let's help to keep Minti the number one 'parent-o-pedia' site, and provide original, helpful, informative, clear advice that helps other parents, parents to be, and grandparents. Minti is all about the members, Vibe Capital have brought so many more dimensions to this site, it is so much more than your average parenting forum - let's use it wisely.
(June 2007) (
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