How to properly write a How-To article
Build a relevant H1 title
1. Go to www.google.com
2. Insert your core keyword
3. Analyse the competition and their titles for that same keyword
4. Create a simple, catchy title that is different from the others
5. We'll use https://windowsreport.com/rollback-windows-11/ to better exemplify
H1 title capitalisation requirements:
-For News articles, simply write the titles as you would a normal sentence.
(Example: How to pin documents to the taskbar and declutter a desktop)
-For any other type of article other than News
(Example: How to Pin Documents to the Taskbar and Declutter a Desktop)
Choose a relevant Featured image
1. Your Featured image has to be directly related to your article/keyword
2. Most of the time, it's best to use a screenshot from your own PC
3. If that's not possible, use a copyright-free image that clearly supports your article's topic
4. NOTE: Do not use general images.
Introduction
1. Your intro should be around 3-5 paragraphs
2. It should contain general & useful information about your topic
3. The introduction should help the reader understand the subject
4. Keep it easy to read
5. Add intro proof content after intro - if needed - (see next slide for information)
Does your article need proof content?
Figuring out if your article requires proof content will depend on the size of the article you're writing.
To figure out the size of your article, we will have to discuss the types of articles we have at
WindowsReport.
There are 3 main types of articles when it comes to their length:
-> Short form (300-500 words) - marked as such in the clusters
-> Normal length (800-1200 words) - most articles that don't fit in the two extremes
-> Long form (1500-5000 words) - articles like reviews, versus articles, etc. - marked as such in the
clusters
Now let's have a look at how the proof content will be added to each of these types:
-Short form -> No need to add proof content
-Normal length -> Add useful proof content only if the solutions don't amount to the range of
words required for this type
-Long form -> Always add proof content
Intro proof content
- In our example to the right -
https://windowsreport.com/onenote-windows-11/, we can see
that the intro contains two sections (the actual intro text and
intro proof content), as that information was deemed useful
before diving into the list of software.
- Not all articles need to have two sections for the intro proof
content, but one section is absolutely necessary (use relevant
pictures if you can).
Numbered solutions (list of solutions)
1. After the introduction (and proof content, in some cases) you'll have to write your list of solutions (your
article's body)
2. You always start with a H2 and then use the H3 format for the titles of your numbered solutions
3. Your H2 has to summarize your list of solutions and can be a variation of the title (How can I rollback
Windows 11 to Windows 10? / How to rollback Windows 11 to Windows 10), while your numbered solutions
have to solve the question.
Tip: Always use one of the following formats for your H2: How can I... ?; What can I do if … ?; How do I … ?;
4. An article can have more H2s than one, but all solution titles are to be written in H3 format. (for specific
cases contact your ME)
Numbered steps (list of steps in a solution)
1. Every numbered step has to contain an action that can be easily followed by the reader and
written by using the Numbered List block
2. The steps have to be in a logical order
3. Never use quotation marks. Important actions/tools/apps/etc. are marked with Bold.
4. Important steps from the solution must have an image. In general, at least 30% of the steps
require an image, but you can use more.
5. Use steps from confirmed sources and forums, not just a rehashing of other websites.
6. Use ShareX for screenshots and use numbers and arrows for multi-step actions.
Adding images to the steps of your solutions
Images that help the reader
understand the steps are a
crucial element for a useful
guide.
They should showcase the
recommended step - see the
Freelancer OP Images section
for more information
No specific size requirement
(just not extremely tall and thin -
ex. 1000px height x 300 width)
All images need to respect the
format mentioned above
You can do so by using the inline-image option as seen below:
Outro proof content
? Depending on the topic and context, proof content makes
sense before the list of solutions, after it or both
? It can be related to your keyword, to your solutions or to
the steps
? It should clearly show that you know the subject very well
and you're familiar with everything surrounding it
? The main takeaway is that you have to make the best article
about your topic; that means that it has to be relevant,
complete, useful and a collection of all the info available
online
? As we already know the intro proof content should be
informational (should help the reader better understand
the context ), the outro proof content will answer the
“What should I know after following the
above-mentioned solutions?”)
*Example article: https://windowsreport.com/onenote-windows-11/
Write the conclusion
1. Your conclusion should contain an unbiased opinion about your topic and your keyword.
2. Don't just summarize your article again; you've already done that in Highlights and intro. Use the
conclusion for extra information and useful key points
3. TIP: Try to build a complete user experience by sending the reader to other related articles that
could complete the information on the current one
4. No need to have it marked with an H3 or any other header
5. Should be formed out of 2-3 paragraphs with useful internal links and information
Edit the guide you wrote using the Yoast Plugin
The Yoast tool, shows you with a set of colors how your article scores in that automatic analysis.
Our goal is to have the Yoast tool only show the Green color across the board. This means that
your article is perfectly optimized for Google, and will generate more visits that it would normally.
The Yoast section of your guide will require you to do this:
1. Add the Focus keyword in the respective box (Main kw).
2. Make sure that both Yoast scores are green.
If you're not sure about what to make of this info, please follow the information presented in these
two guides:
- https://yoast.com/use-content-analysis-yoast-seo/
- https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/
Interlinking
1. Interlinking is a great way to complete the reader's experience from the current article with related articles/topics that add
value and enhance it
2. Always use contextual interlinking:
-> Correct linking:
Windows 11 has some amazing new features, making it one of the best OS options on the market.
-> Incorrect linking:
Windows 11 has some amazing new features, making it one of the best OS options on the market.
Windows 11 has some amazing new features, making it one of the best OS options on the market.
3. Try to build your text with other similar articles in mind. This way, you can interlink properly from the start. Go to
www.google.com and search for “site:windowsreport.com your topic”. Then you can interlink based on the related topics.
4. Research your keyword by exploring the web for leads, new ideas, and solutions for the problem you're tackling.
5. Your article's Introduction and Conclusion are key areas in which you can properly interlink.
6. Links have to be 100% relevant and their goal is to allow readers to open more articles/content on our website.
Automated interlinking
As discussed in the previous slide, having useful links added to the guide can improve its utility to users, while
also allowing other articles from our website to get read.
After going through the process of manual interlinking described above, you will also need to add use the WR
Related link block, which works automatically.
The WR Related Articles block will need to be added somewhere at the middle of your guide (if the solution doesn't have
a CTA block) between solutions
Adding the block is very easy:
1. Navigate to the location you want to add it in.
2. Click the + button.
3. Type WR in the search box
4. Click on the WR Related Articles block to add it.
5. Wait for the block to automatically select relevant guides
and display them with links and names.
Write your Highlights (HL)
1. Highlights should smartly summarize your article
2. You can write 3 or 4, depending on what crucial info you have to share
3. Make sure to give useful info, but not all the solutions or steps. The user still has to read your
article.
4. Remember that your Highlights have to be enticing.
5. TIP: Usually, it's better to write your Highlights after you finish writing your article so you can
better summarize it.
The content-monetisation group - setting it up
So now that you have successfully followed the steps
and produced a new article, it is time to monetise it.
This group is a central Slack hub through which every
article that is ready to be published or updated will
need to go through in order to ensure proper
monetisation of each guide.
You should have already been added to the group by
your Managing Editor. If not, make sure to contact
them as ask about it.
In order to do so, you need to open the
content-monetization group on Slack, and follow these
steps the first time you enter the group:
1. Click the content-monetization dropdown from
the top of the group.
2. Click on the Get notification for all messages
dropdown menu.
3. Choose the @ Mentions option.
The content-monetisation group - rules and
workflow
Group rules and workflow:
1. Write only in English so everybody can understand what we're
talking about.
2. Only use one thread for one article - this will ensure that no
information gets lost or mixed up. If you need any clarification for
an article you already sent, find that thread and write in it only.
3. When you need for the affiliate team to check a link for an article ->
write the link of the guide in the group and also write the title
of the respective article besides the link (no matter if its a new
article or an edit) - this will ensure that no matter how the link looks
people will be able to differentiate between them
4. Wait for one of the members of affiliate to give you feedback inside
the respective thread - they will use the @ feature to notify you
about the reply.
5. Make the changes to your guide as specified by the Affiliate
team member.
6. Once the changes are made, write to the affiliate member inside
the same thread for that respective article, and get a
confirmation that everything looks good.
7. After the second affiliate confirmation, you can send the link to
your Managing Editor to have a final check and post the guide.
8. Your ME will let you know when the guide was posted.
Video process: Share article link on monetization group -> Get feedback and apply changes -> Get confirmation from Aff member -> Send article to your ME
The content-monetisation group - rules and
workflow
Group rules and workflow:
1. Write only in English so everybody can understand what we're
talking about.
2. Only use one thread for one article - this will ensure that no
information gets lost or mixed up. If you need any clarification for
an article you already sent, find that thread and write in it only.
3. When you need for the affiliate team to check a link for an article ->
write the link of the guide in the group and also write the title
of the respective article besides the link (no matter if its a new
article or an edit) - this will ensure that no matter how the link looks
people will be able to differentiate between them
4. Wait for one of the members of affiliate to give you feedback inside
the respective thread - they will use the @ feature to notify you
about the reply.
5. Make the changes to your guide as specified by the Affiliate
team member.
6. Once the changes are made, write to the affiliate member inside
the same thread for that respective article, and get a
confirmation that everything looks good.
7. After the second affiliate confirmation, you can send the link to
your Managing Editor to have a final check and post the guide.
8. Your ME will let you know when the guide was posted.
Structure, format & extras for your guide
1. Select only one category for your article.
2. Write a smart and enticing meta description
3. Use a tag only if it's directly related to your article
4. If you write a Windows 10 article, make sure to check if there is a solution for Windows 11 as
well. If there is, add it at the end of your Numbered solutions (list of solutions) as a H3.
5. If you use images in your intro or outro (including proof content) make sure to use captions.
6. Link to official sources if needed -> Microsoft (Microsoft Answers , Microsoft Support, Microsoft
Docs, etc), OEMs (Asus, Lenovo, etc), High profile publications (not Lifewire, Techradar, etc; but
WashingtonPost, NYT, etc), Universities, Research papers, Authoritative persons
7. Affiliate links have to be no-follow
8. Before submitting the article, take a 2 minute break and then proofread it. A good tip is to read it
out-loud.
Tips
? Research your topic as well as your keyword. Better knowing the topic will help you identify from
the start similar WR articles directly related to your current one and help you write the text with
interlinking in mind.
? Add text after the last image in a solution (avoid an abrupt ending)
? Be descriptive with your steps. (Open Control Panel Not descriptive. -> Click on the search bar
on your Windows taskbar and search for Control Panel. Hit Enter or right click on the first result
and open Control Panel)
? Here are some How-To examples:
https://windowsreport.com/rollback-windows-11/
https://windowsreport.com/onenote-windows-11/
https://windowsreport.com/start-windows-11-safe-mode/
https://windowsreport.com/how-to-password-protect-folder-windows-11/
https://windowsreport.com/microsoft-edge-efficiency-mode/
