Try this how-to story template

Ann Wylie — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:13:08 +0000

Tips for writing a tipsheet

Service stories aren’t news articles. Which means that the inverted pyramid isn’t the right structure.

Easy as 1-2-3 Here’s how to write a how-to story — aka a tipsheet or service story. Image by IvelinRadkov

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Easy as 1-2-3 Here’s how to write a how-to story — aka a tipsheet or service story. Image by IvelinRadkov

Instead, use the feature-style story structure, and organize your piece like this:

Introduce your piece in the intro.

1. Illustrate your point in the lead. Grab attention by showing instead of telling, as in this piece on 7 steps to service stories.

When the folks at Topolobampo, Chicago’s cathedral to Mexican cuisine, wanted to sell more syrah, they didn’t put signs on the tables saying ‘Buy wine!’ Instead, they provided nifty little tabletop tip sheets on how to pair wine with Mexican food.

2. Summarize your story in the nut graph. Now that you’ve grabbed reader attention by showing, it’s time to tell folks where you’re taking them.

Take a tip from Topolobampo: Instead of always pushing your products, offer your customers news they can use to live their lives better. Tip sheets position your organization as the expert in the field and may drive more sales than purely promotional pieces.

3. Give context in the background section. Summarize “Why these tips now?” with research or broader context.

Why tip sheets?

Journalists and bloggers love tip sheets . …
Social media channels run on ‘Top 10 ways to …’ listicles. …
Customers and clients will read the tip sheet you write today for years to come …”
Tip sheets position your organization as the expert in the field …

Develop your story in the body.

Here’s where you list your tips, using an alphabetical, chronological or hierarchical structure.

How to write how-to stories

Here are seven ways to make the most of your next tip sheet:

Find a topic. Explain how to save on taxes, file for Social Security, grow a great lawn, reduce gas consumption or do whatever it is your organization helps people do. …
Organize tips logically. Choose alphabetical, chronological or hierarchical structure. …
Use the language of service stories. How-to language — like top, 10, you, most, best and, of course, how to — has been a mainstay of service journalism for years. …
Put a number in the headline. Numerals sell stories. That’s why coverlines on best-selling magazines are packed with numbers, from “6 Steps to 6-Pack Abs” to “101 Best Cheap Eats.” …

Come to a close in the conclusion.

1. Restate your point in the wrapup. Now that I’ve shared this information with you, this penultimate paragraph suggests, we can only agree that …

“News you can use to live your life better” is the currency of most successful content marketing and PR writers.

2. Illustrate your point in the kicker. Leave a lasting impression with a concrete, creative, provocative final paragraph.

Investor’s Business Daily’s motto is, “Don’t read it. Use it.” Shouldn’t that be your motto too?

How long should your content be?

How long should your blog post be? Your mobile headline? Online paragraphs? Sentences and words?

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