A few days ago, I got an email from a woman claiming to be a financial consultant/writer. She wanted to guest blog on one of my mortgage sites.

I asked for samples, she gave me some links... Some of the articles looked good... many styles, though... So I got to thinking that, maybe, she did not write them. But I asked her to write me one on the topic of HARP (home affordable refinance program).

She shot back an email that said the site we were talking about would benefit most from an article on FHA (Federal Housing Administration... They insure mortgages for people with iffy situations).

I figured she's already written the article. I know what she's after. I know how she feels. (See, I can make unwarranted assumptions too). So, I told her to send it over; if I like it, I'll post it.

She did. She sent it over this morning. And it was utter crap. No, the English was good. It read smoothly. No spelling, proper punctuation, etc.

It was crap because the title promised tricks to figure out something.... and there were none. Instead, there were generalities. The little actual info was not 100% accurate.

Besides, what the tricks would do, had she given any, would have been to provide you information that is readily available on thousands of websites, and is updated often, sometimes daily. Worse, I have that information on my site, on the home page... in different color... at the very top... on the left... and I've updated it it a few days ago, when the information last changed.

So:

1. Don't tell the site owner what his/her site needs (especially, not after they told you what they think it needs).

2. Don't have catchy titles for the sake of having catchy titles. The article must match the title, must provide the trick/s, idea, ways to do something that the title mentions.

3. Write for the site's visitors. My site's domain name is city + mortgage rates. I don't think it's hard to figure what my visitors are after. Nor what would benefit them though they might not have thought of.

4. Read the home page, the about us page, and any articles on the same topic. There's no point in you writing an article that adds nothing.

5. If you present facts, they better be facts and accurate. If you present opinions, state what facts it's based on.

6 through 1,004,945,679,998,114,222. Look up #3.

Done.

PS I've seen tons of articles like hers on ezinearticles.com.

PPS Turns out (based on the link in her article) that she's an SEO consultant... Perhaps, I should send her an invite to join WA, huh?