Writing Articles – Too Much HTML Formatting Or Just Right

Should I Use HTML and How Much Is Too Much?
As a Managing Editor, I get asked this question often enough – so much so that I am writing about it. Your answer can usually be answered by your ability to reach your audience (an increase in followers is a good sign you’re doing something right). How do you know when you’ve crossed the line into spam land? Find out the answer before your end user does – the last thing you want to do is create a poor relationship before one even begins!
Writers tend to create their articles using one of two platform: Word or a plain text editor. Both are very useful and here’s why.
Word offers a simple approach to formatting. A few clicks and you’ve converted boring plain text to an eye-popping masterpiece. For those of us who don’t want to learn HTML or appreciate Word’s ease-of-use, this platform is perfect. However, cutting and pasting your article into another interface doesn’t always work. If you’re a word-document user, you know that pasting your document into another interface often carries over hidden characters that you didn’t know about and your article will not appear as you intended.
Plain text editors are awesome with the use of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). I like these editors because I don’t worry about the hidden characters when I copy/paste – there are none in a plain text editor! But is plain attractive? It can be, but there are times when you want to call attention to a word or phrase that will give your writing an extra lift and HTML does just that.
An Easy Solution That Works
Write your article in your interface of choice (for me this is EzineArticles.com’s article writing interface because it has an all-in-one plain text editor + WYSIWYG editor). I add HTML only when it’s warranted (e.g., an unordered list, bolded headers, words I want to emphasize). Of course you can use the tools and features offered in the editor provided, as it acts much like Word by offering shortcuts with a simple click, but I like a challenge when writing and find great joy in using/writing HTML. Not only does it keep me current in the language, I don’t undergo a massive learning curve because HTML is relatively simple and easy to learn. Most article submission sites or blog sites limit what HTML code can be used, so if you know the basics, you’ll be all set.
I didn’t always know HTML and when I first became an editor I remember asking the very question that is often asked of me, “Do I need to know HTML?” If you’re an online writer like me you definitely should. You’ll be able to “dress up” your article to attract your readers when you want to and that freedom in your writing sets you apart from other writers.
Here are a few tips for using HTML in your articles:
Bold is best used in moderation and in headings
Keep it simple! Avoid a spammy looking article by not overdoing it
Close your HTML tags – if you don’t, you’ll know it