EXPLANATION IS NEEDED. You need to justify your item choices, this is the main area which people criticize. Explain why you chose this item over another more-popular item, or this item over some other obvious item, why you got this before that, etc. Explain the use of the item in the context of the hero online gold you are writing about. etc.

Strategy

This should be the longest and most detailed part of your guide. Explain how you would play the hero online gold in the early/mid/late game context, giving your specific tasks and roles for as many situations as you can. Don't be too general, be hero-specific.

(E.g. When writing a guide for Sniper, instead of saying 'Farm during the mid game to get your items', say 'Use Scattershot to clear up waves of creeps during the midgame to farm for your Butterfly' )

You should also include how to use your various skills, or synergies of your skills or skills with items if applicable.

Miscallaneous Tips

Give some general tips on the specific hero online gold on your guide. You may include counters to your hero and HOW to counter these counters. Worst enemies and how to beat them can be here too, in separate sections.

Formatting Your Guide

Use bbcodes to improve your guide's presentation. Since, as far as I know, we are limited to a number of pictures posted in a thread, maximize the use of your imagination and resourcefulness to present everything in informative and organized way.

Everything you need should be covered there, if you are still unsure of anything, feel free to ask your questions in this thread and I will do their best to answer them.

Final Words

Ok that's it. I hope this guide has been useful for helping you to write guides. I did this in an exact guide format, just that it had an extra section, 'formatting your guide'. For any queries, please post them in this thread, don't PM me.