If you are writing music for the dance floor then nothing will help you more than trying to mix your own beats. Image-Line make Deckadance the DJ mixing application featured in the video below. So, even if you never plan to DJ, grab the demo and play your tracks in it, trying to beatmatch them.
This video used the latest version of Deckadance (1.63), check out the new stuff here. The tracks used in this video are included with the latest demo.
Probably the first thing you will notice, if you haven't thought about what DJs need to do, is your intros and outros need to be a lot longer and simpler. 16-24 bars of basic beat with some embellishments (e.g. splash cymbal) every 8 bars to let the DJ know where they are then a clear buildup to the start of the main track. On the outro you really can't go too long, the DJ will kill the track when they are ready. Again just keep it simple.
Remember it's these little things that will make your tracks more appealing and so more likely to be picked up by DJs.
PS: Put the BPM somewhere in the title too.
Regards Scott
