There are two primary factors in creating a successful reference box, also called a bio box, that get the results you want from your Internet-posted articles. The first is adding the right keywords into the language. Second, is to write tiny ads that led to a call to action. Neither is going to be easy, but both are necessary and accomplishable.
Let's walk through the process together, and I will give you a few techniques that have brought me large responses and click through rates of upwards of 45%, sometimes even higher, when averages usually run under 8%.
Beginning with understanding what an Internet article is and its intention, creates a starting point for both of us. Let's begin there. Simply, distribution of these articles is solely for electronic publishing. Guidelines from publishers prefer 500 to 1400 word counts with an average of 700 to 800. Creative intentions range from building an expertise in a particular market, topic or industry, a taste of a topic for marketing of a product, or as a paid writing gig for others, so that they may complete one of the other previously mentioned intentions. Publishing can occur inside a newsletter, also called an ezine or electronic newsletter, or be published on a website. Each has its own pros and cons. Website posting does tip the scale higher on the pro side.
The next thought process moves us up the railing to knowing what action you want the reader to take. This ties in with your intention and also making it a reasonable request. Reasonable means not asking for the reader to leap and buy a product or service based on the small amount of information given in the reference box. For coaches or consultants, it's even a leap for readers to commit to a complimentary session based on that small amount of information. A reference box builds only one point, far from the seven to ten-points needed before people take an action that calls for a higher commitment. Selling too soon always turns off an action request.
Since publishers usually don't allow more than five 60- character lines or 450 or less characters, focus is best limited to one action request. The request usually requires a "click here to" request, for instance:
* visit website for more information about product, service, workshop, seminar, conference
* consider subscribing to
* find out more about the author
* call us for (something beneficial and free)
A reference box needs to have the following basics:
1. The author's name and background expertise on the topic.
2. The call to action request.
3. A benefit for readers to take the action.
4. Keywords for search engine optimization (SEO).
Developing the author's name and expertise sentence is easy and the call to action addressed, let's move to the remaining two items: benefit and keywords. Take the major benefit for one of your calls to action. Here is an example of a short-list of benefits to being a subscriber of my nonfiction for-profit monthly newsletter:
* Learn additional avenues to make money with your writing
* Explore and improve your nonfiction for-profit writing skills and techniques
* A metacenter site to find resources to ease your journey in this area
How-to details on finding your features and benefits are available at the Abundance Center's website.
Continue to create five or more benefit lines for each of your action requests, products and services. You will be able to use these in multiple places, not just your reference box. The benefit line or phrase in the reference box needs to build a curiosity or draws readers to want to click and find out more. If the reader sees the benefit as somewhat unbelievable, whether true or not, isn't always the best way to get the preferred action. Sometimes it's best to downplay the benefit, yet continue to make impact. For example, articles I've written were published thousands of times over the past year. Instead, it's best for me to adopt the term, prolific writer. Hype is a big turnoff for sophisticated readers.
We have walked through the who and expertise lines, created benefit lines, next you will want to create a list of keywords for the topic, service and product, then sprinkle them into the resource box information.
Keywords help Net visitors find your article (and you) and the website where the article is posted. Keywords are words people would search on to find information on that topic. Using the keyword finder on Google or the new Amazon search engine is one way to find what people search on most frequently. However, the finder is limited to last month's searches. The key finders will give you hints, however, I believe your common sense will do the same. Additional information on finding keywords are available in articles section of the Abundance Center or search on "keywords" "how to" "article" in Google.
Another tip, slightly outside the scope of this topic, which will help the attractiveness of your article, is not to use the same reference box, or bio box, repeatedly in all articles. Density is important to increase attraction from the search engines yet too much of a good thing shoots you in the foot too. Too much density means 25 or more exactly the same. Changing the benefit line, call to action, and keywords broadens your exposure as well as the opportunity for searchers to find the website that your article is posted -- one key purpose people publish and host your article.
Writing tight copy, including a reference box, always requires more time and focus even for the best writers. Be patient through the development. Review other reference boxes for likes and dislikes. More importantly, be creative and test the response rate occasionally if article writing is a major part of your marketing program.
In summary, the reference box provides author's name and tied-in expertise, the major benefit for clicking and an appropriate call to action that is reasonable for someone reading the article. The sprinkle in or substitute search engine optimizing keywords into the resource box to increase exposure and attractiveness for both yourself and whoever is publishing your articles.
Catherine Franz, a business coach specializing in marketing and writing, presents multiple learning opportunities for business owners at the Abundance Center or Catherine's blog. Visitors experience the opportunity to increase skills and knowledge through articles, newsletters, and programs. http://www.abundancecenter.com blog http://www.abundancecenter.com
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..Never before in the history of the business of writing... Read More
Writing articles for online newsletters and websites can be a... Read More
Recently I interviewed Kevin Bidwell of All-In-One-Business.com on some of... Read More
I once wrote an article in which I offered the... Read More
If you are using articles to promote your business then... Read More
You have decided on a great idea and researched a... Read More
This article is dedicated to those who are afraid to... Read More
Do you know why the "Chicken Soup for the Soul"... Read More
If you have an entertainment website then you're always looking... Read More
Article Marketing Connects you Directly to Readers Even brilliantly-written articles... Read More
Your publicity dreams may include being featured in Forbes, Fortune,... Read More
Ready to jump on the keyword article bandwagon? Billions of... Read More
For me, to decide to start a home business was... Read More
Writing articles for magazines, the Internet or the local community... Read More
It is a well known fact that writing, distributing and... Read More
So you've decided to market your home-based copywriting business through... Read More
If you write web content, it may be a mystery... Read More
Are you a reluctant marketer for your book? Do you... Read More
Chances are good that the next article or book you... Read More
Still following along on the Copywriter's Crash Course in article... Read More
Are you ready to become an internet marketing expert? Are... Read More
Content is an important component of your web site. Learning... Read More
Whatever you're selling, writing articles to distribute freely amongst webmasters... Read More
I've been blogging occasionally over the last two months about... Read More
It is amazing to see how much we all still... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Recently I interviewed Kevin Bidwell of All-In-One-Business.com on some of... Read More
What's the most powerful marketing technique on the Web? Search... Read More
I have seen the question asked so many times. How... Read More
[Disclosure: I went into ezinearticles.com very innocently. I... Read More
Most business owners are overwhelmed with the day to day... Read More
1. Participate in chat rooms related to your targeted audience.... Read More
All writers aspire to recognition, but are we dedicated? Ambition... Read More
If you are an article writer, you may have been... Read More
Yesterday I met a 13-year old boy with a devilish... Read More
Well maybe it's not that "little known" but some people... Read More
It's not enough to scatter your articles across the internet... Read More
Some six weeks ago, I began writing and submitting articles... Read More
By now you probably understand how important writing for trade... Read More
Search Engines are constantly on the "look out" for freshly... Read More
What's the quickest, easiest way to get exposure for your... Read More
Online publishers, ezine subscribers, and Web visitors want short, useful... Read More
Sharing knowledge on the web can be a very powerful... Read More
Who remembers the 1979 movie, The Jerk with Steve Martin?... Read More
Ok, today we are going to talk about one of... Read More
Writers talk about rejection all the time ? just part... Read More
Rule number one - You must write ezine articles and... Read More
Writing for websites -- content, as it is called --... Read More
Are you looking for a better way to promote your... Read More
A lot of great ideas happen when two or more... Read More
It is a well-known fact that a key to obtaining... Read More
Article Writing |