Part 1 of a 2-part series
To read Part 2
http://www.promotewitharticles.com/strategy102.html
First, Define your Bulls Eye
If you're going to write and post articles on the Internet, be unambiguous about what you expect them to accomplish. Don't start writing just yet. Think beyond the mechanics of writing an article or deciding where to post it.
It's one thing to spin out an article or two. It's quite another to incorporate them into a strategy that builds your website traffic, reputation, and business. All your marketing methods should work together - online and off.
Your Strategy Clarifies:
- Who you're trying to reach
- How to find them
- What you want them to do next (does your website support that aim?)
- Your primary goal and message
- How articles (with particular titles and keywords) mesh with your other marketing
Article marketing is nothing more than a way to get information (not advertising) broadly distributed on the Internet. It can't compensate for a muddled or dull message. And it won't build your site traffic unless it connects to readers in an interesting way.
Write Articles that Trumpet a Unique Business Message
A frequent business error is treating each customer- attracting activity as though it stands alone. Yet each method works better when echoing a common message that links to the others.
To quote Roy Williams, the Wizard of Ads, http://www.wizardofads.com "It's hard to tell a powerful story badly. But it's easy to tell a weak story well. I've never seen a business fail because they were "reaching the wrong people." But I've seen thousands fail because they were saying the wrong thing... It's amazing how many people become the "right people" when you're saying the right thing. Believe it or not, it's advertising third, customer delight second, strategy always first."
Maximize your Customer-Attracting Methods
Last year I wrote an ebook showing how to make the business website and Yellow Page ad work together to bring new customers. It made the point that each promotional method has its own strengths, and reaches different groups http://www.yellowpagesage.com/smarts.html By them working together, each approach does a more persuasive job.
As an example, the directory ad should display a website address. A recent study found that over 60% of people surveyed only call Yellow Page ads that show a website (even if they don't intend to visit it). Besides, the website lets the business provide information that won't fit within the dimensions of an ad.
A single approach can't cover all your bases. The same applies to article marketing.
Article Marketing Strengths
- Ability to deliver an interesting "sample" of your expertise
- Long enough to be informative (600-800 words)
- Reaches and speaks to tightly focused interest groups
- Quickly delivers the message throughout the Internet
- Long shelf life - some websites keep articles posted for years
- Builds on the keywords that your website uses
- Incoming-links from websites that post your articles
Plan More than One Article at a Time
You can't develop much momentum with one article. That's like shooting a gun with a single bullet, or a PPC (pay-per- click) campaign for just one term. The odds of hitting your mark aren't too good. Several articles written to reinforce each other generate more mileage. As you get more articles out there, people start paying attention, and you can target more keywords. Repeated publications develop a personality that readers recognize.
Plan a number of titles in advance, with a theme building from one to the next. Keep each one tightly focused, but related to the others. In that way, you develop the in-depth "voice" of an expert. And your information won't lapse into ho-hum generalities. Write first-rate articles when you rely on the extensive free resources http://www.promotewitharticles.com at Article Marketing Academy.
Try writing some in a series (like, Part 1 of 3 parts) to build anticipation for future segments. Also, your message won't be confined to the 600 to 800 word article limit. Since each article in the series resides on your website, readers needn't wait to read them all (giving them an incentive to visit your site). Later, the whole series can be offered as a special report or ebook (once related material is added).
Write with your keywords in mind. Maintain your primary message, with a different twist for parallel niches. Go to the extra effort to say something new. That's easy when you provide stories, examples, case studies from your own experience. As you dish out practical assistance in your articles, readers will be eagerly watching for your next ones.
? Lynella Grant, 2005
Part 2 includes posting articles, writing to please the search engines, and ways to re-use articles. Part 2 of 2, http://www.promotewitharticles.com/strategy102.html
--Dr. Lynella Grant http://www.promotewitharticles.com - Article Marketing Academy - Promote yourself, business, website, or book with articles posted online. Author, Yellow Page Smarts, http://www.yellowpagesage.com/smarts.html (719) 395-9450
How to write an informative article?The following tips can help... Read More
Last time on "Because your articles suck" ? we discussed... Read More
If you are an article writer, you may have been... Read More
Still following along on the Copywriter's Crash Course in article... Read More
It's stunning sometimes how far article marketing has come over... Read More
Article distribution is currently booming on the internet. Authors do... Read More
Writing for websites -- content, as it is called --... Read More
Publishing articles on the Internet is a tremendous way to... Read More
Often all the Web Surfer will see is your title,... Read More
Abandon your frustrations and get a fresh start by trying... Read More
When you frequently post articles on ezines, you might be... Read More
I was asked to write an article on a short... Read More
A great headline can be the difference between having your... Read More
Article marketing is becoming more and more popular, especially as... Read More
We all know that online publishers earn revenue from our... Read More
If you are using articles to promote your business then... Read More
Are you looking for a better way to promote your... Read More
1. Participate in chat rooms related to your targeted audience.... Read More
Online writing is really self-publishing made easier and potentially much... Read More
MS: John, you must be one of the most prolific... Read More
Jim was working hard to grow his business. Long hours... Read More
If your business has a website, you're probably searching for... Read More
Most all ezine publishers need fresh content. Article writing is... Read More
Much has been touted about the effectiveness of article writing... Read More
I get asked all the time, "Lorrie, how can I... Read More
Writing articles is one of the most powerful, if not... Read More
If you are an article writer, you may have been... Read More
Last time on "Because your articles suck" ? we discussed... Read More
The more you write, the larger your impact. If that's... Read More
People who have an idea for a website sometimes require... Read More
Start by Being QuotableIt's tough to stand out online. With... Read More
I am often approached and asked, how do I write... Read More
There are many ancient writings, which dive into the importance... Read More
Find definitions from H to P... ~~~~~~~~~~~ H ~~~~~~~~~~~ Haiku... Read More
You say, I can't write an article, I have no... Read More
Writing quality articles is time consuming for the very best... Read More
Many internet home business owners today have learnt that one... Read More
Now that you see that articles are the number one... Read More
Proven and Exceptional Click-Through ResultsTesting has proven again and again... Read More
It's amazing how quickly free articles can generatetraffic - my... Read More
You know that writing articles is the best free way... Read More
Chances are good that the next article or book you... Read More
Are you short of ideas? There are times when we... Read More
Writers have one basic need -- readers. We all want... Read More
Determining keywords is a critical step in writing articles online... Read More
It doesn't really matter who you are; you definitely know... Read More
Publishers and webmasters can spend massive amounts of time just... Read More
Being an Internet Article Author is far and away the... Read More
It is important for all webmasters to realize that if... Read More
If you write web content, it may be a mystery... Read More
Article Writing Article Writing |