Each week I receive dozens of article submissions to my websites from aspiring authors, website owners, and entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, I can only use a small fraction of the articles I receive because the writers are making one of the crucial mistakes listed below.
KEY POINT: When you submit articles to a newsletter/ezine publisher or a website owner, you have to remember that we aren't going to publish YOUR article for OUR customers and visitors unless it is a high quality article that gives something of value.
If you're writing articles like crazy, but getting very few of them actually published, then you might want to re-evaluate your approach. Are you making one of these crucial mistakes?
1. Poor Subject Matter:
If you're going to bother to write an article, write about something that we're interested in reading about. In other words, address a problem and provide a solution. Articles that approach an old problem in a new way or with a new twist work well too -- you don't have to necessarily discover a whole new problem that no one else has ever though of before (If you discover a whole new problem and have the solution you better be thinking of product creation not just an article!).
2. Write with personality:
No one likes to read text books. Put a little of your own personality into your writing and make it engaging and entertaining as well as informative. If you have a sense of humor, use it. You have a good chance of being published on one of my sites if you make me giggle... Belly laughs are nearly guaranteed to be published.
3. Write for your audience:
Don't send an article about the value of protein in the American diet to a Russian Political website or the publisher of a podiatry newsletter... They don't care.
4. Write a decent sized article:
I would much rather an article be a little bit too long than very short. Four hundred word articles just don't have enough meat in them. I'm not suggesting that you ramble, but you've got to give me some details if you want me to publish your piece.
5. Break up your article:
Don't write your article in three long paragraphs. Break it up into smaller paragraphs with a few single lines, bullets, etc. to make it easier and more enjoyable to read. Again -- no one likes to read text books.
6. Spell Check and Grammar:
I don't mind correcting a couple of mixed up letters now and then, but let's be reasonable -- spell check your articles. Grammar is another thing that bugs me. I know that I don't always get it perfect myself, but your grammar has to be reasonable. Some of the people sending me articles need to take a high school English class.
One last point in this category is word usage -- don't use words in your article unless you actually know what they mean. Using big words doesn't necessarily make you look smarter. Did you know that newspapers are aimed at a sixth grade reading level?
7. Stop sending sales letters:
No one will publish an article that reads like a sales letter... period.
8. Forget about affiliate links:
Use your head... why would anyone use your article if it's full of your affiliate links? Ever hear of the "Golden Rule?" This is kind of the "Golden Rule" of writing articles -- don't expect someone else to do something that you wouldn't do. Would you publish another writer's article if it were full of his affiliate links? I doubt it.
9. Create a reasonable resource box:
A resource box should tell me who you are, what you do, and how I can get in touch with you. It's not unlimited advertising space for you to describe every website you run and each product you sell. Don't bother sending an article where the resource box is half as long as the article itself. That "Golden Rule" thing applies to resource boxes too.
10. Only write about what you know.
Even if you're writing an opinion piece, get your facts straight. Don't write an article filled with advice that you have no business giving.
If you take nothing else away from this article, remember that good copy always answers "What's in it for me?" When you're writing articles to send to newsletter and website publishers, you have to answer that question on two fronts...
What's in it for the publisher? Why should they show your article to their customers and visitors? Does it give something of value?
-- AND --
What's in it for the people who will ultimately be reading your article when it's published?
After all, the idea is to provide some worthy content that compels readers to visit your site, subscribe to your newsletter, or buy your product. So next time you send an article, what's in it for me?
? Chris Yates - All Rights reserved. http://www.yoursitesupport.com
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOne of the great advantages of advertising and marketing on... Read More
Everybody Loves A Freebie!It's true! Who doesn't like to get... Read More
Everyone would like an increase in traffic to their website... Read More
I've collected some really cool free products for you that... Read More
Write it, offer it for free on your site and... Read More
Link Value is the perceived value another site will derive... Read More
1. Directory Linking Create a directory of web sites on... Read More
Yes, it can be done. Here are 7 ways that... Read More
When setting up your website for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)... Read More
Writing and distributing articles is fast becoming a popular method... Read More
Viral marketing can work wonders for any business, web site... Read More
1. Give people a free subscription to your e-zine. Almost... Read More
Website advertising, the unending quest of every website owner. And... Read More
The Internet can be a confusing place to do business.... Read More
Ok. So you've got your website done and stocked with... Read More
Five Nifty Ways to Make Your Site Sticky!'Stickiness' is one... Read More
Reading the postings in different Newsgroups it becomes clear that... Read More
Ok, now if you've started reading this article thinking that... Read More
Webmasters across the globe are involved in a race to... Read More
This author's open-source marketing plan, as announced on June 29,... Read More
Do you want to advertise about your website?Wait and have... Read More
The following traffic generating ideas do not require costly set-up... Read More
If you have a website promoting any product or service,... Read More
In the early days of developing my home business, I... Read More
Maybe you are a Doctor or a lawyer. You've built... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..If you have a website and desires to attract traffic... Read More
Personalized search is a hot topic especially since Yahoo! and... Read More
Giving away content is a powerful way to get free... Read More
Stop wasting your time and having your energy sucked dry!... Read More
This could be the most amazing article to ever be... Read More
Are you tired of writing countless eMails to other webmasters... Read More
Yahoo! allows you to set up your own front page... Read More
Promoting your website can seem like a daunting, complicated task.... Read More
The number one key to getting business in the real... Read More
This article explains in detail the various issues related to... Read More
1. Start your own internet radio station. It could be... Read More
Directory marketing can help boost your companies performance a great... Read More
Most new webmasters face the same conundrum: how can I... Read More
Each week I receive dozens of article submissions to my... Read More
With the web today you "sorta haveta" have a rank... Read More
So your having a hard time turning your visitors into... Read More
It is estimated that it can take the average consumer... Read More
In this article I discuss some ineffective and/or unethical website... Read More
How many times have you been frustrated with your promotion... Read More
Any time you use a URL in an Article, Web... Read More
After the incredible success of Hotmail.com, the use of signature... Read More
People are always wanting to attract more visitors to their... Read More
Content One of the best ways to encourage website owners... Read More
Some Internet marketing experts have claimed that the best way... Read More
Many companies after spending a substantial amount of money on... Read More
Web Site Promotion |