Writing and leveraging articles is my most successful strategy for promoting my Website and my speaking and consulting services. Visitors to your site from targeted articles tend to be higher quality leads than those from search engines, and potential buyers like to see that you're published in many credible outlets.
Here are my recommendations to implement this strategy:
1. Write the article
This may sound self-evident, but a couple of pointers:
a) Keep it short, and make the language simple, especially if you're targeting online outlets. People don't read word for word on the Web - rather, they'll scan the screen. Complex sentences and dense copy will lose readers fast.
b) Develop a template that can be easily customized for different target markets. My "Top Seven Ways to Tune Up your Website" has been parlayed into versions for over a dozen different industries. The essential points remain the same, and customizing simply involves adding specific examples.
2. Put it on your Website
One of the key goals of your Website should be to showcase your expertise. Content (combined with testimonials and success stories) is the best way to achieve this.
When adding articles to your site:
a) Include a clear reprint policy. This should state whether you allow articles to be reprinted, and if so, under what terms (including your byline, copyright, notification of use, etc.)
b) If you have a large number of articles, provide an index page that divides them into appropriate subject groupings, and gives a two-line description of each.
c) Create a byline with an enticing hook to get people to visit your Website. Mine refers to my popular free tipsheet "Beyond the Search Engines", which lists 23 alternative ways to promote your site. This is far more powerful than a bland statement such as "Philippa Gamse is an internationally recognized . . ."
3. Research and offer it to appropriate venues
It's critical to be very clear about your target audience, and how to reach them. Who are the economic buyers and decision makers that you'd like to be in front of, and what do they read? Do those sites or publications accept outside articles, and if so, what are their policies around doing so?
My assistant, Bonnie Jo Davis, runs my highly successful articles placement strategy. She provides a complete primer of her methodology, along with many online research sources at http://www.articlesthatsell.com/
4. Follow up links and references
It's extremely important to measure the success of these efforts, both in terms of the traffic to your site, and its quality.
Check the "referring URL" section in your traffic reports, and follow links to you from any site that you don't recognize. Often, site owners won't inform you when they've used your material. So you want to ensure that you have been properly attributed. But also, thank the site owner. I recently sent a note to
a university professor who had added some of my articles to his course reading list. His response? "I really like your ideas, and by the way, we're looking for a speaker for our upcoming conference . . ."
The Proof of the Pudding . . .
Does all this work? Absolutely. One of my articles was recently highlighted as the "Cool Site of the Week" in Tekguide.net - an online technology and computer directory. But the page that it linked to was not mine, but PowerHomeBiz.com -another site that had featured this article. So I now have sites quoting sites that quote me . . . and that gets major brownie points in Google - the only remaining credible free search engine.
I was also recently hired to consult for a site in the auto industry after the owner had read my article in eDealershipnews.com. He said "I liked the article, I can see how you think, and I'd like some of that thinking for me". No further selling required!
? 2003 Philippa Gamse. All rights reserved.
Philippa Gamse, CyberSpeaker, is a Web strategy consultant and professional speaker. Check out her free tipsheet for 23 ideas to promote your Website: http://www.articlesthatsell.com/ Philippa can be reached at (831) 465-0317.
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareFor me, to decide to start a home business was... Read More
If you want to increase the amount of visitors to... Read More
It doesn't really matter who you are; you definitely know... Read More
The goal of free publicity is to get your name... Read More
There are two primary factors in creating a successful reference... Read More
I am sure that there would have been a moment... Read More
Write articles, be recognized as an expert, drive a surge... Read More
Okay, I admit it: I'm a keen people-watcher. (Most writers... Read More
By now most entrepreneurs realize that the most cost effective... Read More
You submit it, that's what you do! And submit it... Read More
Have you ever seen articles that are not only related... Read More
We've all been there. We hear about how articles will... Read More
Writing a great deal of articles myself, I see a... Read More
Writing articles has proven time and time again to be... Read More
Sometimes when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More
Lately, there seems to be some confusion between Article Marketing... Read More
There's one key rule that every writer should understand before... Read More
We all know that article writing is a great way... Read More
Are you ready to become an internet marketing expert? Are... Read More
Once you learn the benefits of article writing, you may... Read More
Writing for web content is one of the easiest ways... Read More
Overture reports over 1 million queries for article keyword related... Read More
Ever read one of those web articles written by an... Read More
When you have to share what you've created, where do... Read More
Back when I was in college, I belonged to one... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals .."When you provide good information from which readers can learn... Read More
Publishers and webmasters can spend massive amounts of time just... Read More
Okay, I admit it: I'm a keen people-watcher. (Most writers... Read More
Content is an important component of your web site. Learning... Read More
If you are using articles to promote your business then... Read More
By now you probably understand how important writing for trade... Read More
Abandon your frustrations and get a fresh start by trying... Read More
This is Part 2 of a 2 part article -... Read More
Some six weeks ago, I began writing and submitting articles... Read More
One of the best ways to build credibility and promote... Read More
***What is the Resource box?'Resource box' is an information box... Read More
It is no secret among internet marketers that writing articles... Read More
A simple technique to increase web site traffic is using... Read More
These 7 Important Elements are your Blueprint to Article Writing... Read More
Selling books online means that you need to get interested... Read More
There's one key rule that every writer should understand before... Read More
If you write web content, it may be a mystery... Read More
I have seen the question asked so many times. How... Read More
Been reading up on SEO? If so, you know that... Read More
This has to be the number one thing that most... Read More
Every time I run a course on Freelance Writing, students... Read More
A lot of great ideas happen when two or more... Read More
Good technical articles are challenging to write. They're time-consuming, demanding... Read More
When writing articles for publication, it is important that you... Read More
Marketing on a budget is tough. This is a universal... Read More
Article Writing |