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Article Marketing - The Best Advertising You Can Get
Writing articles for reprinting in newsletters and on other websites is, in my opinion, the best way to advertise your website and products or services.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't use other forms of advertising, but there simply isn't any other advertising strategy that offers as many long-term benefits as article marketing.
What it is
"Article Marketing" is just a buzzword for writing articles and submitting them to an assortment of submission websites for reprinting. I've talked briefly about doing this in other articles, this article will give you more information about what to do and what benefits you will get from doing it.
Benefits of Article Marketing
It's inexpensive. One of the best, most immediate benefits is that this strategy won’t cost you anything but your time.
You'll get more traffic to your website. People will read your articles and will visit your website, either to learn more or just out of curiosity. The bottom line is more traffic and more chances to make a sale.
Some of your articles will get re-published in newsletters. When this happens, it can generate a huge spike of traffic to your website. The better the article, the better the chances are of this happening.
Some directories offer a Javascript or RSS news feed that will automatically add your new articles to dozens of websites.
Each article can send new traffic for years. Every article that you submit to a directory gets archived, so webmasters and list owners will be able to use them for years.
New Friends, New Opportunities. When publishers reprint your articles, they usually contact you to let you know when & where your work will be published, and they often include an invitation to submit more articles.
You'll get more inbound links = Better SEO. Inbound links from relevant websites is a very important part of search engine optimization, and webmasters are desperate for new content. Always have a link to your website in the bio, and every time your article gets reprinted, you'll get another relevant inbound link.
Plus - search engines love article directories because they are always receiving new content. If your article is in the directory your website will be found and indexed quickly.
You'll improve your reputation. With every article, you increase your reputation as an expert in your field. This is a great way to start building trust and credibility with potential customers.
You'll learn more. Being an expert doesn't mean you know everything. Every time you write an article, you'll learn more about your topic, either through your research or simply by remembering something important. I can't tell you how much I’ve benefited with every article I’ve written.
Writing Articles For Directories
Article directories are searchable on-line databases of articles contributed by multiple authors. The goal of a directory is to collect articles and offer them to publishers to place on their website or in their newsletters.
This article can't cover all the bits about writing articles, but you can improve the odds of getting your articles picked up and republished by following these simple tips:
Always read the submission requirements and/or the Terms of Service. All directories have unique guidelines for both authors and publishers. You'll save time and energy by doing it right the first time.
Write informational articles and not just long-winded ads. Be professional and do your research. Know what you are writing about! Few, if any, article directories or newsletter publishers will reprint your articles unless they are helpful and informative.
Write a Summary. Many directories have submission forms that use the summary to give publishers a short article description. The summary can be the same as the first paragraph, or not.
Format your articles as if they were going to be printed in a text email. Even though they will first be published on a website, make them easy for a publisher to copy & paste by separating paragraphs and limiting each line to 60 or 65 characters. (Note - some directory TOS require that you don't do this.)
Make it easy for them to use your articles If you list your articles on your own website, provide a pre-formatted copy in an autoresponder. Just have the publisher send a blank email and send your article back instantly. All they have to do is copy/paste... see this page for a great example of that tactic in action.
Write each article in a few versions, for publishers with different space requirements. One version may have 800 words, another only 400 and the line: "For more information, visit http://mysite.com/archives/myarticle027.htm" -- or whatever.
Do not put your email address in the bio. That's just asking to be added to every spam list on the planet.
Where to Submit Your Articles
There are well over a hundred different article directories. Most of them are free for you to use, but there are a few specialized directories that have membership fees.
I'll list some of the most popular free ones below, you can do a web search to find as many more as you want. How many you submit to is limited only by how much time you can devote to it.
I'd recommend that you do not use any type of automated submission software or service, but that's up to you, it's your time. You may also want to use a different email address for submissions too, many directories require membership - and that means regular emails from them and their 'friends'.
Article Marketing may turn out to be the best long-term strategy there is for a new or struggling webmaster to get their name 'out there' and get the recognition that they need.
Try this experiment: Do a web search on your name and/or your product and see where, exactly, your website turns up in the results.
Next, write a few articles and submit them to ten or twelve article directories, then wait a week or so and run the same search again.
I'd bet the results will surprise and delight you!
Related Tools & Resources:
How To Write A Good Article - a helpful article by Craig Lock
Keyword Article Writing - another helpful article By Dina Giolitto
To Your Success!
Tim
By Tim Brown © 2006. About the author: Tim is the webmaster at http://BLT-Web.com, where webmasters can find free tools, advice, tips and other useful resources designed to help them build a successful website.
Webmasters & Publishers:
You are welcome to publish this article free of charge on your website, newsletter, or e-zine, provided:
* You don't change the article in any way and all links remain intact.
* You include the entire article, including the "about the author" box.
* In doing so you agree to indemnify the author, blt-web.com and its directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities which arise out of its use
* I would appreciate it if you send a courtesy copy of your publication to
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