| It seems that too many non writers fancy | | | | a computer screen. It doesn't take long for your |
| themselves as article writers these days. As the | | | | eyes to get tired. Think about your reader. |
| owner of several article directories, as well as an | | | | All of those long paragraphs might make you |
| article writer, I've seen just about everything. | | | | think that your writing is impressive because you |
| As someone who uses articles to promote my | | | | can string lots of sentences together, but your |
| business interests, I'd like to offer my best tips | | | | reader will click away because it's not worth the |
| for writing and promoting articles so that they get | | | | effort to read text that's all crammed together. |
| you the result you want, which is more traffic | | | | Use good grammar and correct spelling. |
| and sales. | | | | One of my authors submitted an article the other |
| 1. The purpose of writing an article, other than to | | | | day on article promotion. He spelled article artical. |
| get traffic and sales to your site, is to establish | | | | Mistakes like this one can hurt your credibility. |
| your expertise. You are offering your potential | | | | Another issue you should consider is acronyms. |
| customer value he/she can't get anywhere else. | | | | Acronyms are abbreviations that stand for |
| You are branding yourself as an expert. By | | | | something, like ASAP. (ASAP means as soon as |
| branding yourself as an expert in your topic, you | | | | possible). |
| raise the credibility of your offering and others | | | | Make sure that you spell out what the acronym |
| are more likely to buy from you. | | | | is. Your reader may or may not know, and if |
| Where most get into trouble here is writing an | | | | they don't, they won't understand the article |
| article on one topic and advertising a totally | | | | eventhough it's information he/she is looking for. |
| unrelated topic in the resource box. | | | | Also, don't type your titles in all capital letters. On |
| For example, you write an article on internet | | | | the internet, this looks like you are shouting. I |
| marketing. However, when the reader gets to the | | | | don't read articles with titles like that, and if I |
| resource box, you're advertising a balding cure. | | | | receive emails in all caps, they get deleted. It isn't |
| Your resource box has just been wasted. | | | | worth the effort to read them. |
| Readers won't click through. | | | | Finally, make sure you format your article |
| The reason why is that you have nothing else left | | | | according to the site's guidelines. I don't accept |
| to offer them on the topic of internet marketing. | | | | formatted articles. The only time the writer should |
| When creating your resource box, remember, this | | | | use a return is at the end of the paragraph. The |
| is your opportunity to advertise your products | | | | only exception to my rule on formatting is that |
| and services. Give the reader a reason to click | | | | HTML can be used. |
| through. | | | | 4. Make the most of your resource box. |
| 2. Write and submit for the market you are | | | | I mentioned this briefly above, but you'd be |
| targeting. | | | | surprised at the number of article writers who |
| I know. This one sounds obvious, but you'd be | | | | forget to include the url of their sites in the |
| surprised at the number of internet marketing | | | | resource box. |
| articles I get on my health site, or articles I get | | | | Don't forget to include your url! |
| on Eastern religion on my Christian site. | | | | Offer your reader a reason to click through to |
| Although there is nothing fundamentally wrong | | | | your site. A free ebook, more information, a |
| with the articles themselves, they have nothing to | | | | special offer, are always good ways to do it. |
| do with the topic I am promoting. | | | | Include one link in your resource box. Otherwise, |
| In one of his books, marketer Jay Abraham | | | | you'll just confuse the reader. |
| mentions the bank robber Willie Sutton. When | | | | Also, keep your resource box short, Usually 65 |
| Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he said, | | | | characters wide and six lines long. |
| "Because that's where the money is". | | | | I've seen writers use resource boxes that are |
| Good advice. Go where the money is. Post your | | | | longer than their articles. It's a waste of time |
| articles where your readers are. Besides, if you | | | | because the writer gives the impression that the |
| post them on unrelated sites, you just irritate the | | | | resource box is more important than the |
| site owner. When you finally do post content the | | | | information he/she is trying to share. |
| site owner can use, he/she will probably delete it | | | | Remember, your article is meant to build credibility |
| because you've lost credibility. | | | | and provide valuable information for your reader. |
| 3. Use short words, short sentences, and short | | | | That means avoiding a blatant sales pitch. This |
| paragraphs. | | | | means posting articles in article directories, not |
| Writer Ernest Hemingway gave this advice when | | | | ads. |
| he worked for the "Kansas City Star". | | | | Give your reader information he/she can read, |
| However, when writing for the internet, it's even | | | | make it easy to read, and you'll have your |
| better advice. | | | | readers coming back for more. |
| Readers read 25 percent slower when reading on | | | | |