How to use articles to increase traffic, build credibility, and improve search engine rankings
From: Hans Klein
Cyberwave Staff Writer
Dear Subscriber,
Far too often entrepreneurs get caught-up in the buzz surrounding the latest marketing tactic - and forget to use basic and proven techniques that have worked for years.
In fact, the method we’re going to talk about today has been utilized since the beginning of the Internet, and actually, for hundreds of years before that in the offline world to promote a wide range of businesses, products, and even ideas.
And, Its Effectiveness Shows No Signs Of Letting-Up!
You see, what separates this tactic from many “trendy” ways to promote your Web site is that it not only attracts loads of new visitors, but also transforms skeptical prospects into die-hard loyal customers who drive your profits to obscene new heights.
What’s more, because search-engines generally love this technique, it can pay off for months, ever years, as a steady traffic generator.
The technique is simply this… writing and distributing content-based articles that are interesting to your target market. Then using the power of the Internet to spread your message exponentially, to your exact prospect, with a link back to your Web site.
Articles aren’t like traditional advertisements, where you try to sell directly. Rather, they are how you share information with your demographic group with the intention of establishing credibility and trust.
They can even act as a pulpit, allowing you to give your take on topics of interest, and show readers a world previously unknown to them.
The very best articles contain new, useful, even provocative information, which transforms the way the reader views the situation, and creates an “Ah-Ha” moment.
Now don’t worry, sometimes you article will nail the sweet spot, other times your message will fall flat.
But if you follow the steps you learn today, and write and create content on a regular basis, you’ll be successful - and your traffic will increase too.
You’ll also learn how to slash the time it takes to create quality articles people want to read. It’s not difficult once you know your topic and understand the basics. Plus, you’ll also achieve:
- Improved search engine rankings.
- More targeted traffic to your website.
- Become positioned as an expert.
Here’s how it works:
1. You write short, informative, keyword-rich articles, which get picked up by site owners, and are placed on their Web sites and newsletters with a contact box and a link pointing back to your website. More incoming links means more traffic, plus higher search engine rankings.
These site owners want content to improve their site and increase their traffic. They find your articles when you place them in directories such as:
…or when you syndicate them with RSS feeds. Publishers will pick-up RSS feeds with software like:
These feeds are automatically published to dozens, even hundreds of sites.
2. The second way articles benefit you is when they are used on your own website or blog to get top search engine rankings. The entire article can even be written around a specific search phrase you want to get ranked for.
Or you can use software to take a single article and mix it around to create many different pages of content:
The downside of this method is the content you create is not designed for humans, but rather, for search engines… and for this reason some people feel this technique is unethical.
A better option is to use content you have private label rights to. These articles are sold in membership sites that limit the number of people who are able to use it. Some examples would be:
Unless you rewrite them significantly, and make them unique, private label rights articles should only be used on your website to attract search engine traffic (and not submitted to directories).
With that said, let’s get into…
The Biggest Obstacle You Face When Creating New Articles
What should you write about?
The topic of your article is not as important as what you have to bring to it. An old, run-down topic that has been talked about a million times can be brought to life with new insights.
The principal consideration when coming-up with topics is deciding who you want to attract to your business.
Let’s say you’re selling an e-book on creating a spectacular garden. If you wanted to attract beginners, you’d stick with the basics. But, if you want to reach those who have been gardening for years (and who will spend a few bucks), you might cover an amazing gardening technique that makes their life easier – especially if that technique is covered in detail in your ebook!
- For every market, there are questions that come up time and time again. These endless questions offer opportunities to create evergreen content that works to bring-in new customers 24/7 for many years to come.
- Another easy formula is to create articles is to write about new trends and technology. People always want to take advantage of things that are new, or tools and techniques to increase their efficiency.
How To Write Articles So They Get Read
Good writing is a process you learn. Just like reading, cooking, or even talking.
You weren’t born with these abilities. You had to learn them from others. But, once you practiced, they became second nature.
And, here’s why this is important: By writing regularly, it becomes effortless.
Dan Kennedy, a copywriter and marketer once said that it takes him less than a day to kick-out winning long-sales letters drafts that sell millions… because all of the formulas, sentence structures, and hundreds of tricks he’s learned over the years are second nature.
Now, you may be thinking that this sounds like a lot of work. This is true, but there’s a major exception.
You don’t have to be an expert writer to create winning articles. The information inside of them is far more important than style. You just need to understand some…
Quick and Easy Basics To Make Your Content Digestible
So let’s get going:
1. It’s never about you, it’s about your reader.
To make sure your article is completely focused on the reader, make a list of the benefits your topic will provide before you get started. Will the information inside make the readers’ life easier? Add more excitement? Help them achieve something?
Get clear of exactly what they want and need, and what you are going to give them.
Then, use your benefits throughout your article… and be sure to only use the word “I” when you are building credibility or giving proof regarding what you say.
2. Don’t worry about how long the article it is, worry about how interesting it is.
If what you have to say is going to benefit to the reader, it’s worth the time to say it. Length is usually irrelevant…
Content is what’s important!
For reprint purposes most articles are 500-600 words long. Longer is OK, but if you are writing text-based articles, split it up in 2 or 3 parts.
3. Format to increase readability. Large paragraphs are fine in print publications. But, they are hard on the eyes when it comes to reading a computer screen.
Increase your readership by keeping paragraphs to under 3 sentences. You can even use one sentence paragraphs.
When distributing your articles to others in text format, make sure each line is limited to 60-65 characters long, separated with a hard return. Do this in your notepad text editor and count out characters until your reach about 65.
Then, hit “return” to bring the remaining text after 65 characters to a new line.
4. Make your article fun to read, and write in the style of the intended recipient. Don’t worry about grammar or slang, use words and phrases familiar to your target market.
Grammar is only an issue when it takes your readers’ attention away from the content. Of course, if you’re writing to English teachers, then you want to make it flawless… because they’re going to read everything.
However, most markets want you to get to the point – and fast. Short sentences are good. And… Yep. Sometimes even fragments work;)
The use of ellipses (three dots)… or dashes - also helps to keep thoughts separate and is a useful technique when submitting text articles since you can’t use bolding, underlining, or italics.
5. Add opinions and personality to your articles – it’s the difference between a wildly popular piece and a minor success.
To do this, share your outlook on the topic and be opinionated. It makes your writing interesting and brings it to life.
Here Are 3 Proven Methods To Promoting Your Articles:
After you’ve got the articles together, you’ve got to get them out there.
1. Submit to article directories. Webmasters looking for content will pick them up. There are hundreds upon hundreds of these sites. Here are two excellent lists to help you find the ones worth your time:
New article directories are popping-up all the time. You can find them easily by searching Google for “Article Directories” every few weeks.
2. Submit to announcement lists. These are groups of members who receive articles, generally looking to reprint or republish them.
Here are some good places to start:
3. Submit your articles to e-zine editors that accept submissions directly. A great free directory is located here:
Two paid resources to find ezine editors who accept articles can be found here:
As you might have realized, submitting articles is a tedious process. For this reason, there are automatic submission tools. Our four favorites:
The Key to making your articles pay off big!
The most important thing about making an article strategy pay off big is to have a strong call to action in your contact box.
A contact box is a 3 to 6 line ad for your products or services. It goes on the bottom of each article you submit. An example for an author might be:
Peter Pan is a respected marketer, and publisher of the longest-running publication about Internet Marketing, the Peter Pan Letter. Subscribe to his e-zine at: http://www.PeterPan.com
If a directory accepts HTML, include anchor text in your contact box that matches your desired keyword to increase your ranking for a particular term. For example:
Peter Pan is a respected marketer, and publisher of the longest-running publication about Internet Marketing, the Peter Pan Letter. Subscribe to his e-zine at: http://www.PeterPan.com
But our favorite technique is to ask an outlandish question…
How did I get 208,495 "real" opt-in leads in a single month? Discover the power of the Amazing NameSqueeze™ list-building technique! http://www.marketingletter.com
Or make a special offer - utilizing all the techniques:
Try the all-new weight-loss patch for free, and if you don’t lose 10 pounds by Valentine’s day, don’t pay a dime! Start your free trial today! http://www.weightloss.com/
An effective resource box should attract the type of people who are most likely to buy from you with a benefit-oriented headline. Your article offers them a taste, but your website offers them exactly what they need to improve their life.
Don’t just give a description of who you are and your credentials. Persuade the most qualified readers to engage, to go-on and learn more.
You went through the work to create the article (or spent money on a writer), don’t let all of that effort go to waste with a weak close or missing contact box.
Conclusion
Quality articles provide a backbone for your business to grow, regardless of your industry. They allow you to branch-out reaching tens of thousands of loyal customers who could never have reached you through normal marketing channels.
You’re seen as the expert!
It is these customers who are most likely to buy your products many years into the future.
Put articles to use, and watch your income grow!
Respectfully,
Hans Klein
