|
|
|
But, What If I'm Not A Writer?
"Ah...but you are...lil grasshoppa...you just need to to apply yourself!"
Ok, perhaps I was pushing the limit just a bit. As I was writing this, I had a picture come to my mind of a movie I once saw, I don't remember the name of it, but a young boy said "But...what if I can't" to his teacher and that was how the teacher responded.
This does not negate the fact that we are ALL capable of writing and if you hang with me for a few minutes I will show you 3 types of articles you can write, with very little effort at all...sound good??
First though, what is all the fuss about writing articles anyway? I mean, every guru you see lists writing articles, if not in their top 3 marketing strategies for building success, it's at least in the top 5. Let me tell you quickly why articles can be such an effective marketing tool for you.
Writing articles is a fantastic way of creating trust and building rapport with a target audience. Use this strategy consistently and provide good valid information it, eventually, will also peg you as an "expert." It's also a subtle way of getting your message out , well let's be honest here...it's free advertising. (I'll show you how that works in a sec).
Ok...so you know why articles are an effective marketing tool what about the how?? Glad you asked (lil grasshoppa).
3 Types of Articles
Tips List
If you subscribe to a few newsletters you may notice (and if you haven't you will now...) that many of the articles are made up of a tips list. This is the most widely used form of all article types.
15 Things You Wish Your Wife Knew About Football, 12 Ways to Losing Weight Fast, 101 Off the Wall Marketing Ideas...and so on.
The "Tips List" is the easiest article to write, which of course is why they are so popular. Each tip consists of around 2-4 sentences, nothing too earth shattering, just good quality information. All you need is a basic knowledge of the subject on which you wish to write. From there you write a sentence outlining the tip and 2-4 sentences to explain each tip.
Once you write a tips list that is current and focuses on a new idea or new concept, well champ..."you're in there" because everyone will be interested in reading it.
Step-By-Step Tutorial
Another "bang on" form of article that is ALWAYS read. If "step-by-step" scares you a little (I may be wrong here, but I thought I heard you suck in your breath there...) then how about refering to it as the "How To" article?
Everyone and their dog wants to know "How To" do something. We want to have instructions broken down into little bite sized pieces that we can easily understand and follow. For example, if
you were writing a "How To Write an Effective Auction Listing" your first step would be to explain the headline and continue with as many steps as it took to complete the task. Pretty easy stuff, huh??
Interview
Another good form of article and again this one which takes very little time. Write 10-15 questions on a particular topic you know is hot right now, approach an "expert" that is well known in that area and ask them if they would mind taking the time to answer you questions.
For example, you have done some research and found that the hottest topic online with respect to running an eBusiness is how to build traffic. You know there are a few good "experts" out there, so you design 10-15 questions and then go to one "expert" and explain what you are doing - send them the questions...and Voila - it's a done deal!
If you're eBusiness happens to deal with health issues, find out what the hot health issue is right now, design the questions and go to the "expert" in that area.
The best thing about this form of article is that all the work is basically done for you. The 10-15 questions are answered by your expert and all you have to write is the introduction and conclusion.
And you didn't think you could write...
Now...where does the free advertising come in? It comes in the form of the Resource Box. A resource box is about 3-5 lines and follows your article. This little box lets people know who wrote the article with a bit more info on what you do and where you can be found. That my friend, is an advertisement promoting you and your business.
After you have written your article, let it start working for you. Get it into the hands of as many ezine publishers as you can. Publishers are always looking for new, quality content for their issues. Approach them with your article!
The end result?
You are building trust, creating rapport and being pegged as an "expert." Plus the more exposure that article gains...the more people visit :o)
So... Are you just going to sit there "lil grasshoppa" and join those who have said they can't write?? Or are you going to try your hand at one or all of the forms of articles I just showed you and get them working for you?
About the Author
Denise Ryder operates out of her home office in Northern Ontario, Canada and owns http://www.profitspace.biz In addition she is the Publisher of ProfitSpace, a ezine geared towards helping home and small business owners. Subscribe by going to http://www.profitspace.biz/newsletter Get YOUR 7-Day eCourse - "The Scientific, Mathematic, This- Is-What-Einstein-Would-Have-Done Approach to Earning Monthly Income Online. mailto:profitspace@followup101.com
|
|
|
|
|
Ezine Article Submission - Submit Your Best Articles For Massive ... |
EzineArticles.com allows ezine or email list publishers to upload or download free expert content that can be used within email newsletters or websites. |
ezinearticles.com |
  |
The Ezine Directory |
The Ezine Directory lists thousands of the best email newsletters available on the internet today. Search, browse, or add your ezine for free! |
www.ezine-dir.com |
  |
e-zine-list: John Labovitz's e-zine-list |
I also wrote "Five years and counting," a longer article for Art-bin about the history of e-zines and the e-zine-list. Finally, for the real Internet ... |
www.meer.net |
  |
BME: Body Modification Ezine - The biggest and best online bod-mod ... |
Comprehensive resource on piercing, tattoos, scarification, subincision, castration and all other forms of body modification. |
www.bmezine.com |
  |
Ezine Publishers & Email Marketers Promote Their New Email ... |
Submit Your Ezine To New-List For Massive Free Exposure - Grow Your Ezine - Ezine Marketing Made Easy By New-List.com. |
new-list.com |
  |
Ezine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Ezines are typically tightly focused on a subject area. ... CULT OF THE DEAD COW claims to have published the first ezine, starting in 1984, with its ezine ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
News & Ezine Strategies For Email Newsletter Publishers ... |
EmailUniverse, The E-mail List-Owner Resource Network is an excellent source for today's Email List Owners, Managers, and Editors. |
emailuniverse.com |
  |
Best Ezines - Email Newsletter Peer Reviews & Ezine Awards For ... |
Email Newsletter Publishing Award Site: Fellow Ezine Publishers Review The Best Email Newsletters. |
www.bestezines.com |
  |
Ezine Directory |
Home | Sign-up for your Free listing | Link to us Code | TOP 100 Ezines. CATEGORIES ... ezine directory. link exchange with us ... |
www.ezinelisting.com |
  |
Browser based email list management, ezine hosting, and campaign ... |
Browser based email list management, ezine hosting, and campaign software. Keep in constant contact with clients and potential customers. |
www.ezinedirector.com |
  |
Splendid E-zine |
Splendid: Daily music reviews, articles, interviews and more. |
www.splendidezine.com |
  |
OS/2 e-Zine - The Best OS/2 Reading Anywhere! |
Monthly magazine with reviews, articles, and discussion forums. |
www.os2ezine.com |
  |
E-ZineZ - The Handbook of Ezine Publishing |
An ezine directory, free ezine builder tool, ezine tutorials including everything you need to know to start publishing an ezine or email newsletter. |
www.e-zinez.com |
  |
EzineUniversity - Free Online Training for Ezine Publishers |
EzineUniversity provides provides information, tools and products for ezine publishers. Featuring EzineUniversity Journal, EZU Tutor and FREE online ... |
www.ezineuniversity.com |
  |
Ezines |
E-zines directory with categories of free ezines, newsletters, email magazines and online publications. |
www.web-source.net |
  |
My Favorite Ezines - The Family Friendly Ezine and Email ... |
The best family friendly ezine and email newsletter directory providing education - motivation - inspiration and marketing support. |
www.myfavoriteezines.com |
  |
Tattoos.Com Ezine Front Page |
Historical information from the tribal art of Borneo to the wood block prints of Japan. Alphabetical listing of studios around the world, events, ... |
tattoos.com |
  |
Welcome To Ezine.Com! |
Welcome To Ezine.Com! Welcome Page For Ezine.Com ezine online magazine electronic magazine zine e-zine ezines eziner ezining. |
www.ezine.com |
  |
Ezine Information |
What makes your ezine hot stuff? With literally thousands of ezines online ... We all have ezines that we love to read and learn from but that doesn't mean ... |
www.dtguide.com |
  |
Asian American Movement Ezine |
Asian American Movement Ezine is a radical and progressive zine on Asian American politics, art, history and culture. |
www.aamovement.net |
  |
|