Article Marketing Traffic Generation
One of the best ways to get your niche audience to your site is to target them in article marketing. Article marketing is a revolutionary way to use your words to generate traffic. Essentially you (or hired content writers) can write about a topic directed at your site and include a bio and a link to your website. Article marketers will submit articles to article directories.
When someone uses Google, Yahoo or any other search engine, often these articles will pop up and they will click on them. What this means is that only those interested in the material in the articles are reading the content. They will also be more interested to click through to the link (your page) and continue to read, as long as you write and target your articles properly. Article marketing, when properly exercised can multiple your traffic in a matter of days!
21. Write something actually worth reading- perhaps you have not browsed through the net recently, but, unfortunately there is a lot of hogwash out there. Many people attempt to use article marketing and simply write about anything and everything. Not a good idea. Write something entertaining, write something informative and write something worth reading.
22. Use keywords- keywords are searched words- words that will get your article noticed on search engines. Make your keywords specific and use them about 2-5% in each article. Any more than this and your article could begin to sound like an advertisement, or you could be, gasp, black listed.
23. Beware of black listing- article marketing directories are well aware of the power of keywording and that is why they have technology to ensure that marketers are not simply sending them… well... crap. If you use too many keywords then you could be banned from the article directory and your articles not accepted. This is a complete and total waste of time so follow the rules of the directory and don’t try any sneaky stuff!
24. Don’t advertise, inform- the main point of your article is to direct your prospects to your website; however, you want to do this by proving that you actually know what you are talking about and have something informative to say. No one wants to be caught in an article-advertising trap. We get enough advertisements on radio and television, thank you very much.
25. Don’t re-write- it’s tempting to simply type in your keyword and rewrite similar articles. Don’t do this. First of all, it’s illegal. Second of all, you are not providing your prospects with anything new, and thus, your website will not be much help to them.
26. Prove you are an expert- you need to prove this with your words and with your bio line. After the article, you will most likely have a chance to explain ‘about the author.’ Demonstrate your knowledge by providing background information.
27. Beware of jargon- if you are writing an article about a new medical breakthrough, then it may make sense to use medical terms and diction that any regular Joe would consider to be written in Greek. Not a good idea; although you want to attract a certain group of people, regular Joes will be reading your material too. Sure, you want to sound smart, but you also want to be understood.
28. Be different- Write something that has never been said before; take a different approach to an old idea; make people read to the end. This is what generates traffic.
29. Look to help- most of us can write; however, not many can write well. And, in the article marketing business, you need to ensure that your articles are written well. If they are not, then you can kiss your success with article marketing goodbye. There are so many SEO, web content writing and web marketing companies out there that have the credentials and the experience to make all the difference in the web world.
30. Use a sociable voice- make friends with your audience reading the articles by speaking like them. Colloquial language is okay in certain situations; as long as you are not offending anyone.
31. Don’t save the link for last- the link is your clincher- it’s what makes your prospect actually click on your website. It is the traffic generator. So, link placement is vital. Read the rules of the article directory to determine the number of links allowed and then, if allowed, place the link throughout the article, not just at the end. Many people will not actually make it to the end of the article, especially if the content is less-than-thrilling. So catch them before they can click away.
32. Use real-life situations- Make your writing relatable. Think like your audience when writing the articles and you will have a better chance convincing them to continue to click through to your website.
33. Make them laugh- reading something that is humorous on the web is a welcoming change. If you can add humor to your articles, go for it! This is one of the best ways to gain respect from your readers and convince your prospect to click to your site.
34. Choose point of view carefully- If you want to relate to your audience, it’s best to use first person point of view. If you are offering advice, second person point of view is often a wise choice. Third person point of view can seem a little too impersonal and academic; however, it certain articles, this actually works well.
35. Choose your title wisely- it’s all in the title. You need to make sure your title uses the keywords you have chosen and is specific enough to be noticed by search engines. For example: “Carpet Cleaners” is not a good title even if your website is all about carpet cleaners. Instead try “The Top Five Reasons to Use Carpet Cleaners” which gives your article an angle and an informative spin.
36. Make friends with bold subheading- many people will simply skim through an article looking for the most important parts. So give them what they want by bolding the important parts and using bolded subheadings to split up the article.
37. Uncover the power of lists and bullets- numbered lists and bulletlists are an immediate eye-catching device. As mentioned above, most people will simply scan the article for useful information. This usually comes in the form of bulleted and numbered lists. They can attract viewers and also make your content easier to read and therefore more interesting.
38. Add a picture, if you can- if you are able to add a picture to your article then do so. However, in many instances this is not actually allowed. Make sure the picture relates back to the article information. For example, if you are discussing the best massages for your massage therapy website, a picture of a woman getting a foot massage is a great visual addition.
39. Mix up your paragraph sizes- short and long paragraphs grab reader’s attention. No one wants to look down an article and see 5 perfectly shaped paragraphs- talk about boring! This isn’t English grammar class after all. You don’t have to use the standard 5- paragraph format anymore.
40. Shine through- let your voice and your personality shine through the pages. Speak like you are talking. Be funny, be creative and be witty. Let that voice out and paste it all over the pages of your content.
41. Stay away from swear words- don’t try to be cool. Don’t try to be pretentious. Don’t try to be bold. Swear words look just as stupid on the screen as they sound coming out of people’s mouths. They are offensive; they are crude; and they are not suitable for articles. Prove your point with other terms that are not swear words- use the thesaurus if you have to. There are plenty of other words out there! 42. Always, always, always proofread- there is nothing worse than reading through an article that has grammatical and spelling errors, unless, of course, you are the one writing it. So take the extra time and actually re-read your work. This does not mean simply pressing the spell check button. It means reading it, top to bottom and catching all of those hidden errors.
43. Remain up to date- one of the most important things to remember when it comes to content is that it is all relative on the date and year. If you are talking about Y2K, most people will click away after all, that was nearly ten years ago. Stay up to date on the political and current event trends.
44. Discover the angles- there are so many different angles you can take when writing an article. While some choose to write informative tips, others choose to write something controversial to really get the readers going. Both can work in your benefit. There are many more article angels to use. Adapt them to suit your website needs.
45. Use ‘Top Ten’ Article Lists- “Top” lists are great for articles because the reader knows exactly what they are getting. Top Ten Hottest Baby Celebrities, Top Five Worst Pick up Lines, Top 100 Best Songs Ever- all of these will reel in the reader and make them want to learn more.
46. Use ‘Benefits of’, ‘Pros and Cons’ and other article marketing gold mines- there are other great article ideas other than just “top lists.” You can also list the benefits of a product, the pros and cons to a certain person, place or thing, to a list of the biggest “no’s” in that industry. All of these are easy for readers to follow and set up in an informative way.