Writing Articles?

[FineWoodenToys]

I was just reading the post about "The Value of Forums" and writing articles was mentioned. What's that about? Is that something that can be used to promote your business? Just curious, because I've heard it mentioned before.

[Audrey]

Can Article Marketing Help Your Direct Sales Business?

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is “how can I advertise for free?” I have never supported methods such as free classifieds. Nobody reads this. If you look, thousands of folks come and post an ad and never read a thing.

I am a very strong supporter of article writing. Article writing allows you to determine exactly what keywords you are targeting and to get very targeted visitors to your site.

I would rather see someone write 3 articles per week versus placing 100 free classified ads in a week.

If you sell children’s toys or children’s books, write parenting articles. Those who read the articles are the very people who are buying toys. If you sell dietary supplements, write health and wellness articles. Again, those who read your articles are going to be people looking for the very product you offer. If you sell make up and skin care, write articles about fashion and beauty.

Who do you want to visit your site? You want potential customers and potential new sales distributors to visit your site. So, how can you make sure that those coming to your site want what you are offering? Write about the topics that relate to what you are selling. Those who search for your articles or find your articles through a keyword search are interested in what you are offering. Parents need toys. When you write about parenting, your audience is the very people who just might buy from you.

Choose a few keywords or keyword phrases that your potential customers might be searching for. Now write about them. Become an expert writer in your field. Write articles that solve every potential problem or question someone might ask you.

Article writing is the best method of free advertising I’ve ever found. Try it. See if you don’t see increased hits to your website that I hope will lead to sales for you.

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Audrey Okaneko has been working at home since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at http://www.recipe-barn.com

[Lori]

Yes, article distribution is a great way to promote your business. For example you could write articles on Waldorf philosophy. Research popular keywords that are applicable and intersperse them in the article in an organic way.

Then at the end of the article you are allowed to have a resource box or bio. In that you include a live link to your website.

It's important to build backlinks to your website. Search engines consider links to your website to be 'votes' for your site. Especially when the links are from sites or at least pages with compatible content to your website.

Pay attention to how you link to your website in your bio. When you link to your site - use a keyword phrase that you ideally want to rank for in the search engines as 'anchor text'. For example - I would link to the FreelanceMom home page like this: Work From Home Jobs (http://www.freelancemom.com).

Two other hints when submitting articles

1. Make a few different versions of the same article. Just vary your text a bit. Submit several of one version and then the next.

2. Vary the anchor text in your link in the bio.

I hope this helps! :work:

[MamaSoul]

Hi Audrey and Lori,
Where abouts do we submit these articles? And what exactly do you mean by "Research popular keywords that are applicable and intersperse them in the article in an organic way"?

I have a few articles that I've just written recently and would love to get them out there:)

Peace
Shauna

[Audrey]

Shauna,

I would start with ezinearticles.com They are the largest directory out there. As time permits, http://www.freelancemom.com/submitarticles.htm here is a list of places you can submit your articles, and here is another list http://www.maranan.us/archives/list-of-article-directories/

[Lori]

Here's a decent article (http://www.entrepreneur.com/ebusiness/ebusinesscolumnist/article173448.html) for you Shauna.

[MamaSoul]

Awesome, I get it now thanks again Audrey and Lori. How much traffic would you say you generate using articles?

Peace
Shauna

[FineWoodenToys]

Just wanted to thank you for the responses and info - definitely something to think about. Seems like it's getting harder to find relevant, high-quality link exchanges, and I'd love another way to get some good backlinks. I don't think I'm much of an expert, though. Hmmm. I have an idea or two - I suppose I could research them and become an expert of sorts.

[Audrey]

Hmmmm here's a few suggestions:

1. what to look for a in a well made toy
2. why buy wood over plastic?
3. what is an age appropriate toy for a 2 year old? A 5 year old? You could have an entire series on age appropriate toys for each age group
4. shouldn't a kid just be able to play? Or does it always have to be educational?
5. activities at home for mom and kids during summer break
6. what toys should kids bring in the car?

I know you can write articles on each of those above topics. Do just a bit of keyword research and see what folks are looking for. A tool I love is http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/suggestion/

[Audrey]

Shauna,

About 1/4 of my traffic comes from articles. I am really consistant about releasing new articles.

My style is very chatty, no big words, easy to understand. There are some publishers who really like my style and so will email me a topic and ask if I feel I can write an article on it. If I can, I will. Monday, a newsletter going out to about 19,000 has a brand new article of mine called "Decorating Your Teens Bedroom".

If you were to buy an ad in that same newsletter, how much would you pay? I know the publisher does get paid ads.

In addition I submit my articles to all of the major directories.

Write a few articles. Watch your stats. See if article writing can be a benefit for you.

[FineWoodenToys]

Excellent advice, Audrey - thanks for the suggestions. It's an exciting idea - I'll definitely give it a try.

Darci.

[Audrey]

My pleasure. There is a also a board here at the very bottom for personally written articles. Don't forget to post it here for us :)

Once you write them, seek out parenting sites to post your articles also :)

[MamaSoul]

I submitted my first article yesterday Audrey & Lori...thanks for all the helpful info!:)

[FineWoodenToys]

OK, stupid question - I have a couple of good ideas, but I need to do some research and get more info to write a good article. I was thinking that I would need to quote sources, but I don't see anyone on ezinearticles doing that. As long as I'm putting the information in my own words, do I not need to mention where I got the info?

[MamaSoul]

Hmm, well maybe it's because I'm a fulltime writing and communications student and I get it drilled into my head a 1000 times a day to reference, reference and reference...that I say reference always, if you don't it's plagurism plain and simple. I don't know what the ezine rules are but I've posted two articles with references in the past day...neither are live yet or I'd point you to them to see how I did it. Another thing is, at the end of the article submission form there's a box for your signature line and it says something about references but I couldn't figure out what it meant so I just included my references at the end of the article. When they go live I'll post a link so you can see what I mean.

Peace
Shauna

[Audrey]

OK, stupid question - I have a couple of good ideas, but I need to do some research and get more info to write a good article. I was thinking that I would need to quote sources, but I don't see anyone on ezinearticles doing that. As long as I'm putting the information in my own words, do I not need to mention where I got the info?

Not a stupid question at all. There is a fine line in article writing. You can't use live links in the first paragraph and you can't have too many live links in the article itself.

You can say things like "according to _______", or "I discovered that ________ said" thus giving credit where credit is due.

[Audrey]

I submitted my first article yesterday Audrey & Lori...thanks for all the helpful info!:)

Way to go!!!!! Once it's live post a link :)

[FineWoodenToys]

... When they go live I'll post a link so you can see what I mean.

Thanks, Shauna - that would be very helpful. And thanks, Audrey, too. I'm a bit sensitive about copyright issues myself, because people are always stealing images and content (that I created/wrote) from my site to benefit their own sites. It's a really horrible feeling to see someone else using and taking credit for your work.

Darci

[Lori]

I submitted my first article yesterday Audrey & Lori...thanks for all the helpful info!:)

That's terrific MamaSoul! I hope you post it here. (http://www.freelancemom.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=63)

[Audrey]

Darci,

I do random searches for my articles on Google. I've only once found my article without proper credit. I wrote the site owner who apologized.

[Audrey]

http://www.wahm-articles.com/articlebook.html

Denise Williams from wahm-articles.com has written a great ebook about article writing and article marketing. The ebook is free and I highly recommend it.

[FineWoodenToys]

Thanks for the link to the e-book, Audrey - very helpful.

Darci