Among marketing strategies, writing for article directories is certainly up there. It offers a large readership with the advantage of having those readers click back to your site.
While it is writing for free, it should be considered a part of your business expense, at least your time aspect of it. Just like any other form of marketing it is used to create and increase your visibility. It’s an investment.
I know it can get tedious having to write and submit articles to the directories, but the articles don’t have to be long. Here are 7 steps to writing for the directories:
1. Create a title
You want your title to be search engine friendly. Be sure you have your keyword/s in it–make it specific also.
2. Write an outline
This is optional, because there are many writers who can write with the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants method. But, if you are more comfortable with an outline, that’s fine. It does provide structure.
3. Create List, How-to, and Step-by-Step articles
This is a popular way to go. Readers love to see simple 1, 2, 3 lists of what they should do or should Not do.
Be sure to include your keyword/s in the first paragraph and a couple of times throughout the article. Just don’t overdo it.
4. Parts of the article
Your first paragraph should be interesting and let the reader know what the article is about, but don’t give away too much–you want the reader to continue reading.
Your second paragraph or section should inform and elaborate on the first paragraph. This part should fulfill the reader’s expectations.
Your last paragraph should sum up what the article is about and conclude with a lead-in to your resource box.
5. Write the minimum word count or just above
Check the guidelines for each particular directory. The minimum word count is usually around 300-400. But, check the site to make sure. Burn-out is easy with article marketing, especially when you’re writing for your own sites also. Keeping the articles short and to the point helps in this area.
6. The resource box
Some sites allow you to include a resource box which is about you and what you can offer the reader. Check the site’s guidelines because they may have specific requirements for the length of the resource box in relation to the length of the article.
7. SUBMIT
Once your article is complete, submit to a number of article directories. A couple of the most popular are Ezine Articles, Associated Content, Suite101, and Helium.
Note: If possible change the title of the article and at least the beginning content a bit. This will make the search engines think it’s new content.
That’s about it. Write, write, write . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Articles you might find of interest:
Article Directories and Ghostwriting
Private Label Rights: Time Saving Strategy
6 Stepping Stones to Publication
Great Writing Tools and Programs:
Writing, Publishing, and Marketing - You Can Do It
Writing for Children One Step at a Time
The Self-Publishing Guide, 2nd Edition
The Children's Writers' Coaching Club
Write More, Sell More, Make More Money Than EVER in 2010 Coaching Program
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By: Karen Cioffi,
on 6/7/2010
Blog: Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing articles, article marketing, steps for article marketing, writing for article directories, Add a tag
By: Karen Cioffi,
on 5/5/2010
Blog: Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: article marketing, marketing strategy, traditional marketing, inbound marketing, Add a tag
Okay, before you readers who do use traditional marketing get riled, I’ll be the first to agree that this strategy of marketing, specifically person-to-person networking geared toward referrals and business, is still alive and well.
But, for the online marketer, inbound marketing is the strategy that leads the race. Searching online is the first choice of people looking for products, services and information.
In case you’re not familiar with what’s involved in inbound and traditional marketing here’s an overview:
Traditional Marketing
We’re all very familiar with traditional marketing. I’m sure most of us have been annoyed at one time or another by the telemarketer, television commercials and infomercials, and radio plugs. There is also the newspaper advertising, and don’t forget the environmentalist’s arch enemy: junk mail.
This form of marketing is considered invasive. You are the target and the marketing companies take broad aim and bombard you with funny, stupid, crazy, confusing, annoying, dumbing down, and once in a while informative commercials and advertisements. These marketing tools go so far as to invade the privacy of your own home.
With traditional marketing, the potential customer is not looking for your product or anything similar. Again, the marketing company is taking a broad aim and spraying as large a target as possible in the hope of snagging a customer.
Inbound Marketing
While traditional marketing slaps you in the face with their promotions, inbound marketing gently taps you on the shoulder through Search Engines.
In fact, the inbound marketer doesn’t really even tap the potential customer—it cleverly uses information or entertainment as a means of drawing traffic to a website or blog.
So, instead of television, newspapers, and junk mail, inbound marketing uses blogs, article marketing, and social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Digg, and Technorati.
In regard to blogging, the inbound marketer provides content that his niche target is looking for. When the target does a Google search to find out how to market a book, the search engines provide a number of places the target can find this information. Depending on your ranking in the particular search engine being used will determine how far up or down on the listing provided your site will be.
One of the key factors in ranking high in the search engines is to use keywords in your title and content. In addition to this, the content must be valuable to the target audience, your title must be representative of the content, and you need to post regularly. Write with an objective and make your content exceptional.
Related articles:
Networking Like a Pro - A Review
7 Steps to Writing for Article Directories
If you want to write for children . . . I mean seriously . . . if you are striving to actually get published . . . then the place to be is The Children's Writers' Coaching Club . Read this article that describes just how beneficial it is: 5 Comments on Inbound Marketing: New Big Boy on the Block, last added: 5/6/2010
By: Karen Cioffi,
on 12/28/2009
Blog: Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: visibility, website tip, ezine articles, blogs, writers, article marketing, Add a tag
I think many of us writers/authors are using article marketing to bring traffic back to our sites. I've been doing it for a while and as with many things in life, I am still learning.
For those of you who may not be aware of the benefits of article marketing, it is a useful tool to create and increase your visibility online. And, it's simple to do. Just write informational or entertaining articles and submit them to ezines such as Ezine Articles, Associated Content, Suite101, and Helium.
Within these articles (at the end) you are usually allowed to include a resource box which is information about you with a link back to your site. Check the ezine site's guidelines to ensure acceptance of your article.
Now, here are the three article and blog marketing tips:
1. When including your bio/promo/resourcebox at the end of your article for the ezine, be sure to link to a specific page on your website (one that relates to your article or the offer you are promoting). Do Not link to your home page.
Example: If your article is about the benefits of having your manuscript professionally edited, link back to a post on your site relating to editing, or if you have services for hire, link to your editing services page.
2. Within the content of your blog, link to one of your related articles or posts, or both.
Example: If your blog post is about writing for children, link to another of your posts about this topic or one of your ezine articles related to it.
3. Make sure your site is focused.
Example: If you are promoting a writing services site, it's not the wisest marketing strategy to include How To Write, or Become a Better Writer offers on that site.
Okay, #3 is more of a website tip, but your blog posts and articles are tools to bring traffic back to your site so make it work for you.
Bottom line: BE FOCUSED and make each post or article work for you in more ways than one!
I realize there may be some of you who might have questions, just ask by commenting and I'll be happy to answer.
Until next time,
Karen
http://dkvwriting4u.com
By: Karen Cioffi,
on 10/18/2009
Blog: Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: authors, writing, publishers, Lea Schizas, free conference, article marketing, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, pitches, expert advice, Muse Online Writers Conference, Add a tag
Wow, what a week. I can't begin to convey all the information, advice and tips that were zooming around this conference.
The Muse Conference is an amazing concept. I will plug it from now until next year's is at our doorstep. It is an astounding opportunity for writers to learn their craft, or a new one, get advice and tips, network, and move forward in their careers.
Before this week I didn't realize that Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson actually thought of disabled writers who can't attend conference in person and writers who can't afford to go to them when they considered joining forces to attempt this wonderful and arduous undertaking. This type of altruistic act is a blessing for those in these categories. It allows us to partake of the knowledge and experience of wonderful writers, authors, editors, marketers, and publishers. And, it gives us the opportunity to get professional critiques of pieces of our writing within some of the workshops offered.
But hold on, if this isn't enough, you are given the opportunity to PITCH YOUR WORK!
I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative of Lea and Carolyn's time, effort, expense, and the obvious caring that goes into these amazing conferences.
So, what am I actually saying here? Simple: Sign up for next year's Muse Online Writers Conference as soon as you can!
Registration opens in November; I'll post a link here when it's available.
And, while it is absolutely FREE, if you can afford to please help out with the conferences by donating whatever you can - even a dollar is something!
Did you find it as fantastic as I did? I'd love to know.
Well, that's it for now,
Karen
By: Karen Cioffi,
on 10/6/2009
Blog: Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: authors, writing, promotion, article marketing, marketing strategy, print-on-demand, website creation, learning to write, self-publishing guide, publishing options, Add a tag
I've been working on an e-book about self-publishing. And, what better way to create it than through a self-publishing avenue - I used Lulu.com.
The title is: The Self-Publisher's Guide - An e-Book by Karen Cioffi
It's 22 pages and the price will be $3.99 (for the time being). That's not bad - a guide for the price of a cup of coffee.
I'm hoping to have it available for sale by the end of the week - I'm having a couple of problems. I sent a trouble ticket to lulu.com help. I'm hoping for a speedy resolution.
So, what's in the book, you ask?
Ah, glad you asked; there's quite a lot!
Here's a description:
Do you have a book in you dying to come out? Do you want to self-publish a book you’ve already written, but you’re not sure what to do?
Well, The Self-Publisher’s Guide – An e-Book by Karen Cioffi is for you!
From Writing Your Book, to Self-Publishing options, to Creating a Website, to Promotion - it's all included in this handy guide.
Topics include: learning to write, critique groups, being ready for publishing, choosing a publishing company, creating visibility through promotional strategies, bringing traffic to your site, resources, tools, and much more.
Great self-publishing and promotional tips, advice, information, and examples!
For subscribers to this site, I am giving this e-book for free. It will be in monthly installments in our Newsletter.
If you haven't subscribed yet, please sign up now. The first installment will be in our October 2009 issue (sometime toward the end of the month).
Talk to you soon,
Karen
By: John Mark Boling,
on 10/18/2007
Blog: The Winged Elephant (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Charles McCarry, christopher's ghosts, second sight, Add a tag
Charles McCarry's acclaimed novel Second Sight is finally available in a new hardcover edition from Overlook. This is the seventh in the series of Paul Christopher novels, a thrilling story that combines masterful flashbacks and memorable characters. Writing in USA Today, novelist Ross Thomas noted that "it may well be the best of the fictional spy dynasty, that remarkable Christopher clan . . . It is without a doubt, a special treat for those of us who dote on novels of espionage as it is practiced by our betters. To paraphrase another gifted novelist, McCarry has successfully taken spying out of the dark alleys of the world and dumped it back into Georgetown where it belongs."
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