Think DO Sell Web Marketing Tools

Learn how to write "how to" articles and it is easy to promote your website. They are one of the most popular types of articles online. Some people will read articles just for entertainment or to learn general information, but everyone wants to know how to do something.

Before you start cranking out those "how to" articles, though, you need to know a basic principle and a few tricks. First, an online article is not the same as an article in a print magazine. In the print world, the writer is paid to be purely informative and entertaining. Online articles are informative as well, but since you give them away, they have little value to you unless they get readers to come to your website.

Keep that important principle in mind. Make sure you know how to create a good "authors resource box" that will motivate the reader to click on that link and visit your website. You also have to get the reader to read that far, which you can do by using the first tip below. Since it's on-topic and relevant to this article, I can simply tell you that you're going to like what you see in my own resource box below. (That's an example of using curiosity to "hook" the reader.)

How-To Articles - Three Tips

1. Tell the reader almost everything she needs to know. Almost, but not everything. The point here is to give real value, but leave her wanting more. This keeps her reading,to see what else there is, and finally, it get's her to look at the author information at the end of the article, where hopefully she clicks through to your website to learn more.

It is easy to use this technique. For example, two paragraphs ago I mentioned that you need to know how to create a good "authors resource box" to make a reader into a visitor. Of course, how to do that isn't covered in this article, so the curious reader will hopefully click through to my site to learn how. Another way to do this is to have six tips on how to do whatever, and then mention in the resource box that there are ten more tips on your website.

2. If you sell products, mention them relevantly. You can't use an article as a sales pitch, but what if the things you sell are relevant to your article? Mention them specifically, but don't mention in the article that you sell them. Keep that to the resource box.

For example, suppose you sell scrapbook materials, and your article is on how to create the perfect scrapbook. Go ahead and mention the specific materials and even the brands you recommend. The reader will wonder where he can get these things, and in the author's resource box he'll see that you sell them on your website. There is nothing wrong with this technique. A woman who reads an article on "How To Tie Fishing Flies" also wants to know the best materials and where to buy them.

3. Have something new to say. You are telling the reader how to do something, but so are many others. Try to have your own unique angle or a "special" tip that isn't found in other writings on the subject. You want the reader to know that you are the expert and your website is the one to visit.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on How To Write Articles, including that all-important resource box, and to get a free ebook, visit: http://www.999articles.com

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How To Get Traffic To Your Site By Reading The Morning News
By: Lori Osterberg

When you sit down tomorrow morning with your coffee mug in one hand, and your daily news in the other, keep one thing in mind: one story in there could be worth millions to your business.

How could it be worth millions, you ask? By using one of the top stories as a strategy for an online marketing campaign.

Every day the news is filled with human-interest stories. Stories that people want to follow because of their timeliness, and their impact on society as a whole. Things like:

* The Olympics

* Space exploration

* Elections

* Seasonal Events

* Hollywood movies and awards ceremonies

* Job loss/cutbacks

And with each of these events is the opportunity to combine your traditional marketing ideas, with your Internet strategy, with the event itself.

As you’re reading the news, choose one article or topic that captures your attention, and use it as a basis for creating an online marketing campaign.

Let’s use the idea of job loss and recent cutbacks as an example. The news is filled with companies that are making cutbacks on staff, and are laying people off by the thousands. If you are a financial advisor, this should be music to your ears.

You can start bringing in significant traffic to your site by writing up a press release and a keyword rich article promoting your solutions and helping people survive while facing a lay off situation.

First, a press release is made to deliver a message to the press. While its important to send it to your local news affiliates, its just as important to send it to online press sources to develop links to your website.

In your press release, use an energetic title that captures attention. Since your goal is to help people survive cutbacks, your title may say something like, “Local Financial Advisor Holds Key To Surviving Layoffs”. Then continue to fill your press release with several paragraphs of detail on what the key is.

The purpose of a great press release is to provide a storyline for a reporter or media source, and give enough support to make the story a credible piece of news for their outlet. The more work you put into the release, the less work will be needed to write the story – and the greater your chance of getting the coverage you’re looking for.

After your release has been written, submit it to top online newswires like PRWeb.com, PR.com, and PRLeap.com. This not only puts you in front of the people who cover the news, but also provides you with a valued link back to your site.

Second, write an article with the same structure as your press release. Using the same information from the above example, your article title may be, “Three Key Ways To Survive A Layoff”.

Like your press release, your article should be filled with helpful information for a person recently experiencing a layoff. The more helpful the article, the better chance of it being used in other news sources.

Also, create a three or five sentence bio, and include information on your business and services. Remember to include a direct link back to your website, and consider offering something for free to motivate people to provide their email address. Free reports and small email classes can provide valuable information and motivate your prospect to invest in your offer.

When you’re comfortable with your article, submit it to article directories such as GoArticles.com or SubmitYourArticle.com for publication. Many publishers of websites, ezines and newsletters use these services regularly to find quality content. In exchange for using your article, they agree to leave your bio intact. As people use your content online, your URL will be linked back to your site, not only providing an opportunity within the published piece itself, but also over time as a permanent link between the sites.

While your first try may take you several hours to complete both writings, you’ll eventually be able to write both quickly. And when you set up a routine for submissions, both will be able to provide you with an incredible online marketing strategy that will take a short amount of time each week.

Within two hours of your morning coffee, you can have two marketing pieces online and working hard for your business. If you do that once every week, you’re connections will rapidly increase. And it will make that morning coffee routine somehow look a little more profitable!

Lori Osterberg helps business owners build an online marketing strategy. She consults with owners to show them how to develop a strong Internet presence, and provides many services such as paid search, search optimization, and copywriting for press releases, articles and other online marketing tools. Receive her FREE ezine at http://www.VisionOfSuccess.com and http://www.VisionBusinessConcepts.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

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