Article Marketing to Promote your Brick and Mortar Business
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The Five Most Important Factors of Article Writing for Internet Marketing
Do you have a brick and mortar business that could use some exposure on the internet? Here is an idea that could really help you get people interested in your products and the best thing is that you can do it for free.
Internet marketing is quickly becoming the best way to find and keep your prospective clients for a fraction of the cost of the traditional methods of television, radio and billboards. With an effective web marketing strategy, you will be able to generate traffic to your website and your advertisements and thus effectively reach the clients you need but it doesn't stop here. Many people fail in internet marketing because they forget that people must not only find you on the internet but you must develop a relationship without actually meeting them. You need to make sure the prospect learns to believe you and trust you or you're simply not going to get the sale.
One of the best ways to develop this trust is with article marketing. In fact, article marketing is perhaps not only the single most important way to connect your prospects to your website and your services but you'll position yourself as the expert with the answers your customer needs to make that positive buying decision.
Below we have listed the five most important factors to consider when it comes to successful article writing. Before you even consider your article writing strategy, you need to take these five factors into account and work around them.
1. First and foremost, write something actually worth reading. Content is by far the most important thing when it comes to article marketing. You need to be aware of everything you are saying. Make sure you choose content is that not only informative but also up to date and entertaining. There are so many different things to read on the net. If your content is not interesting, a prospect will simply click away. This is the last thing you want. We can all write, but only few people have the resources, the experience and the education to write well. If you are not one of them, you need to take the time to develop the necessary skills( it's not that hard, just a little time and patience) or think about hiring content writers who can make your articles actually worth reading.
2. Next, use keywords properly. Choose keyword phrases that are commonly searched. Ask yourself “what would I type into Google” and then construct articles around these phrases. Make sure you use a density of between 1-3% in each article. Any more than this and you may get blacklisted from article directories. Furthermore, your article may start sounding like an advertisement rather than an informative piece of writing. If you want some great help with this subject check out Renegade University and Renegade Professional News
3. Research, but do not rewrite. Because the net has so many different articles on everything and anything, it can be tempting to simply take someone else’s hard work and revamp it into your own withoutadding something new. Don’t do it. First of all, it’s illegal. Second of all, it’s boring. Who wants to read something that they have seen before? Take the time and add your own new, fresh perspective
4. Speak from the heart. Let your true voice shine through and write your articles like you are speaking to your clients. Beware of technical terms and jargon, however. Instead, try to use a friendly, humorous tone that proves that you are not just a machine forming sentences but that you are actually a person and an expert on what you are writing. This will not only gain you credibility, but respect as well and sales will follow.
5. And finally, make your articles stand out. The standard five paragraph format is great for a term paper. But you are not writing a term paper- you are trying to write something that is informative. You need to mix it up. Include subtitles, bolded headings, lists, pros and cons, benefits of, bullets and numbers to make your article stand out. And, don’t forget to proofread!
Written by David Carroll Renegade Professional and Super Guide.
Ab
out four years ago David sold the manufacturing business that he had owned for the past 14 years. He began to look around for another opportunity that would be fun and really excite his passions. He settled on the network marketing field.
He quickly discovered many important things about network marketing as well as the things that are required to be successful in marketing any business on the internet. He started The Home Business Company to help people avoid some of the many pitfalls present in finding and running a good and profitable home based business. He teaches people how to apply the principles of attraction marketing and how to develop the skills to teach others.
Views: 1,661 | 
Comments: 24 
About the Author: David Carroll
Member Since: 03/10/2009
Company: The Home Business Company
Industry: Marketing and Advertising
Primary Web Site: No Website Entered
Great Advice for Everyone New Coming Online with a Business
Hi David,
Nice work. This is great simple straight forward advice that any brick and mortar or small home business can use immediately.
One other I'd like to add is that beyond the five things you mention in your article, another important thing to keep in mind is where people from your niche hang out online. And to create content there in order to get in front of your audience.
Like BetterNetworker here, Network Marketers and Home Business Owners hangout here. But I also have noticed more and more (ex) brick and mortar business owners here as well.
Good job with this article.
Eric
Actually a Person and Expert
David, you make a great point that is emphasized by copy-writing guru David Garfinkel, "try to use a friendly, humorous tone that proves that you are not just a machine forming sentences"
Your reader gains a sense that you are communicating directly to them personally when you write conversationally. When you gain their interest and engagement, they may respond to your call to action.
Your five points are good reminders for all content created for marketing.
Great article.
Being Real
Yes, it's great to come across as an expert but as you say David, when we speak from the heart, we connect as being real people.
Article marketing is an area where one can shine and bring forth their true selves with humor. Humor is just another quality needed to attract readers and quite necessary if you plan on applying attraction marketing.
Great Article Advice
I find that people think they need to become someone they're not when writing an article. This is probably a flashback from writing school papers.
I like the fact that the more relaxed I write, the more effective I am. I can be honest and not feel like I have to be an expert in order to write an effective and helpful article.
Thanks for the tips!
Bringing Businesses Online
More and more people are bringing their businesses online to find and attract new customers. Your article explains the basics very well. With your tips they could actually go and start out and begin to build online. Excellent
I agree with Eric that merely writing the article is sometimes not enough that they have to go out and engage, "go to the coffee shop" just like in the brick and mortar world. So along with writing the article, socializing with people in their niche is also very important.
If we stick to the basics, as you have here, be ourselves everywhere, it is amazing how things come together.
Thanks for the great article
Angela James
Thanks for the Tips
Hi David,
This is a great list of the reminders that we need to do to bring a "brick & mortar business online.
Something I like to remind myself. Even if it sounds corny to me, (like this sentence) someone else may benefit from it or they may just realize that I'm human and therefore feel better about connecting with me. Articles are best when they are, like you said in number 4.
4. Speak from the heart. Let your true voice shine through and write your articles like you are speaking to your clients. Beware of technical terms and jargon, however. Instead, try to use a friendly, humorous tone that proves that you are not just a machine forming sentences but that you are actually a person and an expert on what you are writing. This will not only gain you credibility, but respect as well and sales will follow.
Thanks,
Michelle Moseley
Important Factors
I like the way you covered the 5 important factors to have article stand out. I think there a 6th, and that is have a picture or two related to your topic, that set the mode.
Articles are not Dead
I have heard many people make the statement that Article Marketing is so overused that it is not effective anymore. This cannot be farther from the truth. Writing articles for the Internet does take some practice, but it is well worth the efforts. There is no better way to gain authority in your market, and the potential that your article will be picked up by a publication with huge circulation is a great motivator for creating articles.
Article Marketing Drives Free Traffic
David,
Thanks for the great tips. I love article marketing and would like to add just a few tips if that's okay.
1. Use powerful titles. No matter how great article might be, if your title doesn’t grab people’s attention, it won’t get read. So learn how to create a compelling title that is benefit-focused, thought-provoking, and intriguing. The title must also be keyword-rich so your articles rank well with the search engines.
2. Write a Great Resource or Author’s Box. Once people have read through your article, if they like it they will read the information about the author. Make sure you provide a short bio as well ascontact information (email, website, telephone number). Include a powerful call to action and consider offering freebies (e.g. a free ebook, newsletter or consultation) to compel people to visit your site.
3. Measure Your Results. Visit the sites where you post your articles to determine your open and conversion rate. If your open rate is not very good, then work on improving your article titles. If people are reading your articles but not clicking on the author box, then you might need to improve the content of your articles, shorten the length, or make your articles more focused on the needs of your target market.
Thanks!
Articles Can Help
David,
This is a great article about how to get some extra help to those with traditional business. More and more people are turning to the internet every day to look for what they need.
How wonderful would it be to see an article by an expert living in your area where you could physically go to and see. Article can also expand out your market beyond the confines of a geographical area.
Your tips are great and so worth the read to any traditional business owner. Thank you!
Making Your Article You...
David
Your tips are important if ones articles are going to make a difference for their business. Whether it a traditional or Internet business, the only way to get people to know, like and trust you, and want to do business with you, is being our self.
Important Factors For Article Marketing
David,
Very well said. The one thing that will never go out of style in marketing is sharing your expertise with your audience. It doesn't matter if your business is online or off, the more you share of yourself and what you know, the more people will be attracted to you.
Thanks for this!
Article Marketing
Yes articles are still a very important method of getting your "message" out-there. If artilces were "dead" would we all be members of Better Networker? Rallie add a #6 reason - I would like to add a #7: Articles can be used to direct your reader to a lead capture page or autoresponder.
Brick and Mortar Businesses Need to Read This Article.
David,
Great article. I feel that brick and mortar businesses are missing out on a great opportunity to market their businesses. Like you said, marketing online can be accomplished at a fraction of the cost of their most common forms of marketing - radio ads, TV ads, billboards, etc.
Article marketing can provide the educational information and the personal touch that will attract people to their businesses. This is a very under-utilized marketing tool in brick and mortar businesses.
Very good information, David.
Article Publishing
Hi, David. Wise words, my friend. It is not your business that you are promoting... you are promoting YOU! People will do business because they like and trust you.
Just like anything we do... article writing will take time and patience. The more we practice, the better we can become. Just take action. The more published articles, the more one becomes branded, thus people will recognize you, forming a relationship and building a trust.
Thank you so much for your advice, David!
An Article That Becomes Viral
A well writing article may become viral and benefit your business for a very long time. A poorly written article can cause you to lose leads for a very long time so as Cindy Schulson stated it is definitely better to measure your results. If an article is not giving you the result that you want, then consider rebuilding like the Six Million Dollars Man.
Experts Write Articles for Mainstream Magazines
Those who really are authority figures write pieces for magazines. The marketing comes naturally if the content and expertise stand out. Get a ghost writer to articulate the words for you if can't write them down fast enough. Delegate writing just like you delegate anything else. Isn't that how the Bible was written?
If you want to spruce up your blogs or content, go check out ECHO at www.js-kit.com. You will love that website and now you will all remember me too!
Good Tips
I never considered writing articles to attract leads. Is this the same as blogs? Would I actually create a blog website instead of an opt-in page?
Nice Work
Having a bricks and mortar business I can definitely relate to the importance of article marketing. I've often heard it said in the real estate world in order to be successful it's all about location,location,location.
Well in the online business world it's all about content,content,content and more content. I really liked #4 speaking from the heart,you'll find that if you write like you talk you'll connect better with your leads and prospects. Thanks for the information David.
Making your article stand out
Great information David. Making an article stand out from others will definitely get more readers to view it. I just wanted to add to this point that the title plays a very important role since this is the first thing people will see when searching articles. Thanks for the great tips.
Attracting leads
Jeffrey
You can set up your blog or website with some interesting information that people will find valuable. Use this as your main area where folks find out what your about. Keep it informational and very very low key selling. Maybe no outright selling at all. Get people to feel like you have what they need but let them decide rather than you telling them. You could add an opt-in here with a special offer to get more information.
Once you have this set up, write an interesting article and link it back to your blog and you will begin to attract people that want to know more about you and what you do.
Hope this helps. Glad to help you with anything.
Thank You
Thanks everyone for your comments and kind words. I really appreciate you taking the time to add your different thoughts and ideas to my article. The finished product is so much better when you read the comments. They add so much. It leaves a great feeling when we all work together to give some really valuable information that I couldn't do alone. Thanks again
Excellent Article Marketing Tips
These tips will have you cranking out quality articles that people will actually want to read and act on. Thanks for your advice David!
Brian
Article Writing
David,
You have given all great points when it comes to article marketing. And it all holds true. Especially writing content form the heart. When writing content from the heart, you are able to relate to your readers in every sense.
Thanks Again, David,
Donna Wells