|
By Craig Lock
What is the best (and most effective way) to get the word out regarding your
product or service to those "millions of consumers out there in cyberspace"...
to bring TARGETTED traffic to your web site?
And best of all, it's FREE (that "magic" word of the www)
What is it (I can't wait for the suspense a moment longer)?
In my opinion (humble),
WRITE ARTICLES - for ezines (or online newsletters) and
article announcement lists.
WHY DO THAT? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO ME ("WIIFM")?
If it is well-written and most importantly, helpful and
informative, your article could become widely published =
* Extra exposure (sounds rude that!)
* You'll "brand" yourself and your business. You then "make
a name" for yourself online; so that you become known
as an expert in your field.
* You'll gain people's trust, as you establish extra credibility
online, regarding your product or knowledge in your field.
* It's free advertising at its very best (ie. most effective).
Writers don't get paid. But on the other hand, they get
free advertising, which may be just as valuable...especially
as most writers live off tins of baked beans and carrots.
What's the difference between a writer and a large pizza?
The pizza can feed a family of four!
After that little joke at the expence of my occupation
(get a "proper job", Craig!), back to my point...
You are advertising your web site (in the form of your
resource box with your web site listed at the end of the
article); so that your www... could multiply all over the
internet, like a "marketing virus", a "bubonic plague" (that's
a metaphor, by the way!).
Now a little "info" on E-BOOKS...
When you have a number of useful articles
written and published, you could perhaps put them
all in the form of an electronic book and offer them for download
on your web site. We've done this with my various articles
At the end of each article is a resource box with
a link back to your main product site... and hopefully
you'll make some sales (especially if your site visitor
likes the style and content of your articles)!
(Incidentally, one of my main writing aims is to inform
in a "light breezy style", ie. inform + entertain at the
same time!).
Finally, if you're really adventurous and innovative,
you can even create an e-book and give it away for free.
Really good for promotion of your product or service.
Just place a link to your web site on each page of
your e-book.
You are giving away free information (or entertainment)
of value (hopefully!). Give and you'll freely RECEIVE many
benefits - in business and in life (the law of "sowing and reaping",
which is the basis for most of the world's religions, I believe).
No harm in all this, is there? Now after that 'little philosophical
interlude', do you see the benefits
of article writing?
Lastly (and most importantly), writing ezine articles HELPS
others out there in cyberspace. Though it takes quite a
bit of time and effort (even for us writers). Though you
don't have to be a writer to write good articles. I believe,
virtually ANYONE can do it.
The results for your efforts don't usually come overnight.
My advice is...Do a little writing and research on your
topic(s) every day...even if it's only an hour.
Just do it regularly and re-write your article (many times).
Re-read it aloud, so that it flows nicely. With practice,
you'll get better in your article writing and your confidence
will increase in "leaps and bounds". Funny expression that,
like a "runny babbit" (that's a simile, by the way)!
Tourist to street vendor...
"How do I get to Carnegie Hall?"
"Practice, Sir, practice!"
Back to my point after that little interjection (my "grasshopper
mind" at work - creative minds are rarely tidy,
as my dear exasperated mother, Hazel, often said to me) .
Then just be very patient and the results DO come.
As the saying goes...
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot
and hang on. Success comes to those who ride out the
"ups and downs, the highs and lows" of life
- the ones who stick with their dreams, never giving up.
To your internet marketing dreams in 2004 and beyond...
|
