October 2008

To read an updated version about how things work in article marketing also check out Free Article Marketing Information.

Article marketing has become one of the best tools that sites use to increase their page rank in search engines like Yahoo and Google; increase their site views and of course also increase their site advertisements.

If you are not familiar with the term and perhaps even thinking: “What is article marketing?”, article marketing is the use of articles to promote a product or create an awareness about a topic that is closely related to the product. For instance, if you are selling a product that treats hypertension, you will have to come up with articles that will make people with hypertension take notice. And what would interest them more than an article on their illness! These articles will frequently have bio box at the end, which will detail the name of the company and their contact information. Some who are writing savvy will even be able to incorporate the product’s name into the article.

Article marketing used to only exist in flyers and mailings. But now with the world wide web, articles have proliferated sites. Not only are articles now used to market products, it is also now primarily used to promote the site and increase its page rank in search engines. With a good page rank, site views are better and therefore revenues from site advertisers will also be good.

The use of articles for this has however led to problems in article quality and reliability. Articles now have become lousy in terms of the information that it gives as well as in the way it is written. All are haphazardly done, perhaps because site owners sacrifice quality for quantity.

But it is not yet too late. Here are some great ways to make sure that you get quality articles for your web site:

1. Hire professional writers

A lot of people can write but few can write a well-written piece that is grammar mistake free and cohesive to the topic. If you create good content for your site, not only will you have presence in the search engines, you will also be considered as a site where good information can be gotten. Just look at what happened with the wikipedia. It may be more expensive though to hire professional writers but your site will however be known for quality articles.

2. Hire professionals on the field or experts on the topic

It is good to quote resource persons in your articles. Being experts in the field that you are writing about, they will lend credibility to your piece. But of course, if you can, you should also look into hiring these experts to write the articles themselves. This will be great for the site and also a great exposure for them. They will not even ask for a fee!

3. Get editors to clean up the articles

If you cannot pay good writers to do the job, at least hire an editor who can look at the articles and clean them up for you. Depending on the kind of editing involved, editors may be expensive but having clean and well-written articles will help your site get the credibility that it needs.

4. Photos.

Article marketing is not just about the articles. You also need to make sure that you have a visual representation to accompany the articles. This will make the article visually appealing to the site viewers.

Related Reading:

The Internet Book: Everything You Need to Know About Computer Networking and How the Internet Works (4th Edition)

The Internet For Dummies

Internet, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains

The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide for the Serious Searcher

Whether you are doing business online or offline, selling products or selling services, it is very important that you appear professional and knowledgeable. Your customers will only do business with you and refer business to you if they trust you and consider you an expert in your field. You wouldn’t do business with someone who was “shady” or untrustworthy – or even just appeared that way, so why would you expect any less from your customers?

There are steps you can take to polish up your professional image, showcase your expertise, and give your customers the assurance that you are reputable business person, someone they can trust to deliver what you promise. It doesn’t have to be expensive or take a lot of time – there are simple solutions, small things that you can tweak to perfect that image. Here are just 7 things you can do.

1. Whatever marketing material you use, be it a website, brochures, business cards, letterhead, etc, always be consistent. Avoid “mickey-mouse” marketing, such as perforated business cards. You can have business cards printed inexpensively at Staples, or a similar office supply store, that will look completely professional and avoid the I-did-it-myself look. Have your logo on all of your marketing material, choose business colors and have all your material designed with those. You want to create a brand for your business, and keep it consistent throughout all of your business marketing materials.

2. Create valuable content, for your website and your blog. Write about your product or service, and topics related to it. Share your knowledge and passion for your field. Your customers will appreciate the information, and will view you as an expert and professional. Aim for quality, keeping grammar and punctuation correct and consistent, and providing information that is interesting and unique. You have a perspective on your subject that no one else has – take advantage of that!

3. Have a website that encourages visitor interaction. Create your own little domain on the web, filled with your valuable content from point number 2, and use different methods to get your visitors to participate and contribute. Offer a free newsletter, a classy wallpaper or screensaver, a forum for discussions, or other ideas that you think of. Have the site designed by a web design professional, so it is consistent with your brand and all the features are integrated properly. Try to stay away from template designs, as someone else is likely to have the same design, and you want a custom look to match your brand. A shabby website is a good way to destroy your professional image on the internet!

4. Treat your customers in a professional manner. Even when they are wrong or annoying. This does not mean that you let the customer push you around. It just means treating them with respect. Write your emails and letters thoughtfully, always keeping in mind that what you write is a reflection of you and your business. Answer your phone in a professional way, and be quick to return phone calls, emails, etc.

5. Take care of your physical appearance. Particularly if you are doing business in person. Dress well, carry yourself with confidence, and smile. Your appearance can go a long way with generating trust with your customer! Carry that confident, professional appearance to your online mediums as well. Make sure any pictures on your website, of you or your staff, look professional.

6. Use a professional email address. For business emails, your email address should be yourname@yourbusiness.com or yourname@yourdomain.com. Avoid having an ISP email (you@telus.net) or a free webmail (you@hotmail.com) at all costs. It is very inexpensive to set up a domain name and email account, and it will go a long way in establishing a professional image for your business!

7. Use an email signature. Have your business name, phone number and website address. You can also include your logo, if you wish. Keep it neat, not too long, and use it on all of your email communications. You may also want to consider letterhead for your emails, with your logo, colors, etc. Remember, you are building your brand. Your goal is to establish a consistent brand that customers will see and immediately think of you!

There are, of course, many other things you can do to perfect your professional image. It should be an ongoing process, in fact. Always think about how you would respond as a customer to you and your business. If you wouldn’t do business with you, then you need to take a look at what you are doing and what you need to change. Develop that professional image, and your customers will trust you, respect you, and want to do business with you.

Related Reading:

The Internet is a Playground: Irreverent Correspondences of an Evil Online Genius

The Internet Book: Everything You Need to Know About Computer Networking and How the Internet Works (4th Edition)

How the Internet Works (8th Edition)

The Internet For Dummies

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains