I can’t talk about promotion without mentioning one of my favorite ways to promote – through article marketing. I’ve heard people criticize it, but I have found it an effective and free way to promote my writing services. The only investment you need to get started is the time it takes you to write an article. For me, that’s about 20 minutes if I’m writing on an area I already know about.
Follow tips for good web writing to write a good article for article marketing. Finish it up by writing a brief call to action, inviting readers to get more information on your site. You will be able to include at least one link in this part of the article, though many directories forbid links in the article body itself.
Getting Started With Article Marketing
The first time you try article marketing, you will need to take the time to sign up with an article marketing site. My favorite is EzineArticles, because it’s easy to use, has articles of a decent quality, and gives you quick Google juice. In other words, when you publish an article there, you will find it listed on Google within a few days. Other well rated services are IdeaMarketers and GoArticles. Once you’ve registered, publishing future articles will be even easier.
Why I Like Article Marketing
There are two reasons why I like article marketing. The first is because I can write about anything I like. It gives me a chance to spread my wings and try writing about new topics. In other words, it’s good writing practice, with the added benefit of having articles that I can add to my portfolio. I have used the articles I have published on EzineArticles to land gigs before.
The second reason I like article marketing is because of the links I get to my site. Article directories supply content to thousands of sites. Although the links aren’t always good quality, they do result in traffic to the sites I promote – and that makes it even easier for people to find me online.
Getting The Most From Article Marketing
For best results, write several articles. I have written more than 40 and have placed these on various article directories, some of which still come up on Google when people search for my name. Others I know have written hundreds, and they really sing the praises of this strategy. Article marketing works because it promotes you both directly and indirectly. Although I don’t write as much for directories as I used to, I sometimes recycle useful blog posts to get some additional attention for my blog.
Article marketing is good because it is free, it uses skills you already have and it sends traffic to your site. Believe me, that traffic keeps coming for a long, long time. I am still getting traffic from articles I wrote three and a half years ago. I have used these articles as samples of my work, and to get people to see more of my work. You can do the same.
Article by Sharon Hurley Hall
Sharon Hurley Hall has been mentoring writers here at Get Paid To Write Online since 2005 to help them improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers. Check me out on sharonhh.com. Feel free to connect with me online on Google+.
Sharon has written 653 awesome articles for us at Get Paid to Write Online
Twitter: @SHurleyHall | Facebook | Google+ | Blog → Writing Portfolio
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You’re right Sharon. Since I started using links to my stuff on ezine and triond I have had more offers of work on odesk.
Article writing is a tried and true tested promotion technique that can work wonders. I have to revisit that myself when I can generate workdays of 28 hours…
Best wishes, Barbara
Barbara Ling’s last blog post..6/6 Gourmet Blogger Breakfast! Jumbo Eggs over easy with a side of freshly grated Manchego Reserve with…
Sharon, you are so right! I do this for clients and have seen excellent results. I have neglected this for myself lately, so your post was exactly the kick in the pants I needed. You always have such great advice! Thanks for generously sharing it!
Karen Swim’s last blog post..Be Unstoppable!
I used to do this quite a bit and get some traffic as a result. However, I’ve found lately that some of the new bloggers who are in it for a quick buck, have a habit of grabbing articles and not linking or attributing them. I discovered that neither the article site, or the blogging host would enforce the linking – and the blogs were set up so you cannot find or contact the blogger. In one case, Ezine articles accused me of plagarizing my own article which had been reprinted without proper attribution. If the links don’t go with the article, then it is sort of pointless to give your work away. It’s too bad that a few inconsiderate people have reduced the value of this tool.
Twitter: shurleyhall
June 9, 2008 at 08:45
I’m glad Odesk is working well for you Sue. I have a profile there, but haven’t done much with it yet.
Twitter: shurleyhall
June 9, 2008 at 08:48
@ Barbara – you are such a prolific blogger that it’s no wonder you need a couple more hours in the day, Barbara.
@ Karen – You’re welcome. I have to remind myself sometimes because it’s easy to get so focused on the actual work that you forget to promote yourself.
@ Summer – ouch! Not a pleasant experience. I have a Google alert set up for my articles and I find those people and leave comments with my attribution.
Summer Fay Fooway,
If the blog is on a blogger account, you can have it enforced. Which is where I find most of the infringements on my copyright.
You have to write: Google, Inc.
Attn: User Support, DMCA Complaints
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
You tell them what page is infringing on your copyright, send them a printed sample, and the url link. There’s a form on google with proper wording they like. I can’t remember the link though as I’ve pasted the form into word and have it ready to go because sometimes, even my copyrighted, not free to reprint articles, get hijacked.
Also, if no contact information, but a comments area stating that while I appreciate them using the free article there is a stipulation to using it free and that’s to include my byline and then I put my byline in the comments area.
Finally, contact the article directory company with a link. Sometimes they can do what you can’t.
I’ve been using article marketing for nearly ten years and I’ve seen it have some bumps along the way–like spammers. But the thing I’ve realized is that a few bad seeds doesn’t stop it from being a good, cost-effective (shall we say it? free!) way to promote oneself, one’s website, one’s blog, and one’s products or services.I agree about writing whatever you want and giving a voice to the words in your head. Some of the best articles for link backs and for sales of my e-books have often come from articles that I simply felt passionate enough about writing and didn’t want to wait to find a paying market for. Since they were so relatively easy and fast to write, it made sense to use them for article marketing purposes.
Twitter: DebraLStang
August 8, 2010 at 02:05
I write revenue-share articles for Suite101 and Experts123, but I haven’t noticed that they’ve driven a lot of traffic to my website. Then again, marketing has never been one of my strong points…I’m just starting to work on that now, in fact, in order to take my freelance career to the next level.
Debra
Debra Stang wants you to read The Keyword Concubine and Marketing
I’ve written a number of articles for article directory sites about topics for which I have some expertise. And, I’ve had people pick up my articles and use them for their newsletter, site, etc. But I’ve never gotten a paying writing assignment from it. Maybe that’s because I didn’t promote myself as a person who does that. I was using articles to promote my book, my marketing mentoring work and other things. Time to get going in this regard.
Thanks for your helpful blog.
Denise Michaels wants you to read I Didn’t Just Fall Off the Banana Boat- Y’know
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 11, 2010 at 19:16
Yes, it’s a useful technique, Denise.
Hi Sharon,
This might sound like a stupid question, but I am wondering of articles one might write for ezine etc, can also be featured one one’s own blog? Can one use an article in more than one outlet?
Twitter: shurleyhall
October 3, 2011 at 10:59
It’s better to avoid duplication, Angelique. If you want articles on your blog, put them there first and then, after a while, convert them into EzineArticles.
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