External Links Plus Article Marketing - Essential Marketing Suggestions
Dec 22nd, 2009 by Reading and Writing
When most of us hear “learn how to make money online” we’ve learned to run the other way. There are so many scams out there it’s easier to give up than get involved in yet one. But don’t give up yet! Writing articles is no longer about getting the latest stories into the latest editions of the local newspapers, all written by well paid reporters. Things have really changed now with the internet. You don’t need to be a big name pro to get your writings accepted and recognized. Writing is a now a marketing tool. Learning about external links and article marketing can help grow your business.
There are many ways to write for the internet. “Article” no longer means a front page news story. It can include anything from consumer product reviews, blogging, news group information, forum postings, website content, and even content for “real” web based publishing houses.
Submitting content to these sites can be simple, and rewarding. You have a couple choices when you submit your writing. You can do one, or both.
You can submit to sites that don’t pay you but they do give the opportunity to talk about your services and your business; not in a salesy kind of way, but as a kind of expert on the topic. At the end of your article you should place a link to your own website for the readers to either get more information or turn into paying customers. This is where the payoff comes in article marketing.
Pretend you make gift baskets. You could write articles on how to make your own gift baskets and give readers ideas on how to decorate them and sell them. Or if you happen to be a dog trainer you could write a series of articles on tips to train your dog. At the end of each article you should have your bio (”Alec Wensel has been a dog trainer for twenty years in the Chicago area…” and so on). Then, add your website. If people like what you have to say, you’ll get customers!
Also check out sites that do pay. They are usually a little less generous when it comes to giving you a byline or a link.
You probably aren’t going to pay off your mortgage or take a European vacation with your earnings from writing. Many famous writers over the years have died penniless. However, writing for the internet isn’t about getting rich writing, per se. It’s all about advertising what you have to offer. Try some viral marketing with your emails, too. Put a link at the bottom just like Hotmail has done for years, and direct readers to your site or at least your phone.
Anyone can do this. Car salesmen to hairdressers should all have links to weekly promotions or other info where readers will turn into customers.
