As a publisher of an article directory, I often see writers eager to promote their content who overlook crucial aspects of article marketing: targeting the right audience, choosing the appropriate platforms, and understanding publisher expectations.
Having significantly increased my own article visibility over the past year, I want to share insights on how to get your articles read, generate traffic, and drive sales.
1. **Target Your Niche:**
This may seem obvious, but it’s essential. If you’re writing about finance, focus on websites and directories that specialize in finance-related content. This dramatically increases your chances of acceptance. Don’t assume a general relationship is enough; thoroughly examine a site’s content before submitting to ensure a good fit, unless it’s a broad article directory.
2. **Avoid Overt Advertising:**
Publishers are looking for valuable content, not blatant advertisements. Ask yourself: Why would a publisher dedicate their resources to promoting your product directly? Instead, provide helpful, informative articles that benefit their audience. If a site accepts ads and press releases, ensure it aligns with your target market. Remember, publishers are busy and quick to delete irrelevant submissions.
3. **Craft Compelling Content:**
Translate complex or technical information into clear, accessible language. Define unfamiliar terms within the article to prevent reader confusion. Aim for simplicity and readability. Use concise language, short paragraphs, and short sentences. Emulate the style of widely read publications, which typically write at a seventh-grade reading level for easy comprehension.
4. **Follow Formatting Guidelines:**
Unless specifically permitted, avoid using HTML to format your article. Many publishers handle formatting themselves, and embedded HTML can disrupt the layout, leading to rejection or requiring time-consuming corrections.
5. **Proofread Thoroughly:**
It’s easy to make mistakes when writing quickly. A simple solution is to read your article aloud. This forces you to slow down, identify errors in grammar and punctuation, and improve the overall flow. Double-check all links to ensure they are working correctly before submitting.
To maximize your article marketing efforts, focus on targeting your market, writing high-quality content, and providing helpful, engaging, and easily understandable information. This approach will enhance your search engine visibility and significantly boost your traffic and sales.