Make Your Article Writing As Easy As Paint-by-Numbers With This Checklist!
If you've ever tried to write an article, you have most likely felt engulfed by a blank feeling - not knowing where to start.
...I'll bet you have!
This is one of the major reasons why most people simply don't write articles. They basically don't know where to begin.
If you've been in this position, here's a checklist that should help you do away with some of the most common problems in writing articles so that you can increase your online business up to the next level:
1. Have a definite intention in mind.
Always have a definite purpose in mind before you begin writing. You should be absolutely clear about what you are hoping to accomplish by writing your article. Is it an article that will solve a problem for your customers, attract prospects to build your list, improve the link popularity of your website or make a sale?
2. Identify your target audience.
Before writing an article, carry out research on your target audience. What will your chosen subject do for them? What pain or problem do they face or try to avoid that your article can provide answers to?
3. Develop an in depth plan that stresses the advantages.
Now that you have a reason and an objective, arrange your article so that reading it quickly will immediately show your reader how they will gain from it and what are the most essential purposes.
4. Immediately stop your reader with your title.
Your heading should seize the reader's interest and 'compel' him/her to read your first paragraph. Using your most essential benefit frequently does it. Your title should also include keywords that are highly related to your subject matter.
5. Your article must start with the most significant benefit.
Do not keep your most significant information for the end of your article. You need to present it right away to seize your readers interest and then further increase on this in the subsequent paragraphs.
6. Keep your sentences short and simple.
If possible, stay away from slang that may mystify your readers. In other words, when writing your article and keep it simple so that even a child can figure it out. Using short and simple sentences will permit a smooth, easy read, stopping your reader from getting bored and losing interest.
7. Make your article friendly and personal.
Speak directly to the reader and in a manner you would use in talking face to face with a friend. Use plenty of 'you' and very little "I or me". When reading your article, the reader should feel warmth and understanding, knowing that you have the same problems and goals as he/she does.
8. Spend more time revising than writing.
Besides arranging your article for easy reading, be sure to use spell checking tools or an external editor to thoroughly proofread your writing for grammar and spelling errors.
Remember that the more writing you do, the more effortless it will become. Believe me, there will come a time when writing articles will not seem as complicated as it may seem to you now and you will be disappointed with yourself for not doing it earlier.
5 Ways to Increasing Website Exposure
It is not the same old Internet anymore as far as marketing goes. There are new ways to promote your website that will benefit you by adding extra cash in your pocket. Read about the five new methods of Internet marketing that people are using to drive customers to their website. The basic concept that "content is king" along with correct keyword usage is the way to go. You will not regret using these new ways of marketing.
The number one Internet marketing plan for drawing customers into your website is the use of a blog. A blog is a continual updated online journal on your personal views or news related subject matters. People that read your blog are constantly aware of your ideas and thoughts, especially those concerning your business and products. The benefit of promoting your company through a blog is the fact that the search engines love blogs. Fresh new content and a few good keywords thrown in will push you higher up on the engine rankings. People will see it and more customers will click to your site.
In your blog, be sure to add valuable customer information such as product information, or business advice. This draws customer interest. In addition, other bloggers may wish to link with to your blog site, and you can draw in customers from their blogs. That will continually feed your ranking and over time; customer loyalty backed by trust will drive your website and feed new customers into your email. However, without RSS feeds, Really Simple Syndication, your blog may be doomed to fail. RSS feeds work by aggregating the information and outlay it to the customer. The customer will need to have a web browser or special software that can read RSS feeds. Most any information is fed into an RSS feed. The good thing about using a web blog with a RSS Feed is that often your information gets to the news media. A well-written blog with timely advice and resources lends you as creditable in your business area. Be prepared, you could have a reporter knocking at your door.
Another area in which you can spice up your website is with the use of PHP coding. One of the drawbacks to using an RSS feed is that because it is a dynamic page – the spiders will not catch it quick. For example, if it has to wait too long to index it with the code intact, it will just move on. There are things you can do to work with the PHP language, and it will benefit you to learn how to do it. At least with the PHP, you can make your pages on the site look like HTML files. Do not forget to use the idea of text links too. Links to other great sites is a new advertising trend you can use for more website exposure. With SEO, Search Engine Optimization, companies use text link marketing to get their site into the higher rankings. You can use auctions where you bid only on what you think you need, or through a brokerage, you can buy and sell text links. Just like with banners you can change exchange links too.
Bookmark technology and ways to use them has come a long way. Most agree that getting someone to bookmark your site will lead to future sales. People rarely ask for a customer bookmark their site though. There are software programs that you can use to make book marking a snap. All you have to do is to provide a link and your customers can bookmark easily. Some Java script software will automatically bookmark your site for your customer. There is a small fee involved for you. A simple "Please bookmark this site" button is often enough to get the customer to bookmark. Certain software will also add a special icon when the customer saves the site. This makes it easy to standout from the other bookmarked sites. Pop-ups help you to get your customer to bookmark too. New ingenuous software will remind your customer to bookmark as they are leaving, and even to bookmark with their permission.
The Internet is a dynamic marketing experience. In addition, the better you are at implementing its new marketing tools – the more profits you will make. So learn all you can about these five tips on new marketing trends and go grab some lifetime customers.
Get Rich Quick? Internet Business Misconceptions!
I had to laugh the other day as I was watching television. There was a commercial about running an internet business from your home. It was one of those, "Visit our website to start making thousands of fast and easy dollars a month!" Perhaps you know what I am talking about. On this commercial there were numerous people sharing their success stories. One story showed a woman sipping a drink by her pool and she explained how she only worked two days a week and she was making $5000 a month. Another man was in his brand new Mercedes, and he proclaimed that his business has never been so easy. He was generating tens of thousands of dollars a month! Easy huh? Yeah right!
If most internet marketers shared their story, most would probably tell you that they work several hours a day, several days a week, and are only generating a couple bucks a day. It is quite opposite from the story you hear from television or internet advertisements. So how easy is this internet business stuff?
If you are looking to venture off into an area of internet business, do be in reality about what you are getting into. Just like any other business, an internet business requires hard work, energy, time, knowledge, focus, patience, perseverance, studying, time, and some more time. You only receive if you put something out. If you put "nothing" out, you will not receive. Do understand that you reap what you sow. Thousands of dollars will not fall into your lap by just signing up for some "million dollar program".
One thing I have learned in internet marketing is that there is no such thing as a "get rich quick" method. Again, an internet business requires hard work, time, patience, and some more time. A general rule of thumb is that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
To be quite honest, I was hooked into internet marketing because I heard that you could turn a five digit number income per month by simply inserting advertising on your website. While you can, I was not in reality about the fact that it would take a lot of time, a lot of work, a lot of knowledge, a lot of patience, etc. I was also not in reality about the fact that those that are turning the five digit number income per month only make up a small percentage of all internet marketers. I quickly found this out by reading various internet forum sites. Do not get absorbed in the hype. Look at the facts.
I am by no means an expert internet marketer, but as one that has worked hard from a rough beginning, my advice to you is to focus on an area and apply hard work, time, and energy to that area. It could take you several months before you start turning any super large dollar amounts, but then again, that should not surprise you as you know a successful internet business will take a lot time, energy, patience, focus, and determination.
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Brett McQueen owns, runs, and designs various online websites. You will find his article directory at www.ArticleCat.com as an excellent internet marketing resource.