Secret Article Marketing Strategy - Proven Best Practices

Article Construction

The way you construct your articles should be part of your overall article marketing strategy.   The use of key phrases is crucial, whether you are writing for your own blog or for submitting to article directories. 

Keyword choice is the way that readers and Google locate you, bringing you traffic.  Every keyword needs to be carefully selected.

The Construction Zone

In case you don't really like to write or believe you just are not effective at crafting articles, it is a good idea to invest some time in reading some of the best-rated articles on article publication sites.  Most article directories will have a list of their top rated, or most read articles.  You need to see how they're created and constructed and also how they direct a visitor all the way down toward the resource box at the bottom of the page.  The most effective content is made up of several brief paragraphs, and is normally written in everyday language.  Do not use any complex words or phrases that your visitor will not be familiar with.  You're writing an article for the general public, not a doctoral dissertation.  

Don't put links for your website or any other items inside the principal body of your article.  This might get your article declined by the article directories.  They should only be placed inside your author bio box.

Headings Should Be Eye-Catching

Many people do not read all the words on a page unless it’s a novel. They are looking for specific phrases and words that may be key to their problem.  If you can use these in headings, the reader can immediately skip to the parts of your article that interest him most.  Headings are really critical in articles - they should be brief and eye-catching.

The Meat of Your Article

You should use your keywords once at the beginning of your article, numerous times in the main body of the text, and again within the last sentence.  The majority of individuals are on the internet seeking answers to difficulties or questions, so you should make your article informative and helpful, leading the reader down to the bottom of the page exactly where your bio box is.  In the bio box should be a call to action, encouraging the reader to click for further details.  This is where your lead capture page should be.  Despite the fact that you're writing to attract the search engines, remember that it really is humans that are reading what you write. 

Writing articles and blog posts does get less difficult the more you write. Practice really does make perfect - or at least comfort.  Check your stats occasionally to see which articles are getting the most readers.   Then write further articles in that style or on that topic.  Making use of bullet points also makes a page of written text appear a lot more appealing and easier to read.

Whenever you have crafted your article one can reword it or “spin” it and submit it to 100s of other article marketing directories.  That needs to be a big part of your article marketing strategy.  The purpose of rewriting them is to ensure that each article is different from any others you have submitted or posted. Google will only index one version of an article and disregard any duplicates.

Using Article Marketing Services To Increase Website Traffic

Searching for an article marketing service?  If you're thinking about driving more visitors to your website, blog, or videos, you may need to think about outsourcing both content material creation and distribution with the larger article marketing service providers available. The value is twofold.  First, a nicely written informative article will attract people actively trying to find that kind of information now. Meaning it attracts hot prospects and potential buyers!  A second powerful benefit, although much less obvious, is that it can assist your original content to rank higher on the search engines by automatically increasing the quantity of backlinks to your website, blog, or videos.

Article Marketing Service Secrets

Profitable online marketers know that time equals money.  Hate to write?  No problem.  There are lots of locations to find writers to create your content material for you while you get on with other issues.  Article submission may be a long and tedious task but by utilizing a service like Article Marketing Robot it is possible to free up your time.  Well optimized articles are the cornerstone of any effective internet marketing strategy and the more you write for your site and for article submission sites, the higher you will rank in Google.   And the higher you rank in Google, the more traffic you will get.  It's like a snowball rolling down a hill, getting bigger and bigger.

Article Marketing Software Programs to the Rescue

Picture how much more new targeted traffic, leads and sales you can get if you could spread your  message across literally hundreds, even thousands of websites, blogs and article directories.  Now imagine if you could do this with just some simple clicks of your mouse.  Sound impossible?  It's not. Enter Article Marketing Robot, an article marketing service which does exactly that. You simply paste in a copy of your article, click distribute and sit back and let the robot do the work of submitting your content all across the internet within a few brief minutes.

AMR Produces Industry Distinct Exclusive Content Material

Many people who employ an article marketing service or use automated software program like Article Marketing Robot still tend to take short-cuts which can actually decrease website visitors over time.  One of the most critical mistakes is not taking the time necessary to make certain every single piece of content getting published across the web is distinctive and readable. If it is not distinctive, you have wasted your time.  The search engines do not index or rank duplicate content.  And if the "spun" content is unreadable, it reflects poorly on you and your business.  Think of sending a letter full of typos.  You wouldn't do that!  So invest the time to make certain the copy produced by AMR is both exclusive and readable.

Are you struggling with content creation?  You're not alone.  Here's how I handle the problem!

Countdown to Your Best Year Ever!

The start of another new year is right around the corner. Before you know it, we will be ringing in 2016. In fact, January 1, 2016, is only nine days away! That means you have nine days to get ready to make 2016 your best year ever. 

How exciting is that?! Another chance to start over. Put 2015 behind you. A new year with fresh possibilities, new opportunities, new beginnings, and second chances awaits!

So what are you going to do over the next nine days to prepare for this wondrous opportunity? This is not the time to sit back and relax. Yes, I know the holidays can be stressful. Yes, I know we are all tired. But those who prepare now to make the most of the coming year have a far better chance at success than those who are sitting back drinking one more cup of eggnog.

If you are one of those ready for a life-changing year, here are nine things you can do - one each day- to help you prepare for your best year yet!

1. Clean out your desk.  According to experts, Americans waste almost 30 minutes a day – 180 hours a year – looking for misplaced items. I would wager that there are many things you could do with an extra 180 hours next year.

One of the first steps to getting organized is eliminating the clutter, and one of the first places you should tackle is your desk. Here's a six-step approach to streamlining your workspace.

2. Check your closet.  When you work from home, you can think that your wardrobe no longer matters. After all, who sees you, sitting behind your keyboard? It might be true that the only person who sees you is your cat and the UPS man, but there are still a number of reasons to upgrade your wardrobe – or at least make sure your shirt is spaghetti-sauce free.

3. Set your schedule.  I, too, am preparing for 2016. And there are a number of changes I plan make this year. I'll bet they are somewhat similar to yours! So let's start 2016 together by looking at some things we can do next year that will pay off in a big way. 

The first thing I need to do is look at how I schedule my time. I'm sure you have the same question I do - how do you allow enough time for product creation, customer service, networking, enrichment, research, and just plain goofing off? It is possible – and these hints will help.

4. Create a "Study Group".  According to those who have been there before, the key to success in law or business school is getting in with the right study group. These partners not only give you buddies to study with, they keep you accountable and on-task. If you let yourself down, you let down the whole group.

Entrepreneurs have "study groups" also. Only we call them "masterminds." Finding accountability partners can be key to a successful business venture. A good mastermind will be comprised of fellow business people who can support your efforts, help you brainstorm problems, and keep you on schedule, The right mastermind can mean the difference between passing and failing. Here's what to look for in your own “study group.”

5. Get your year-end checkup.  At the end of every year or the beginning of the new one, it pays to take a look back to see how you did. Figuring out where you are now not only lets you appreciate how far you've come, it also helps identify areas where you may be lagging behind your aspirations. Here are few of the numbers you can look at to evaluate your business.


6. Keep your combinations safe. ID theft is a very real threat. In fact, ID theft complaints are the number-one complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, accounting for 18% of all complaints and accounting for billions of dollars in loss (2012 data). And it can be very costly to repair the damage, as I know from experience! 

While your identity can be stolen through the postal service or by swiping your wallet, by far your greatest exposure is online. And when you're an online businessperson, that risk is even higher; not only your personal information is available, but your professional information, too. Thankfully, there are a number of low- and high-tech options for keeping track of your passwords and user names.

7. Have a fling!  The cold, dreary days of winter are a perfect time to get in one little warmer-locale fling before settling back down to work after the holidays..

What? I said we only had one day for each these? Never fear. Here are some ways to enjoy a mini-fling! 

8. Organize your home office.  Working from a home office can be challenging. Space can be minimal, making it difficult to find places to work, store files, or place equipment. Rid yourself of this stress by following the these tips for organizing your office space, no matter how small.

9. Set your goals for 2016.  Did you know that less than 3% of people have written goals? Why? Studies have shown that the most successful people are the ones who have specific, written goals. This is true in both your personal and your business life. Perhaps most people don't have written goals because they don't understand how to set and use them. Since setting goals is one of the most important keys to achieving business success, let's learn how to use them wisely.

I'm issuing a challenge to all of you right now. Let's make 2016 your year. Each one of us has a choice to make. 2016 is right around the corner and it's calling to you to change your life. Are you coming or not? Will you make the choice to join us? Start today step-by-step. And just don't quit!

 

Struggling With Addiction

Carol had a problem and she knew it.  She was struggling with an addiction.  Her friends encouraged her to stop but she couldn’t.  Her family tried to understand but they were beginning to lose patience.  She knew it would be best for her family but she felt so out of control.  It was no use.  She had a classic case of bright shiny object syndrome.

 

I know Carol very well.  She is a dear friend.  In fact, just this evening I received a text message from her.  She had just found the latest, greatest, next big thing and she wanted me to check it out.  Why the person who had sponsored her made $35,000 in a month!  And he was going to show us how to do the same.  I laughed and made this comment: "Well, here goes Carol, chasing another shiny object." 

 

Well, as I was sitting there feeling all pompous and self-satisfied because I don’t have this problem, I received a sudden wake-up call.  You see, my daughter is visiting today.  Now if you have children, then you know what happened next.  She took great delight in reminding me that it hadn't always been that way.  At one point in my early days, I was spending literally thousands of dollars on stuff I never used.  In fact my computer and my office are still crammed with ebooks, reports, books, and videos that I have never even opened!  She very neatly pointed out that while I may not have the same type as Carol, at one time I suffered from my own form of Bright Shiny Object Syndrome.  And that’s when it hit me.  There are many of us who suffer from this addiction.

How many of you have spent 100s or even 1000s of dollars on programs, conferences, webinars, and books that you never implemented? 

How many of you have jumped from one network marketing opportunity to another, and are still broke?

How many of you have lost money and are still working a job just to pay for your courses and ebooks and network marketing business products?

I know I have been guilty of all these things.  And I say, IT HAS TO STOP!
I was fortunate enough to stumble into the right people and the right company to help me be successful.  So now I only buy something when I absolutely know I need it.  And my network marketing company hopping days are over.  I love the one I'm with and plan to stay for a very long time.  But my success was due in great part to circumstances.  You see, you can't buy stuff when you are out of money!  You can't join another company when you can't afford the enrollment fee.  Many of us are still caught on this hamster-wheel, though.

 

What causes this dread illness?  There are several factors.   We live in an age of instant gratification. Where the push of a button can put us in touch with magical worlds. Where things we only imagined a few years ago are now reality. Where change comes like a whirlwind and every achievement is monumental. It's easy to expect to constantly feel that level of excitement every day. And when we don't, we think something is wrong. And so we end up chasing the next bright shiny object, hoping to feel that excitement all over again.  Add to that the “gurus” who continuously promise that if you simply join their program or buy their product, you will make six-figures in no time – often with no effort on your part!  And so we purchase and enroll and when we don’t see the promised results, we don’t blame ourselves.  We think there is something wrong with them and if we can simply find the right program or product, all our dreams will come true.  We forget that it takes work to be successful.

  

Patience and persistence do pay off.  All the true experts will tell you that.  And they are absolutely correct. You should listen to them.

 

So before you join another program, enroll in another “opportunity”, or buy another product, ask yourself these questions.
1. Does this add to or complement your existing business? If the answer is no, cover your eyes and walk away!

2. What will you have to give up to make time for the new project? If you can't fit the new project in your day and don't have anything you can give up to open a bit of time, turn your head because this is not for you.

3. Will it generate enough profit to make it a worthwhile investment of your time? While you cannot guarantee that a project will make money, sometimes you can make an educated guess.

 

4.  Are you willing to devote the time and effort it will take to make this worthwhile?  There is no such thing as an easy, overnight path to riches.  There is no magic button, no secret formula.  It will take time and work.  If you don’t want to give up either of those, move on! 

 

Bored? Feeling a lack of excitement? Need to try something new? Not making the money you were promised?  Before you succumb to the lure of another bright shiny object, take a look at yourself.  Answer the questions above.  Can you add or upgrade something in your existing business that will challenge and excite you again?  Do you have time to do it?  Will it be a worthwhile investment of your effort?  Are you willing to do the work?  If so, go for it.  If not, you may be struggling with this addiction for a very long time. 

Follow Up

One of the biggest mistakes network marketers make is failing to follow up – with leads, with new customers, with past customers, and with inactive customers. Treating transactions as isolated events rather than a chain of interactions means you see your customers as commodities, and they will view you the same way. In this post, I’m going to address why you need to follow up with each of these categories:
 

1. Following up with leads. You’ve got an inbox full of contact information from a promotion you posted on your website. You send out a generic informational email and ask them to contact you if interested. Now what? Well, if you’re like most network marketers, you’ll do nothing. That’s right – nothing! Most people seem to think their job is done when they have collected the names and sent out an email, but that one contact by itself may mean nothing. You need to actually continue to contact the names collected to try to convert them from a lead to a customer or business partner. Studies show it takes an average of 7 contacts before a person makes up their mind.  Don't be too aggressive.  But do stay in touch and continue to share the benefits of your business and your products.  
2. Following up with new customers. The time when a little extra effort can make the biggest impact is right after a new customer has purchased with you. They may be feeling a little unsure of their purchase and hearing from you at this vulnerable time will definitely reassure them that they made the right decision. It’s also a perfect time to head off any problems or answer questions – and to see if they regret NOT purchasing something they were thinking about!
3. Following up with past customers. Don’t assume that your customer will contact you directly when they run out of something or want to make another purchase. Most people are lazy and will just as easily buy from a competitor or from the mall or other retail shop if you don’t make the effort to contact them. More than one direct sales rep has lost a customer to the mall because they weren’t in front of the customer when a re-order or replacement was needed!
4. Following up with inactive customers. If you haven’t heard from a previous customer for a while, don’t assume everything is okay, or that they would contact you if they needed something. Make the effort to phone them to see where they are. Do they need a new item? Are they unhappy with a previous purchase? Did they lose your number? Whatever the situation, you’re better off hearing from them directly than letting them die a slow death because you couldn’t be bothered to get back in touch.

Following up – and following up when you say you will – is a critical part of good direct sales. Many experts recommend the three days – three weeks – three months approach, following up at each of those intervals after the initial contact. While that’s a good rule of thumb, even better is working with your customers and your unique business to do what’s right for them and for you.

Know Your Customers

One of the benefits that small businesses – including direct salespeople – have over large, big-box retailers, is the ability to get to know your customers on a more intimate level. But to really use that relationship to maximize your profits, you need to go beyond first-name basis. You need to know them as a friend, and that takes work. Here’s how you can establish a relationship that pays big dividends:

 

1. Make it authentic. It’s obvious when someone is being nice to you or expressing interest only to make a sale. That’s the last thing you want your customers to think, so your interest in them has to come from a place of true service. Yes, you’re hoping you’ll make money, but your real motivation needs to be one of service. Keep your eyes on their hearts, not on their wallets.
2. Start a customer information file. Whether it’s a box of index cards you jot notes on, a computer program, or a binder, have a way to track your customers, what they order, and other pertinent information. At a minimum you should know their family members’ names, their birthday, and their contact information, as well as their preferred means of contact (mail, email, phone, etc.).
3. Contact them regularly. Your customers should hear from you at a minimum of once a month. Any less, and they will forget about you. Depending on your business, you may find that a once-a-week schedule is preferable. That doesn’t mean you need to call all your customers every week! Your schedule might look like this:
   Week One – Phone call
   Week Two – Emailed newsletter with tips
   Week Three – Postcard reminder
   Week Four – Email announcement of special sale or product
   
   Many of these can be done in bulk, making it just as easy to send 100 as one. To make sure the information you send is welcome, make it useful. Tips, resources, savings, ways to use the products they already have… these are all wonderful options.
4. Use product delivery to increase connection. If your business is one where you actually deliver product to your customer, you have one more opportunity to further your relationship. When your customer comes to pick up his or her order, or you swing by to drop it off, this is a great unstructured chance to get to know them better. There’s no stress because you’re not in the middle of a sales presentation, and you already know your customer likes you because they purchased from you! Use this opportunity to find out how the customer plans on using their purchases, what additional questions they have, and how your business fits into their overall life. If you visit their home, you may have the opportunity to meet their family and get a glimpse of their life. Take advantage of it!

Your customers are better than gold. Treat them that way, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a positive relationship, both personally and professionally.

Build Your Network Marketing Business - Maximize Your Existing Customers

Sales experts know that selling to repeat customers is much more time- and effort-efficient than is getting new customers. And experienced network marketers know this, too. After all, what takes more effort: Scheduling and holding a product class or party, or taking reorders from existing customers?

For some reason, though, many network marketers overlook existing customers as a source of sales. Sure, they’ll take any repeat orders that come in, but they don’t actively mine this list for additional opportunities. Maybe it’s because booking a new party or class seems more exciting, or maybe because they think they’d be bugging people if they called. Whatever the reason, not looking to your existing customer base for sales is like not picking up a twenty-dollar bill on your front steps.

Here are some ways you can maximize your profits from your existing customers:

• Ask for referrals. If you have a customer who orders from you again and again, ask for referrals. They obviously like your products and wouldn’t mind sharing their great find with their friends. Even if you have asked before, ask again. People are constantly getting introduced to new social circles, meeting new individuals, or realizing that someone they thought wouldn’t be interested now might be ready to give it a shot.
• Ask for feedback. If you have a loyal customer, leverage the relationship by asking for their opinion on your presentation, products, or competitors. You might want to offer a small discount or free product for their assistance.
• Tell them about the new stuff. Instead of just letting them put in their order every quarter for the same six items, introduce them to new products they may not have been aware of. Customers can fall into ruts, and it’s up to you to give them a jolt. Let them know what’s new, different, or better.
• Offer preferred customer status. Many network marketing companies offer programs specifically for their “preferred” or high dollar-value customers. If your company offers such a program, take advantage of it! If there is no structured program, create your own. You can send long-time customers special promotions, product announcements, and news and tips particularly for them. It will make them feel special and give you another reason to contact them every month.

Your existing customers are the backbone of your business. Spend time finding ways to let them know they matter to you, and you’ll find that your efforts pay off handsomely