TBOWT 023 – Article Marketing for Authors

by Peggy on June 1, 2012

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TBOWT 023 – Article Marketing for Authors

This week’s podcast is about article marketing. What is it? How do I do it? Is it worthwhile as a way to build platform? Peggy and Larry will answer these questions and talk about the nuts and bolts of article marketing in today’s episode.

The Business of Writing Today Podcast: Where savvy writers go to make their books, their business.
Web site:  http://tbowt.com
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JOIN US AT THE BUSINESS OF WRITING SUMMIT 2012
LOUISVILLE KY
http://businessofwritingsummit.com

We love to hear your comments and questions. Call us at:
855-675-6225 or
e-mail us at:
peggy@tbowt.com or
larry@tbowt.com

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/alerts/
Great site to look at self-publishing scams

What is article marketing — exactly?
Article marketing technically defined, is writing a series of articles, about a specific, well-researched and well-chosen topic that is related to your platform or genre. The series of articles (between 250 and 500 words typically) are then seeded on article marketing sites to be used as content for other websites. Each article contains a link back to the author’s website.

Who uses article marketing?
Internet marketers
Entrepreneurs
Anyone who wants to drive more traffic to their website

Article marketing, while new to authors, has been used by internet marketers, hoping to build their number of site visits and backlinks for years.

What should I do before I write my articles?
Choose your topic
Research keywords using Google Adwords, Keyword Reasearch Tool
Choose keywords what have at least 1,000 searches
Choose keywords that have relatively low competition
Pick several keywords and then use them several times in your articles

Peggy talks about keyword research, she recommends https://adwords.google.com/ Then click on Keyword Research Tool. We could do an entire show on keyword research. Get comfortable with this tool, and it will help you understand how people search for things on the internet. Your job is to choose several keywords or keyword phrases that are in your niche. Peggy gives some examples.

How do I get started?
Select a tightly defined topic for the articles you are going to write. Remember, these are short articles, usually 250-500 words (a page or two), and are loaded with keywords.

Write several articles, dozens is good, 100 is better. This will take awhile.

Step 1:
Decide on your topic.
Step 2:

•    Find several keywords that are on topic.
•    Use keywords/phrases that have at least 1000 searches
•    Use keywords with less than 100,000 searches
Step 3:
Write several articles using the following guidelines:
•    Always put one or more keywords or keyword phrases in the title of your article
•    Use the keywords/phrase in the first paragraph of the article
•    Always have a call to action at the end of the article
•    Always give the link to your website at the bottom of the article
•    Write at least a dozen articles
•    If you want lots of action, write 100, or 150 articles
Step 4:
Upload the articles to one of the article marketing sites. Before uploading, always read the sites guidelines so that you understand your compensation, ownership rights, and link restrictions.

http://ezinearticles.com
http://goarticles.com
http://infobarrel.com

Before posting articles on any article marketing site, read the rules and know how you will be compensated.

You will also want to check out the categories for articles on the article marketing site. You want a category where the top five authors have written less than ten articles. Then, if you write 15 articles and they are accepted, you will be top ranking author in that category. This gives you more visibility and establishes you as an expert.

For a more comprehensive list see http://tbowt.com/article_marketing You can also read my blog on article marketing at http://tbowt.com/category/blog

There are many more. For a list of article marketing sites see  http://tbowt.com/article_marketing

Step 5:
•    Seed the internet with links to your article by these methods.
•    Answer related questions on answers.yahoo.com and link to your article
•    Comment on blogs that discuss your topic and use your link
•    Write articles for local papers, trade magazines and other specialty magazines to help increase your expertise and visibility as an author
More traditionally you can write articles for major trade publications, writer’s magazines, travel magazines that feature stories on your story settings, or local magazines and newspapers that might want a story that relates to your book.

Here’s an example, if you book takes place in Ireland in the nineteenth century, perhaps you could write an article about castles in Ireland in the 1800’s.

In Summary:
You are a wordsmith, write! Write books, write articles, write newsletters, and comment on blogs, forums, and answer sites every day. Do this every day for six months, and you will be amazed at how large your platform will become.

“Platforms are built one post, one comment, one tweet, one answer, one article, one book, and one presentation at a time.”  Peggy DeKay

Keep on keeping one….Peggy DeKay

Peggy and Larry talk about the The Business of Writing Today Summit 2012.
Tons of great classes. This is a writer’s conference like no other. Here we focus on helping you make the most of your book, how to market yourself, and ingenious ways to build your platform, grow your readership, and promote your book. No matter where you are in the process of writing, promoting and selling your book there are great classes here for you. Talk with writers who have done it!
Seating is limited ….reserve your seat now!
August 11-12, 2012
http://businessofwritingsummit.com

We love to hear your comments, please leave us your -voicemail:  855-675-6225
e-mail us at
peggy@tbowt.com or
larry@tbowt.com

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Peggy February 18, 2013 at 4:17 am

Most attorneys I know look first to the copyright holder, and second to anyone else who might have deep pockets. Although CS is the “publisher of record” according to Bowker.com, the copyright holder who infringed another author is the person who will ultimately be held liable.

Reply

haios January 22, 2013 at 10:00 am

Fantastic website you have here but I was wanting to know
if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics
discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Bless you!

Reply

Peggy February 18, 2013 at 3:59 am

Hello, and thank you so much for your question. You can go to http://ezinearticles.com and use this link: http://ezinearticles.com/faq/ There is great information on the site to help you get started. You can also check out the FAQ page on http://ehow.com. The best way to learn about article marketing is to pick your area of expertise and get started. Best of luck to you. I applaud your willingness to jump in there and learn about something new! “Through much activity a dream is accomplished.”

Reply

Peggy June 30, 2014 at 4:28 pm

Hello Ester, a great place to find like-minded people is in LinkedIn. They have loads of groups that are publishing, self-publishing and author-centered. Login and setup your profile and then find some groups that you feel you can relate to. There a variety of people from novice to expert and most of them willing and happy to share what they have learned. Thank you for the post.

Reply

szkolenia October 16, 2012 at 4:38 am

These are actually great ideas in on the topic of blogging.
You have touched some nice factors here. Any way keep up writing.

Reply

Peggy February 18, 2013 at 4:12 am

thank you so much.

Reply

Peggy June 30, 2014 at 4:28 pm

Thank you. I appreciate it.

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