Article Marketing Drives Sales and Improves Search Engine Rankings

By James Angell

Article marketing is, as its name suggests, a form of advertising that involves the distribution of articles. Though we most commonly associate the term with the Internet, article marketing is nothing new, and it actually predates the Internet.

Business owners have been using articles as a means of attracting new customers for years. In fact, article writing has been utilized as a marketing tool since the advent of the newspaper business. In the beginning, the articles provided free, quality content for the newspapers and gave the authors a chance to get people interested in what they had to offer while also establishing themselves as experts in the eyes of their customers.

Today, article marketing is extremely popular in cyber space. As in the print world, articles give websites free content and serve as advertisements for the authors. Each article contains a "bio box," which provides information about the author and a link to their website. Readers who find an article interesting are apt to click the link to the company's website and with any luck, make a purchase.

Although this all sounds fairly simple, there are rules that must be followed in article marketing. In the past, article marketing on the Internet got a bad rap because some authors stuffed their articles with keywords and provided very little information that was of any use to the reader. To cut down on the number of irrelevant articles being published, reputable article distribution services have begun to require authors to follow specific submission rules. These article distribution services have helped to legitimize the practice of article marketing.

In general, article distributors require the articles to be more than just an advertisement. This means that the author cannot simply write an article about their business, products, or services. Instead, the articles are about topics that are related in some way to their business. The author is then free to advertise in his or her bio box.

An example of a related article might be one written by a company that sells fishing lures. They cannot write specifically about the new lure they created for catching bass; however, they could write about the best places for bass fishing.

In addition to providing people with interesting reading and simultaneously drawing customers to their websites, businesses who use article marketing may also increase their sites' search engine ranking. This is done through the use of keywords as well as the links contained in the bio box.

Even though articles should never be "keyword stuffed," they can be "keyword rich." This means that the author can use popular search terms to make their articles easier to find. The keywords, though, should be used in a way that makes sense within the article and should not be repeated over and over simply for the purpose of search engine optimization.

The links in the article can help with optimization as well. Theoretically, the more links back to a business's website, the higher that website will rank in the search engines.

Aside from those general rules, many article distribution services have very specific rules about article formatting and content. Before submitting articles to a distribution service, be certain to read their guidelines as they do vary from one service to the next.

Some distribution services also offer article-writing services. These services usually employ teams of professional writers who are familiar with the rules of the service. The writers create articles based on the keywords and topics provided by the business for a fee. In return, the business is free to use the article in virtually any capacity they like and is able to put their name and bio box on it.

The success of article marketing is evident in its prevalence on the Internet. It has become an extremely popular way of promoting businesses, products, and services. In addition to being fairly simple, it also has the advantage of being an inexpensive method of advertising that is accessible to almost any small business.

Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com

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Internet Marketing: Why You Need A List

By Ray Johnson

There is a mantra you hear often while learning about internet marketing: "The money is in the list". Every successful internet marketer talks about his list. There is all kind of advice on how to build a list. Sometimes lost in all this list building information is "Why do you need a list?"

First, let's make it clear what is meant by a list. A list is your personal database of leads that have shown that they are interested in your niche market. Not only are they interested in your niche, but they have given you permission to send them emails with information about that niche.

The most successful internet marketers use a large part of their marketing efforts just to build a list. Many online marketers would rather have a lead sign up for their list than have them buy something without signing up. Why do they value a list so greatly?

The most difficult part of internet marketing is finding a targeted group to market to. By having a list, you already have a targeted group that has given you permission to market to them. This allows you to develop a relationship with them as you provide them information and suggest products they may want to buy. It is much easier to market and sell to your list than it is cold leads. The best part is, you can market and sell to them over and over again.

To illustrate the value of a list, think about infomercials that you see on TV all the time. The infomercial companies spend millions of dollars on those advertising campaigns. You may not know this, but their purpose, in most cases, is not to sell the item they are pitching on TV, rather it is to get you on their list.

Most infomercial companies loose money on every TV offer they sell. They know that once you buy from them, they will be able to market to you again and again. It is on the second purchase you make from them that they start to make a profit. Of course, if you buy from them a third or fourth time then they are way ahead.

Your list is the same way. Every lead that subscribes to your list is valuable to you. Your initial product sales to your list may not be one you can retire over, but if you have defined your niche properly and your list is built with leads that are highly interested in your niche, you will see how easy it becomes to sell to them at higher and higher prices.

The secret is to market to them again and again. As a general rule, those that buy from you once are more likely to buy from you again. You need your own list because it becomes the foundation of your online business. It provides you with a customer base that is looking for information about your niche. Having your own list makes it much easier to be an internet marketing success.

Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com

To find out how you can successfully make a living online, and follow successful and highly profitable advice to making money online, talk with Ray Johnson - a top rated internet marketer. www.ray-johnson.co.uk

Everything You Need To Know About Hiring A Virtual Assistant

By Samantha Cannell

As you know, hiring a virtual assistant can help you grow your business. However the first time you hire one can seem somewhat daunting. The following are some tips to help you with the hiring process:

Before you hire anyone, it is important to know exactly what you are hiring them for and how much you can afford to pay them.

It is a good idea to write these things down and provide a copy to anyone who expresses interest in applying for the job. This will ensure that you both understand the expectations that there are no surprises.

An easy way to get started with hiring virtual assistants is through freelance job sites such as Elance or Guru. These sites allow you to post a job that you want done, and people who are interested in the job will apply through the website with the amount they would charge for the work.

You can also post jobs for free on Craigslist. You can pick what geographic area you post in, which will allow you to work with someone local or far away. If you express in the ad that telecommuting is ok, your ad may get picked up by various work at home websites and job boards, giving it maximum exposure. You may find yourself flooded with applicants!

Forums are another great place to find prospective virtual assistants. There are many business oriented message boards and forums available online. Many people display a signature line, which will include their website URL. As you read the posts, you will get familiar with which members have what type of businesses. If you find a virtual assistant who you would like to work with, contact them and let them know the details about your opening.

These message boards and forums also allow you to meet and interact with other business owners, some of whom have surely hired virtual assistants in the past. You may want to contact some of the members you respect through the private message system of the message board and ask them if they can recommend a good virtual assistant to you.

Before you hire anyone, take some time to look at each of their websites. Their websites are their calling card - are they professional and attractive? If things are sloppy or misspelled on their own website, they probably won't take the time to do a good job on your work either.

In most cases, their websites will have a page that outlines their services and rates, as well as samples of their work. It is very important to look at examples of their past work and see if they have the ability to handle the type of job you need done.

Also, you may want to look for testimonials from past clients displayed on their site. If you dont see any, this is a clue that they are either new or that they don't have any satisfied past clients.

Finding a good virtual assistant may take a bit of time at first, but once you find one, you will see that you are able to get more work done and effectively grow your business.

Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com

Versatile Assistant is a Virtual PA and Lifestyle Management business providing secretarial support to busy professionals. Find out how a virtual PA can help you transform your life.