Expose Your Site for Free
by Mike Banks Valentine
Writing articles for distribution has brought more traffic and more sales for my site, WebSite101, than any other technique. It always leads to more subscriptions to my Reading List newsletter, which then lead to more sales, more and better advertising in my newsletter, and more exposure. It is a self-feeding loop that grows my business nonstop.
If I were to stop writing articles and submitting them to other publishers, my advertising costs would have to skyrocket to maintain the same exposure and visibility for WebSite101. Having articles accepted by widely circulated e-zines and published on high-traffic Web sites is far more valuable than having one of my ads appear below someone else's article. Readers may glance at those ads, but they often read the articles with much more interest.
Get the Word Out
Many Web business owners have their own e-zines because these publications are such a well-recognized method of establishing relationships with visitors and maintaining relationships with customers. Sometimes site owners will include your writing on their sites permanently, in addition to e-zine publication, if the piece deals with an issue of interest to their viewers. I have done the same by expanding posts submitted by my peers (with their permission) and publishing them on my own site as articles.
Site owners are often looking for content for their e-zines, and monitoring discussion lists for insightful posts is one way they find writers. So joining an online discussion can bring you unexpected benefits.
Swap Meet
I also have established article swapping with some groups of publishers, whereby we all agree to run each other's articles in our discussion lists or on our sites.
Recently, members of Paul Siegel's Learning Fountain Network contributed articles and ads for several weeks to run in each other's e-zines. In addition to recruiting new members for Learning Fountain, this led to a cross-pollination of ideas and to the growth of each of our lists.
Friends First
Instead of placing ads meant to distract and sell, I am writing articles meant to instruct and entertain. They are different means to the same end, but the latter establishes rapport and respect from viewers — ideally — while the former interrupts and often annoys viewers with hyperbole and sales pitches. Persons who purchase products and services based on informative articles will prove to be far more willing and long-lasting customers than those who were cajoled by crafty ads.
WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet Weekly Ezine for success in small business on the Internet Subscribe by e- mailto:WebSite101-subscribe@listbot.com Receive a three part "e-com tutorial" by autoresponder
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By week's end you're ready expand your biz to the web!
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