subject: Build Your List With Articles [print this page] As an e-marketer you will find that one of the best ways to build your list is with articles.. What's so important about the list? The money is in the list! As you list grows so does your opportuntiy to cash in.
Let's go through 'why publish articles?' a step at a time. First, what is an article? It is a piece of writing, from 450 to 1,000 words long, typically on a single topic which is relevant to your niche. It must not be directly promotional but be informative so delivering value to the reader.At the foot of the article you attach a small 'Resource box' that contains a link to your website.
Second, what's next once the article is written? Your next step is to ensure that the spelling and grammar are OK and the article reads well - the true sign of a great professional - and then start to submit it to the article directories.
The what happens? Google and other search engines regard these article directories as sources of good information (remember the content quality guideline mentioned above) and also judge what's hot from the frequency of specific topics. The result is that these directories are visited frequently by the search engine's spiders and the new content is indexed.
In addition there are hundreds of folks who publish e-zines and they are always looking for valuable content, another reason why your articles should exude quality information. E-zines are circulated by the publisher using their website and also their email lists so giving your articles wide distribution. This is your entry into the world of viral e-marketing - a method of promotion that happens without you having to drive it.
You can leverage this viral marketing to reap rewards if you are doing it the right way. In the real sense, you are actually proving your worth and demonstrating your expertise about your business through the articles you write.
What's the importance of published articles? Each occasion that your article is found by the search engines means another occasion when your link back is also found. Every one of these helps to raise your site's profile. In effect, each link is a 'vote' for your site in the popularity stakes. The more 'votes' the higher your site will be raised.
Now it's time to make the resource box do its stuff. This is the e-marketer's list building secret weapon. In the resource box you are limited to around 450 characters, including spaces. In that tiny space you should provide your visitor with a reason to click on the link. The link directs them to your landing page that contains more information about the topic and so reinforces their high opinion of your knowledge. The page will also have a direct 'call to action', that's a form for the visitor to join your email list.
Why delay? Time to get started right now. Start to build your list with articles today. It's the business building method that lasts and lasts.
