5 Critical Promotion Mistakes People Make With Articles

Did you realize that writing and publishing articles online represents one of the best-kept website traffic secrets?

It's true! In fact, if you learn some basic principles, you can drive thousands of visitors to your website without spending any money on advertising. Publishing articles not only establishes you as an expert in your chosen field, but also allows you to fly under the natural "radar defenses" your prospects have against advertising.

But, beware! My experience as a syndicated newspaper columnist has shown me that people who would otherwise succeed massively promoting with articles actually fail because they consistently make one or more of these five critical mistakes!

Mistake #1 - NOT Defining Your Target Audience

Many article authors make the serious mistake of not clearly defining a niche audience before writing their article. Successful article authors always know the exact "niche" audience they want to reach before they write the first word.

When targeting your audience, remember this rule: Narrow and Deep! Always pick an audience with a specific, pressing, or major interest in a narrow topic!

Mistake #2 - Spamming Ezine Editors

In their desire to cover as much ground as possible, many article authors resort to spam techniques for submitting their articles. Instead of tightly targeting appropriate ezines that cater specifically to their audience, these authors try to hit "everyone."

By trying to save time, they actually waste every minute spent writing their article because most ezine editors will just delete their submissions as spam!

Mistake #3 - Milktoast Topics

You can write the best article in the world, but if your headline doesn't grab a reader's eyeballs and pull them into your article - you lose!

Article authors should spend at least half as much time writing the headline as they spend writing their actual article.

In fact, an "average" article can get superior results simply from having a great headline at the beginning.

Mistake #4 - "What's In It For Me"

If they manage to make it past the first 3 pitfalls, many article authors trip on their shoelaces at this stage of the process! Don't write about what you want to write about, only write on topics of high interest to your target audience.

In other words, give them exactly what they want and they will love you. Nobody cares how much of an expert you rate on a particular topic until they know you can deliver information they need in a way they can use - now!

Mistake #5 - "No Shoe Polish"

You could write an article worthy of the front page of the Wall Street Journal, but as soon as somebody spots a typo or misspelling, they immediately put your article lower than a Sunday sales circular.

Seriously, if you want to undermine all the good you can do with a great article, send it out without proper spell- checking!

No matter what product or service you sell, once you understand the promotion power of free articles, you'll never look at website traffic generation the same way.

But remember, if you abuse the power, spam ezine editors, or blatantly pitch people instead of providing real information, you might as well skip the whole process altogether.

(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved - http://www.thenetreporter.com

About the Author:

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co- author of an amazing new ebook, "Turn Words Into Traffic," that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate link!

Simple "Traffic Machine" brings Thousands of NEW visitors to your website for weeks, even months... without spending a dime on advertising! ==> "Turn Words Into Traffic"

---

Writing a Statement

You have decided on a great idea and researched a... Read More

Microsoft Word Smart Quotes and Article Marketers Dont Mix

By default, Microsoft Word automatically changes straight quotation marks (... Read More

Top 10 Benefits Of Submitting Articles To E-zines

When I started Ezine-In-A-Box I wanted to help people publish... Read More

Write From Home: Lessons From The Editors

Writers talk about rejection all the time ? just part... Read More

Incredibly Bad Articles Will Kill Your Credibility

I've noticed a disturbing trend recently of articles suggesting that... Read More

Writing Ezine Articles - 4 Reasons Why You Should Do It

Anyone who's been in the business for 2 or 3... Read More

Sticky Leads

The first twenty-five words of your article are the most... Read More

9 Top Ways To Get Ideas For Your Next High Quality Article

Thanks to recent information that leaked by Google within their... Read More

How I Became An EzineArticles.com Platnium Member in One-Hour Flat & How You Can Too

[Disclosure: I went into EzineArticles.com very innocently. I... Read More

Internet Marketing: Secrets of Writing Keyword Rich Articles in Six Easy Steps

Determining keywords is a critical step in writing articles online... Read More

Build Links and Your Brand: Article Marketing Delivers

Many online marketers have crowed about the value of writing... Read More

Publish Articles on Numerous Subjects and Attract More Readers

Writers have one basic need -- readers. We all want... Read More

5 Powerful Article Writing Tips

Writing articles is one of the most powerful, if not... Read More

How To Write Best Articles

I've been able to distinguish 3 main categories that people... Read More

What Can a 13-Year-Old Kid Teach Us About Article Marketing?

Yesterday I met a 13-year old boy with a devilish... Read More

What is a Ghostwriter and How Can I Find One to Hire?

A ghostwriter, as one may think is not a writer... Read More

An Article about Articles

Everyone that publishes a newsletter or ezine knows that the... Read More

Writing Articles - Two Aspects Of The Surge

Writing articles for publication on the Internet is, at the... Read More

Publishing: changing realities (IV)

How does a writing agency market itself effectively in a... Read More

How to Write Articles that Sell

In order to sell your article must do three things:1.... Read More

Four Reasons Why Freelance Article Commissions Dry Up

Every time I run a course on Freelance Writing, students... Read More

13 Techniques That Boosts The Power Of Your Resource Box!

***What is the Resource box?'Resource box' is an information box... Read More

Why You Should Write Articles or At Least Get a Ghostwriter to Write for You

Overture reports over 1 million queries for article keyword related... Read More

Web Design Information And Resources

People who have an idea for a website sometimes require... Read More

Article Writing Made Simple

A great way for self employed professionals to enhance their... Read More

4 Effective Content Writing Tips

Writing for websites -- content, as it is called --... Read More

1 Powerful Strategy To Craft Your Article For Maximum Readership

Do you know one of the most powerful marketing techniques... Read More

How to Write Great Movie Reviews for Your Entertainment Website

If you have an entertainment website then you're always looking... Read More

How to Be An Expert In Your Field

One of the most tried and true methods of self-promotion... Read More

Get Traffic to Your Web Site with Articles

It is not my intention to give you a 5... Read More

Do I Really Need To Write Articles For E-zines?

When I was first advised to start writing articles, this... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Format and Leverage your Articles Success - Part 2

You want your business to be noticed by thousands daily.... Read More

Be a Jerk - And Watch Your Business Grow!

Who remembers the 1979 movie, The Jerk with Steve Martin?... Read More