Article Distribution with Article Marketing Automation

Widespread distribution of your writing is essential to building tons of backlinks. You want people with an affinity for your products linking back to your website. If you have no website, you want people linking back to the websites of affiliate programs you promote.

You need two things to facilitate this backlinking. The first is content of excellent quality that speaks to the needs of readers.

The second is premium distribution from a quality content distribution service. These two work in tandem to produce significant traffic for you.

Your articles must engage your readers with thoughtful insight that address subjects your niche finds interesting. Fluff content that offers nothing new to readers is not a characteristic of quality content writing. Therefore, it behooves you to do the necessary research to create information-rich content.

Next, you have to get your work to the most popular publishers on the Web. A top-notch article submission service does this cost-effectively for you.

They utilize their extensive distribution list to do this. This list contains the best publishers across numerous categories.

They also provide article marketing automation so you can schedule all your distribution ahead of time. This helps you manage your time better as an internet marketer. Quality writing and far reaching autopilot distribution are that one-two punch for article marketing success.

Blogs

Blogs are “right now” writing. They let you get the message out fast about your online business and products you offer.

If you don’t have a blog you could go to a provider this minute. In fact, in a few minutes you could have one up and running.

That means you could be engaging in a new promotional effort today for your business. It’s that new iron in the fire.

It can work in concert with your articles. If you write a new piece and it publishes, you can let your blog readers know about it immediately.

This is important because you drive traffic from your blog to your informative content. Your blog readers experience your quality content writing published by someone else. They then perceive you as an authoritative voice in your niche.

From your blog and your articles they link to your website. They have an interest in your articles and posts and decide to find out more about you. That’s the pre-sold traffic you need that converts to customers on your website.

Blogs are also great places to present quick product reviews and in-depth product reports. Imbedded in each of these types of posts are links to your website or affiliate program website. In addition, you can update your blog several times a week to keep your readers up-to-date on promotions and new products you’re offering.

Social Media

Diverse social media portals are extremely popular these days. You probably don’t have the time to use them all or even most of them. However, it does help your promotional efforts to use some of them on a regular basis.

Again, you can promote your writing through your social media accounts. An example is the content you submitted to a quality content distribution service.

Once they distribute your articles you can promote them through your social networking accounts. You do this via the user-friendly links from your author account that you have with the service.

As you engage in good discussions on social media sites, you can promote your business and articles. Only do this as a way to offer good advice and resources to others. Your goal is to help them secure the quality information they desire.

There’s nothing wrong with attaching your website or article link in a discussion. This is as an addendum to the quality comments you already put forth.

If you expound like a blatant commercial on a social media site you get the “spammer” label. It’s a signal to others to avoid you.

Be respectful, helpful, and full of useful information on social media sites. Engage in intelligent conversation with the needs of others in mind. It’s the way to build a good reputation and credibility as an online marketer.

Use article distribution with article marketing automation, blogs, and social media to grow your business faster. This multi-pronged approach, along with other strategies garners traffic for your website. Once that pre-sold traffic arrives, you can further the selling process and grow your income accordingly.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His service provides quality reviews for article marketing automation programs. Read review of Content Crooner.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Article distribution for securing significant backlinks demands a plan as well. That plan should include article marketing automation and other features a good service offers.

Many article submission sites exist on the Web. It’s your responsibility to choose the best service for your business. A premium service has certain features which give internet marketers good ROI for their investment.

Here are those features:

Article Marketing Automation

This is a mechanism to get your work out to your target market in a regular orderly fashion. You input your content set once; you then schedule when you want those pieces to go out to publishers. You schedule distribution for up to a year in advance.

This feature frees time up for other activities, including some R&R time away from your PC. There’s often much to do when it comes to online marketing. Anything that simplifies your operations so you’re not always working is something that’s beneficial.

Mobile Capabilities

A quality content distribution service only requires you having a password to get into their members area. Therefore, wherever you are, you can access their service via the Internet.

A good service doesn’t require you downloading and installing software. You can only engage in article submission from your home PC if they require you to download software.

Being able to submit your work from anywhere at any time is convenient. It’s a desirable option for busy internet marketers and writers who are always on the go. Any campaign your running doesn’t have to be on hold just because you’re traveling.

A Comprehensive Distribution List

When it comes to submitting, you want abundant choice in publishers. You create content on a host of topics suited to the different affiliate products you promote. You need publishers suited to each topic.

Having a limited list to submit too means some of your articles won’t be a good match for publishers. Certain articles you write may be highly specialized.

They only fit niche specialty publications with a select readership. A service with a significant publishers list will have these types of publications in their stable.

Unlimited Submission of Content for One Fee

This is an attractive feature, especially if you’re a prolific writer. A quality content distribution service charges writers’ one fee, once, for a subscription. They offer monthly, yearly, or lifetime subscription packages for an affordable one-time fee.

Paying per submission is a quick route to inflating your promotions budget. So is aligning yourself with a service that charges additional fees for going beyond their stipulated submission level.

These days, budgeting wisely for marketing is essential to surviving as a business. Unlimited submission means creating and submitting to your heart’s content without paying anything extra.

Quality Review Process

Your writing will only be better when another set of eyes gives it a look. A good service provides expert editors who understand what constitutes quality work.

They know what publishers require and what causes rejection of content. Knowing what not to do in writing is as important as knowing what to do.

An experienced editor offers advice and tips on the tone of your writing. They caution writers to avoid creating blatantly promotional pieces.

They know readers don’t want to read content that sounds like a late-night hyperactive TV commercial. People want useful information presented objectively and an editor shows writers how to achieve this goal.

Keeps Attuned to New Publishers

A good content distributor always knows “who’s who” in the online publishing world. They look for new players on the scene. When these players arrive, the service gets your previously submitted work to them.

That’s a service working behind-the-scenes for you while you engage in other activities. Your older content continues to reach new readers, without you having to do anything.

That’s distribution done right. It’s something that builds links back to your website consistently each month.

It takes the headache away of having to search out new publishers yourself. Remember, any time saved in performing distribution is time you have to do something else. Of course, that something else should always include more content production for future campaigns.

Utilize article distribution with article marketing automation and other features that a service offers. They facilitate the exposure you desire for your writing and your website links. This exposure leads to pre-sold traffic that is essential to building an online business with staying power.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His service provides quality reviews for article marketing automation programs. Read review of Content Crooner.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Building your cyber venture, promoting affiliate or other products, means hard work on different initiatives. Working on article distribution with article marketing automation, and other web initiatives, does pay dividends.

Autopilot Distribution of Your Content While You Sleep

That sounds good doesn’t it? It’s not a pipe dream, in fact, it’s something serious internet marketers engage in all the time. Why do they? They do so because they understand there are only so many hours weekly for accomplishing marketing goals.

The best online entrepreneurs perform multiple marketing duties. They don’t rely on just one avenue for promoting their products and services. They write for blogs, websites, and for their email campaigns.

They write advertisements and engage in submitting their links to directories. They also make videos and contribute to social forums. Therefore, they can’t spend all their time distributing articles to different publishers.

Through the article marketing automation tool from a quality content distribution service, they save time. They schedule distribution of their quality content upfront.

While they sleep, or do other work, their articles go out to Web publishers like clockwork. It’s automatic, and set to build their income even when they’re not actually working.

Unique Banner Creation and Ad Writing

Whether you promote your own products or products from affiliate programs, you want to be unique. This ensures you stand out from your business competition.

Banner creation programs exist whereby you create banners suited to your particular business. Your banners don’t have to look like the other affiliate banners a host of affiliates use.

In addition, writing your own ads accomplishes the same goal. Focus your ad writing using your own voice and style. Match this to your blog and website content.

In this way, you project a unified voice and message to your niche. This presents you as a professional with a clear message to your intended audience.

Create an Informative Monthly Newsletter

You’re already a quality content producer and distribute your articles to your niche. Why not write a monthly newsletter to distribute to them as well.

It doesn’t have to be the size of a Shakespearean play. In fact, a couple of pages are sufficient.

Send out this newsletter and include links to your website or affiliate sites. Don’t make the newsletter one giant commercial, though.

Make your newsletter writing as informative as your article writing. You still have to offer useful information to your readers, no matter the platform you’re using.

Your newsletter can include detailed specs on an affiliate product along with product comparison reviews. It can include updates on product upgrades.

It’s good to have a few short pieces promoting nothing. These are informational pieces on topics related to your products but not actively promoting them.

Blog Commentary

Let people know about your cyber venture through making comments on blogs. Browse blog directories to find blogs of your niche. Check these blogs out by reading the various posts that reside on them.

After perusing and reading, comment on some posts. Be respectful and offer top-notch advice, tips, and resources. Include an affiliate or other link in your post.

Give insightful, informative comments that truly seek to contribute intelligently to the blog conversation. When people believe you are trying to help them they often link back to you.

Who knows, you may glean some useful information yourself from someone’s blog. It may be information that you can apply to your online business. Therefore, blog surfing can work for you in two ways.

Devote Some Time to Your Downline

Your cyber venture may include being a leader of other affiliate marketers. Set aside time each month to help them build their incomes. You contribute to your own success when you do this consistently.

You enjoy when others offer helpful advice. Maybe an editor at an article submission service helped you become a better content producer. Their tips paid off and you are benefitting from the increased pre-sold traffic heading your way.

You can offer helpful advice to your downline. This builds your reputation with them so they work harder for themselves and by extension you. Together, you both grow your incomes and develop a relationship of mutual respect as you do.

Make consistent effort in the above initiatives part of your monthly online business routine. Using article distribution with article marketing automation, in tandem with other tools, helps build traffic and income. It’s a way to get your cyber venture on a solid foundation for continued growth.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His service provides quality reviews for article marketing automation programs. Read review of Content Crooner.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Writing articles on topics related to products and services you offer is a quick route to website exposure. In addition, it’s a great way to build credibility as an online businessperson. People tend to buy products and services from those they trust. Your content is a tool for building trust.

Informative pieces that address your niche market’s concerns go a long way to branding you as reputable. Your readers don’t view you as someone just hankering to “make the sale.” They view you as someone truly trying to help them and who is an authority in their field.

The fact that you have quality products and services along with this information is an added bonus. However, they won’t even begin to look at these until they know they can trust you and your recommendations. That’s why excellence as a content producer is of prime importance.

Of course, you have to make sure your writing reaches a significant portion of your target market. You accomplish this through utilizing the resources of a quality content distribution service. The best service offers autopilot distribution through article marketing automation.

First, you input your content once. This is that article set, chock full of information on topics your target market enjoys. You set up when you want these to go out everywhere, to the Web’s top publishers. You set up distribution for weeks, months, and even up to one year in advance.

Your job is complete, at least as it applies to distribution for this campaign. You move on to something else. The quality content distribution service moves on to getting your work “down the road” to publishers with significant readerships. The result is relevant, highly targeted traffic linking back from your pieces to your website.

That’s your distribution tactic in full swing. Here are a few other tactics you can try to build your Ecommerce business:

Write a Detailed Report on a Hot Topic Related to Your Products and Services

Consumers crave rich information on topics that currently hold their interest. Do some market research to find out what your target market is talking about regularly. You can check various social sites to see what the latest buzz is in your niche.

Next, do some research on one of these topics. Dig down deep to secure information that’s not run-of-the-mill. You want to present new information, rich with advice, tips, instruction and more. Organize the research you have collected and get writing.

Offer the finished report free to those who visit your blog or website. Include your links in this report as well, so readers can swing back your way. You build your credibility as an Ecommerce businessperson with useful reports.

Try Video Articles

Why not create visual representations of your best content. It’s a fresh way to gain exposure for your work. Today, people are constantly visiting video sites online, looking for good information. Be part of this trend so you don’t miss new opportunities to build your audience.

Make sure your video content is of good quality. Check out different programs for creating videos. You want clarity of color, excellent contrast, and good audio if your video includes sound. Remember to include that all-important link back to your website in your videos.

Run an Email Campaign

Are you beginning to build a good-sized list of emails from visitors who opted-in to your report? Why not get email campaigns going utilizing that list. It pays to keep in constant communication with those who have an interest in your business.

First, take the time to create quality content that suits the email format. Write an intriguing subject line that encourages opening the email. Provide good information, offers, and more in your email text.

Don’t forget to include one or more “calls to action.” Encourage readers to download something, link to something, request more information or order something. Send out emails regularly, without overdoing it, to keep your business name in their minds.

Utilize article distribution with article marketing automation, as well as the other tactics mentioned above. Plan your marketing program so you devote sufficient time to each tactic.

Make a monthly “to do” list so you stay on track to get these things done efficiently. It’s the way to build your Ecommerce business for sustained growth.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His service provides quality reviews for article marketing automation programs. Read review of Content Crooner.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Article distribution using article marketing automation is one of several resources for building your business. Used in tandem with other resources, it can help you grow your income faster.

The following are five ways to help you promote your affiliate products and affiliate programs. Set aside time each week to engage in at least one of these activities. Try them and develop processes suited to your working style so you benefit from these initiatives.

Here they are:

Article Marketing

This involves you being a consistent content producer. You write articles loaded with useful advice, tips, instruction, and plain old good information for your audience.

You use a quality content distribution service to get your work to market. They distribute your writing throughout cyberspace.

An excellent service provides article marketing automation. What is this exactly? This is you scheduling the distribution of your writing ahead of time. You submit your writing once and schedule when they go out, up to a year in advance.

Then you go your merry way onto other affiliate marketing work. Distribution happens automatically, on autopilot, when you’re not even thinking about it. This simplifies marketing and is a perfect example of excellent time management.

Viral Marketing

Viral marketing is a way to build your affiliate income. It involves using existing social and other platforms to get the message out about your business.

Therefore, your links spread around the Internet. This is akin to getting extensive link exposure when you distribute your articles.

Viral marketing can involve sending out your eBook, brandable software, video clips, images, text messages, emails and such. The viral aspect comes from the spreading of your information. This can happen fast.

Consider an email, video, or text message you send with your link. Many people you send it to may forward it on to others. These people can then forward it on as well. That can add up to significant link distribution.

Guerilla Marketing

Guerilla marketing is a non-traditional way of promoting yourself. It involves creative marketing and requires an investment of time, energy, and imagination. Again, it’s the same as your quality content writing, which requires the same effort.

Guerilla marketing could involve you doing something as drastic as standing on a street corner in a “guerilla suit.” You have, in your hands, a host of product samples you’re giving out.

You’re attracting attention to yourself and your affiliate products. The point is, you’re engaging in an unconventional form of product promotion.

You can do guerilla marketing digitally as well. You send out unique, even wacky advertisements, ads, videos and such that startle.

The shock value provokes a reaction from your potential customers. Just go about it in a dignified, un-crass way so you don’t alienate your target market.

In Person Marketing

Talking, in person, to someone is still a great way to build your business. Take every opportunity to talk up your business, when and where appropriate. Someone you meet may need exactly what you’re promoting. They won’t know about it unless you tell them.

Consider numerous business events in your city or town. Your local business association may have various networking events throughout the year. Check a few out and talk about your business.

Meet up with others who work to promote various affiliate programs. Share tips and experiences. Let them know what you promote and you may secure a new downline member.

Blog Writing

Blog writing is a great way to keep your niche market current on your business. Blogs allow you to post information quickly. You can do this daily, even multiple times in a day. Provide useful information, of the quality you submit to an article submission service, and you build a following.

When you post on your blog, provide links to your affiliate parent’s site. Provide links back to your own website, where you can engage your readers further. You can offer product suggestions on your blog, as well as reviews.

You can then elaborate more on your website once people link back to it. You can offer product suggestions or additional helpful resources to your readers.

Explore the options available to you for building your affiliate business. Get writing and get that content ready for running multiple campaigns.

In addition, try other methods for building your business, in concert with article distribution using article marketing automation. Together, they generate that relevant traffic to your website that converts to customers.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His service provides quality reviews for article marketing automation programs. Read review of Content Crooner.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Since people are more likely to buy from people they know or through referrals, you need to transcend the stranger threshold. Ultimately, the Web is faceless—avatars are cute and profile photos may show prospects your physical face, but they don’t show the true face of your business. You need to inject a personal touch into your business to increase sales. Article marketing provides a unique platform for establishing sales-inciting intimacy. Automated article distribution insures a steady stream of information and communication between you and your prospects and clients. This enables them to continuously learn more about you and how you can help them with their challenges and dreams.

In order to survive in today’s highly competitive marketplace your business must be three-dimensional. An automated article distribution service creates a three-dimensional environment through the regular provision of useful information and value-based content. It provides you with the opportunity to tell your prospects more about yourself and your employees. Get personal! Tell them your dreams, what you’d like to accomplish…your favorite color. Don’t worry—you can still maintain professionalism while sharing your personal side. These elements work together to put your prospects at ease. It establishes a sense of community and makes them feel connected. This is an ideal sales environment.

Regardless of how motivated you are to make money you should never let the almighty dollar blind you. Treat your prospects like your neighbors, offering help whenever possible. People are more likely to spend money with you when they perceive genuine compassion. As part of that, make an effort to actually get to know your prospects and clients. Take notes! Write birthdays down, take note of what they tell you about their family, record insights to their dreams and other such issues. Reference these notes later to ask them about issues they hold dear—show you care. And how thrilled will prospects be when they see their birthday or their kid’s latest sports accomplishment mentioned in your next article?

Maintaining a personal touch encourages your prospects and clients to confide in you. This helps you better understand their needs, which allows you to provide them with the most appropriate solution possible and achieve increased customer satisfaction. Plus, it promotes a more relaxed business environment which lends itself to you having more fun!

In addition, establishing a personal side to your business is ideal for older generations and Web skeptics. Although trends show more people above the age of 65 are now using computers, they’re still hesitant to submit personal information such as credit card numbers. Similarly, even younger audiences still approach the Web with extreme caution. Unfortunately, this skepticism is all too often justified. There are countless unscrupulous entities online that spawn new scams on a daily basis. Frequently providing people with helpful content legitimizes your company not only by providing useful information, but simply by showing that you’ve made an effort. Online scammers usually come in the form of fly-by-night schemes and rarely ever make a concerted effort to fully disguise their evil. The sheer fact that you’re taking the time to write and distribute helpful articles automatically separates you from black-hatters and con artists—a true credibility booster!

Frequent article distribution prevents clients from experiencing a hollow feeling after their purchase. It’s not uncommon for consumers to feel put off by the usual one-and-done sales method. Instead, maintaining continuous contact and a personal touch with your business will promote greater confidence in their purchase of your product or service. Why should you care after the sale is made? For one, it supports greater customer satisfaction which improves repeat business and client retention. It also makes your clients more likely to refer your business.

To your success,

Andrew Rossillo

Andrew Rossillo is Content Crooner’s Marketing Blogger and Staff Writer. He’s ready to put his years of copywriting and online marketing experience to work for your business—he’ll help you get noticed!

Of course, other major elements make up this kind of marketing as well. All together, they work to ensure you receive maximum exposure for your writing. That leads to relevant backlinks to your website where you promote affiliate products.

The following are seven features of a good service:

1. Have a Huge List of Quality Publishers

A quality content distribution service works to secure and maintain a large list of good publishers. They align themselves with publishers across all disciplines. In this way, they present choice to you.

As a content producer, you write on a variety of topics. Each topic relates to a specific affiliate product you promote. Therefore, you need the availability of many publishers of diverse niches. You submit your work on a regular basis and get useful information to readers of those publications. This builds your reputation as someone knowledgeable in a certain field.

2. Offer Writing Resources

Whether you’re new to content producing, or experienced, it’s nice to have resources that help your writing. A good article submission site offers a best practices guide to their membership. This guide sets forth the style, format and other requirements of the Web’s top publishers. Following the tips in this guide expedites the publishing of your work.

A quality service also provides live editors who go over your pieces. Experienced in the article marketing discipline, they give expert advice on how to make your writing better.

3. Charge One Upfront Fee, Once, in a Subscription Period

A premier service doesn’t charge you per submission. They have a monthly, yearly, or lifetime membership plan. They tell you upfront exactly what they charge you for each. They don’t tack on additional fees; they don’t surprise you with other ‘administration’ fees and the like. You pay once and then don’t pay again until it’s time to renew.

4. Allow You Endless Submissions in a Subscription Period

A quality content distribution service encourages productivity. They charge the aforementioned one time fee for a subscription period and allow unlimited submissions. They don’t cap how many pieces you can submit.

Unlimited submissions are conducive to running multiple campaigns. That truly is a way to garner exposure for your business. Unlimited submissions are also conducive to staying within your affiliate marketing budget. The more you write and submit, the less it costs per submission to get your links coursing around the Web.

5. Helps You Utilize Social Media

The new social media sites are all the rage today. Love them or hate them, you probably need to use some of them to promote your business. Upon distribution of your writing, a quality service allows you to promote it through your social networking accounts.

They facilitate this via the user-friendly links they provide from your author account. Therefore, you instantly update others that you have a new piece published on a certain topic. That drives traffic to your article and subsequently from it to your website.

6. Offer Detailed Distribution and Exposure Reports

You need to know if your writing is paying off for you. Distribution and exposure reports let you know who is publishing what, concerning your work. You soon learn what’s resonating with publishers and readers.

Knowing what topics publishers and readers like helps you focus your efforts for your next campaign. Unpopular article topics mean focusing in another direction for your next efforts. These reports help you fine-tune your writing for success.

7. Offer Automation for “Always Happening” Distribution

A quality content distribution service encourages affiliate marketers to streamline their businesses. They enable them to go on autopilot through scheduling distribution of their work ahead of time. A writer can schedule distribution for up to one year in advance.

This makes running a business more efficient. Not having to schedule time each week for distribution activities means more time for other marketing. Time to engage in a variety of marketing activities means more chances to build multiple streams of affiliate income.

Explore what article marketing can do for you as a promoter of affiliate programs. Look for a service that offers article distribution using article marketing automation. Make sure they offer the other features as well. Then get to work using those features to build good income streams for years to come.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His service provides quality reviews for article marketing automation programs. Read review of Content Crooner.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

If business was easy then we’d all be rich. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we try to run successful businesses things can go awfully wrong in the blink of an eye. Perhaps one of the computer processors you sell caused thousands of businesses to crash, but it turns out that the factory you outsourced your design to is the one to blame. You’ll need massive fire control to prevent your company from taking the blame — use your marketing to extinguish the sales-killing flames.

Your Website Isn’t Enough

Don’t expect your website to provide sufficient fire control. Nowadays, with all the new social media tools popping up, people rarely get their information directly from the source. The truth is that there’s an extremely slim chance that Internet users will consult with your website in order to validate the nasty claims against your company. Besides, it’s like believing a four-year-old child that they didn’t dip into the cookie jar when they’ve got cookie crumbs on their face. No matter how well your website content is worded, it will always maintain a certain feeling of propaganda. Internet users are much likelier to believe auxiliary marketing pieces than your website.

You must take swift and mobile action against damaging claims — your website is static and can’t maintain sufficient spin control.

Anti-arsonist Article Submissions

Among the best auxiliary marketing pieces you can arm your business with are high-exposure article submissions. Submitting a series of articles grants a simple and cost-effective way to smother these nasty fires as soon as they break out. You can easily execute an article blast that goes out all over the Web as well as to specific recipients that you designate. This content-rich platform supports a double-prong approach, allowing you to both explain away the claims made against your company as well as provide supporting information as to why you’re actually one of the most solid companies out there.

Fight Fire with Fire

There’s a solid chance that part of the damage being done to your company is through various social media tools. Fight fire with fire by using social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook. If these social media tools are being used to talk trash about your company then use the same platforms to correct the damaging misconceptions out there. Caveat: Hold your head high and address these misconceptions and bad-mouthing with patient, thorough and information-based responses — do not get sucked into the fray or you will only damage your company’s image further!

Another benefit to making use of such tools is that they often feature an application that connects your social media content to your website and other marketing pieces (E.g. Your Twitter.com account > Settings > Connections). This delivers simultaneous updates to your website which can help save you from having to double your efforts and repeat the same message across platforms.

Blog Away the Blame

Blogs provide an excellent opportunity to share the real deal. Suppress the urge to include dozens of explanation points. Keep it simple and convey an honest and transparent response for comprehensive damage control. Remember, as the incorrectly accused, you should be considered innocent until proven guilty. Maintain integrity and poise in your marketing messages to garner the most belief from your audience.

To get the most out of this approach you’ll need to already have a steady blog established. No one’s going to believe your fire-control piece if it’s the first post your company has written. It will be immediately obvious that the blog was set up simply to put out a fire. Your message will be bolstered by the existence of a solid collection of previously written blogs, adding vital credibility to your fire-explanation post.

So get started right away! Go out there, create good content, and spread it far and wide!

To your success,

Andrew Rossillo

Andrew Rossillo is Content Crooner’s Marketing Blogger and Staff Writer. He’s ready to put his years of copywriting and online marketing experience to work for your business—he’ll help you get noticed!

We mean the other kind of buttons!
photo credit: ahisgett

Marketing plans often fall short of their goal because they failed to zero in on their prospects’ hot buttons.

Your marketing plan must establish finite targets before you launch your campaign. Get a lock on the factors that trigger emotional responses from your prospects and you’ll figure out how to best present your offer.

Bang on those hot buttons

Hot buttons go far beneath the surface. Your product or service is not what’s in question. It’s what they help your target audience accomplish. Look for alternate dimensions to your product to hone in on the best way to present it. Use article marketing to effectively hit hot buttons right on the head.

Hot buttons consist of fears, worries, goals, aspirations and basic needs. They are all directly tied to people’s emotions. Many types of marketing simply don’t have the right platform to thoroughly appeal to emotions. On the other hand, article marketing grants you the perfect opportunity to connect better with your audience. For one, articles automatically have a better chance of digging below a prospect’s surface, since article readers are naturally more attentive. If they’re taking enough time to read your full article, then you’ve got enough time to truly speak to them. Whereas, T.V., radio and online banner ads can only quickly shout at someone and hope for the best.

Start by conducting some market research first to get a lock on demographics (sex, race, age, income, geographical location) and psychographics (attitudes, personality, values, lifestyles and interests). Study these factors  to narrow down your target audience and understand which emotions to appeal to. Don’t try and sell convenience items to single-parent homes—they’re looking for supplemental income opportunities and products or services that will grant them some time freedom. Push the convenience factor with a more affluent audience instead.

Accurately targeted hot buttons create a eureka moment, helping your prospects discover the perfect solution for their needs. Figure out what keeps them up at night and they’ll thank you with their credit cards for the full-night’s sleep. The fun part about crafting these articles for your business is that you won’t necessarily address the actual needs of your prospects. Play to their emotions—get a reaction from their heart and their brain will automatically follow suit. Consumers put their wallets away instead of taking them out when they think with their brain and not with their heart!

Learn to hone in on your audience

One of the biggest benefits article marketing provides is the ability to try again. Even if your market research led you astray and you missed hitting your prospect’s hot button on the head, you can make multiple attempts through an automated series of articles. Track the links back to your site and you’ll know what’s working and what needs to be improved.

And if you just can’t seem to figure out what’s most important to your prospects, feel free to simply ask them. Directly sampling your target audience through tools such as online polls and e-mail questionnaires will provide you with some excellent insight. Provide them with incentives such as discounts on your products to encourage them to provide helpful feedback. This not only increases the quantity of responses it also encourages more direct sales!

Understanding hot buttons not only helps you bring in first-time buyers it also encourages brand loyalty. Among the platforms for building solid business relationships is the understanding of what makes your clients sad or happy, what they value and what motivates them. Automate your article distribution to build an ongoing relationship. Build up value over time and continuously provide them with points that they can use to assuage their hot buttons.

Human behavior is a deeply rooted, almost unchangeable element. Never try to change your prospects’ behaviors. Instead, put yourself in their shoes and adapt your marketing messages accordingly.

To your success,

Andrew Rossillo

Andrew Rossillo is Content Crooner’s Marketing Blogger and Staff Writer. He’s ready to put his years of copywriting and online marketing experience to work for your business—he’ll help you get noticed!

photo credit: aurevoirkatie

Classic sales tips dictate that a confused mind never buys. Prospects require a mind clear of doubt before they’ll reach for their wallet. Why purchase a product or service if you have any residual reservations about it?

With the sheer quantity of services and products readily available on the Web there’s no reason why people should buy from you if they’re confused about your offer. Sales come through the path of least resistance!

Write informative article submissions regarding your product or service to wipe away doubt and clear people’s minds for a smooth purchasing process.

Understand your audience

The first thing you need to do is comprehensively identify your target audience. Every successful marketing plan is founded on thorough market research. Carefully consider exactly who you’re trying to appeal to and adapt your tone accordingly. Studying key demographics will help you do this. The most common demographic factors include sex, race, age, income, disabilities, employment, education level, mobility (vehicle ownership), home ownership, and geographical location. Add extra strength to your marketing approach by studying behavioral variables such as usage rate and loyalty.

“Firmographics” may sound like a big word, but it’s just about studying businesses instead of people. If you’re selling to other companies, understanding firmographic variables such as industry, seniority and functionals area relating to the characteristics of an organization create even more poignancy for your marketing plan. Firmographic factors include industry, employee size, revenue size, number of locations and geographic location of headquarters.

Once you’ve identified your key demographics and firmographics, take it a step further and develop your key psychographic values. This is just another big-sounding word that is just about knowing what makes people tick – things related to attitudes, personality, values, lifestyles and interests.

See the other point of view

Complement this approach by adopting your prospect’s perspective. What issues do they want to resolve?  Explain to your audience how your product will benefit them. What questions need answering? Use an automated article system to give them a continuous stream of useful content to provide those answers. What are their dreams? Share your service’s ability to help them excel. Their biggest fears? Let them know that your business provides a constant support network.

Fail to extend your thoughts beyond the immediate features of your product or service and you‘ll leave your prospects confused as to how your offer will directly help them. Address their most important issues and you’ll efface doubts and confusion, giving them the go-ahead to buy from you.

And you may be thinking that your complex product or service requires complex terms and explanations—not true! When in doubt, apply the K.I.S.S. rule (keep it simple and stupid). Use straightforward language and you’ll eliminate points of confusion about your offer.

Avoid the urge to discuss all of your product or service’s features and benefits at one time. The best approach is to break your offer down into manageable chunks. These chunks of information and value are easier to process and will not overwhelm your prospects. Article writing grants you the opportunity to introduce new value points in controlled stages. You will gradually build value while insuring that your prospect has mastered a feature/chunk before you move on to the next point.

Are you excited about your product or service? Great! Just make sure you’re not too excited. This can cause you to get swept away and relate the details of your offer in a very confusing and whirlwind manner. Excitement can be a great catalyst for writing your business articles if you harness it. And remember: always take a step back from your article after you’ve written it and revisit it later to see if you need to tone it down in spots.

To your success,

Andrew Rossillo

Andrew Rossillo is Content Crooner’s Marketing Blogger and Staff Writer. He’s ready to put his years of copywriting and online marketing experience to work for your business—he’ll help you get noticed!