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The Secret To Successful Article
Promotion
© 2003 Karon Thackston
I wish I could count how many times I’ve been
asked the question, “Why aren’t my articles
pulling?” You created what you see as a masterpiece,
but the response just wasn’t what you expected.
Never fear! There are some common – but easily
overcome – mistakes that many writers make. Let’s
look at these problems, and their solutions.
Catch Their Attention
Do you know that most publishers receive dozens and
dozens of articles every single day? How do most of
them choose one or two from the pile? They start with
the title. Almost every publisher I’ve talked
with says they skim down the list of submissions looking
for a title that grabs their attention. If your article
doesn’t stand out in the crowd, you’ll most
likely be overlooked.
Stay Within the Boundaries
Ezine publishers and Web masters have a limited amount
of space to dedicate to articles. This is why they look
for pieces that are (generally) between 500 –
750 words long. Those articles that far exceed 750 words
are likely to be rejected. It could be that your article
makes some excellent points, but if you’ve gone
into the 850-1000 word range, chances are you’ll
never get any “ink.”
Stay Focused
Many articles simply try to cover too much. They start
with a title about creating a killer Web site, move
onto how PhotoShop uses layers to build graphics and
end up with an inside look at hosting. Pick one, specific
topic and stick to it.
Be Fresh
There are certain subjects that have just been “done
to death.” Here is a sampling: How To Drive Free
Traffic To Your Web Site, What To Look For In A Web
Host, The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes. Be original. If
you must write on one of these topics that you see almost
everywhere, take a new approach.
Singularity
Write to one person. In order to make a connection
with the reader, you have to be personal. If you were
talking to someone on the telephone, you wouldn’t
likely say, “Everyone, listen to what I’m
going to tell you.” You would use the words “you,”
“your,” “we,” etc. The one sentence
that makes me cringe is “For all of you reading
this article…”
Submit To LOTS Of Publishers
Just because one publisher or Web master didn’t
accept your article is no reason to abandon ship. Not
everyone has the same needs. Not everyone will use your
article right away. It takes time a patience to succeed
with article promotions.
Above all, don’t give up! It takes time for others
to get used to seeing your name before a level of trust
is built. Before you know it, your name and insights
will be highlighted in some of the top ezines on the
‘Net!
Make your articles work harder with your own ezine.
Karon’s latest e-book gives you over 70 free places
to promote your ezine and shows you how to create a
ewsletter that brings you more business. Article promotion
is covered, too! Discover how to create & promote
your own successful ezine today. THREE FREE BONUSES!
Click Here
Resources:
- Article Submission Sites
Most comprehensive database of article submission sites.
- Confessions Of An Ezine Writer
- The Complete Ezine Writer
- Viral Article Toolkit
Don't want to write an article yourself? This site offers business articles that you can "rebrand" with your own information. Note: There are some restrictions on how you are permitted to use these articles - check their web site for details, and contact them directly if you need clarification on whether any particular type of usage is allowed.
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