If you want to increase your website traffic and improve your credibility in your niche then you should take a look at article marketing. It's a great way to drive traffic as long as you don't break the cardinal rule; you must submit high quality content for this strategy to work. Here are seven things you need to consider every time you sit down to write.
1. Prepare
A good article requires some research. Spend a little time surfing forums in your niche, reading blog posts and comments and reviewing sites like Yahoo Answers. Look out for problems that people have that you can show them how to solve in your article.
2. Produce
When you have your article idea you are ready to start writing. Your article needs to be well structured. In the introduction to the article you need to outline the problem for the reader. Then break the solution down into a series of short paragraphs; walk them through it step-by-step. Finally you need to summarise the solution.
3. Polish
When you're finished re-read your article. Does you article provide the reader with enough useful information to want them to take action, but lack the final piece of the puzzle. You need to spend time polishing your article. Make it shine. It has a specific purpose so make sure that it will achieve it.
4. Promote
Hopefully by this point your reader will be chomping at the bit to take action so now is the time to use your resource box to promote your offer. Give the reader what they want; a way that they can get the most out of the information you just gave them.
5. Proof
If you want to encourage your reader to trust you enough to take you up on your offer then you need to present high quality information to them. That means that spelling mistakes and grammatical errors are a no-no. Ask someone else to check the article for you, a second pair of eyes is sometimes required to spot any mistakes.
6. Publish
Now it's time to publish that article. Send it out to your favourite publishers. Submit it to the top article directories. Don't forget to send it onto your own prospects list too! There is no point spending time and effort writing a compelling article if you don't put it in front of any readers.
7. Profit
If you've covered all the bases that I've mentioned then you should start to profit when your article is published.
Now you can just take time to be proud of your accomplishments, before you write another article!