5 Ways To Get Real Article Marketing Results
Posted by Dara Hannon on Wed, Jun 15, 2011
Everyone's talking about article content marketing. But, how do you cut through it all and find real ways to get article marketing results? With so much information on how to create effective article content, it's easy to be overwhelmed.
To make it simpler, here are five basics that most sources agrees gets article marketing results.
1. Real Content, Not Fluff
It's a simple fact. Every business is in business to make money or they won't exist for long. Therefore, when creating website content, it's easy to slip into the 'hard sell', loading your article with reasons why the reader should choose you.
Most people on the web are looking for information, not a commercial. If they wanted commercials, Netflix and Hulu would not be so popular. Therefore, make your articles informative about the subject, not your company. Once a customer sees you as a credible source, they'll keep coming back for information and for your product.
The fact is, article marketing success comes from people coming to your site first and staying there.
2. Tailor Your Article To Your Media
Did you know that most people do not read, they scan? Which means you have to grab their attention fast. Keep your title concise and specific so people know immediately why they should read your article.
Large blocks of text on a computer screen can seem intimidating. The words, also, can start to run together after awhile. Keep your paragraphs short, 3 to 5 sentences on average.
Another easy way to grab scanners' attention is lists. Lists are easy to take in at a glance. Adding bullet points or a list to your article makes it easier for a reader to get the important parts in less time which matches how a scanner wants their information. Why go somewhere else and read some long article which can take minutes when they can get the same amount of information from your list in seconds?
3. Think About Your Audience
The first step in any marketing plan is to know your target customer. Now that you know who you want to buy your product, you have to find them. Take time to look for blogs that target your industry with large followings or websites related to your field with large memberships.
Once you find where your audience hangs out, you can reach them. Leave comments on the blog or see about contributing content to the website. Do what you can to your name in front of that audience. Once they see you as a friendly credible source of information, they'll come to you with their questions and for their purchases.
4. Connect With Your Audience
People like to feel involved. In modern web culture, with the 
prevalence of tweets, Facebook messages and interactive iPhone apps, it's easier than ever for people to get involved and interact with stars, writers and even business owners than ever before. People like this feeling, as proven by Recensiekoning, a Dutch news site.
When Recensiekoning redid their website, they invited fans to participate. Within hours, they received more hits than they usually averaged in two weeks. The response was so great that it crashed the servers. By any standard, this equates to real article marketing results.
Therefore, when you post your articles, make sure that your readers can answer back. More importantly, pay attention to the answers. If someone asks a question or voices a concern, reply as quickly and helpfully as you can. The more the customers like and trust you, the more they'll rely on you and stay with you.
5. Reach More People
There are two ways people find your website anymore. One is through Google search which means you need to pay attention to search engine optimization. The previous hints help with this.
The other way people find you is through social media networking. Twitter and Facebook are how people share information and the trend seems to be growing. According to the Content Marketing Institute, Facebook weekly traffic even beats Google.
So, make sure you let your customers know when you have a new article up or a new sale. When they talk to you, respond so they're familiar with you. It's been a long held truth that people prefer the familiar to the new and scary.
These five tips will help you get real article marketing results by getting people to come to your website and stay.