Writing for the Internet - How to Market Yourself on the Web

Writing articles for online newsletters and websites can be a low cost, effective and powerful way of marketing yourself to new clients.

Writing for the Web, however, is quite different from writing for other formats. For example readers tend to scan texts more. Often one search can uncover a number of relevant or not relevant articles instantly. The reader must then sift through and find the appropriate ones quickly, offering little time to actually read your article unless it passes the initial scan.

If you want to make the most of the opportunities the Internet provides, here are 12 tips on writing articles for the net:

1. Turn your knowledge into articles.

Take your unique experiences and ideas as an expert in your field and turn them into at least 10 articles. Brainstorm 10 different topics you could confidently speak or write about based on your hard won knowledge. These topics may not be related but will give you a better idea on areas you are confident on writing on.

2. Start with an informal outline of the main points.

The hardest thing about writing articles for the net is getting started! Use a blank piece of paper and a mindmap to work out key themes and points. Add detail later. Sometimes several articles will come from one brainstorm as you identify linking themes or different angles to take on a subject.

3. Research websites.

Look for websites or e-newsletters that are content hungry and will publish articles by others. Target sites matching your target audience and tailor your article to suit that audience.

4. Clarify the logistics.

Contact the editor and clarify the length, style and how much promotional material you can use in your articles. Length will vary from 200 to 2,000 words, with between 400 and 800 words being most common. Often the editor will erase any information from your articles, promotional or otherwise, if it does not fall within the boundaries of the site. It is best to know your limits to avoid having articles taken apart by another party or not posted on the site at all.

5. Keep it short, keep it simple and keep it active.

Remember people don't read computer screens they scan them. Keep your writing style simple and active. Use an active rather than passive writing style. This all starts with the subject line. When a recipient or scanner sees your subject line, you will have their attention for about 2 seconds. Make every second count. After the heading use short sentences and bullet points to keep concepts simple.

6. Use a Dictaphone or voice recognition software.

If you are really busy, use a Dictaphone or other technology to get your thoughts down. I have found this a great way to get articles written during those times you are traditionally not very productive. Use a virtual assistant or ghost writer to actually write the article. Remember it is your ideas and experience readers want, they don't care how the ideas get from your head onto the computer screen. Focus on high value work.

7. Provide solid, practical advice.

Avoid waffle and useless, irrelevant information. Focus on practical tips and ideas. Use dot points and numbering. Make your article as easy to read as possible

8. Personalise.

Use personal stories, metaphors or examples to highlight key points. They make intangible ideas more real.

9. Customise.

Tailor your articles for key targets - for example engineers, scientists or accountants. This includes adapting language, using relevant examples and taking new angles on a subject so the market can relate to it.

10. Timing.

Timing is everything for news and e-newsletters are no different. Use news events or seasonal angles to make your material more relevant. For example we had great feedback from an article on goal setting in January because this is a great month for planning the year ahead.

11. Be proactive.

Always spend time writing articles. It is money well spent and far more credible than advertising.

12. Use links and provide contact details.

Always provide a link back to your website and summary details on your background and how people can contact you.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com

---

Article Queries That Sell

Queries are not written like business letters or emails; they are specifically designed to sell your articles.Every query should be:Written for the appropriate marketA fresh ideaSkilfully presentedWritten... Read More

Become An Expert

Everyone focuses their web marketing efforts on search engines, and while this is a large part of traffic generation, it's not the be all and end all... Read More

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

Determining keywords is a critical step in writing articles online for effective public relations strategy. If your articles, blog, eZine, or website do not contain related keywords,... Read More

Jump From Unknown to Widely Quoted in One Week

Start by Being QuotableIt's tough to stand out online. With millions of experts and websites on the Internet, what are your chances of getting noticed? Long odds,... Read More

Handling Rejection

Rejection is part of a writer's life. You must cope with it. Analyse it and learn from it.The reality is that you may never know why your... Read More

How Webmasters Can Become Experts and Write Expert Articles!

Write articles, be recognized as an expert, drive a surge of traffic to your website, increase your link popularity, create awareness - yes that is what all... Read More

Article Marketing Benefit - Surges in Web Traffic Over and Over Again From Article Writing

Writing dozens, hundreds or even thousands of articles and making them available for distribution is one of the best ways to ensure that your website gets surges... Read More

How to Write Money-Making How-To Reports

This is the "real" Money Maker in the Mail Order business the basic "How To" Report. It's something anyone can produce, and with all the proper ingredients... Read More

Branding, Control, and Results - Submit Articles in Your Own Name

Article distribution is currently booming on the internet. Authors do it for a number of reasons: It is a good way to be picked up by... Read More

Reaping The Amazing Benefits of Writing E-zine Articles

Marketing on a budget is tough. This is a universal truth that all small business owners face. The most effective small business frugal marketing strategy available is... Read More

Five Reasons You Should Write to Help Your Business

Most business owners are overwhelmed with the day to day running of their businesses that they dont have time to put into business promotion. I encourage you... Read More

Do You Know the 7 Essential Parts that Make Up a Resource Box

The Whole reason you write those articles is so you can get Your Resource Box Displayed. Do you know the 7 Essential parts every Resource Box should... Read More

The Best Advertisement For Your Business

It is no secret among internet marketers that writing articles is a great way to market your website. With all the article distribution services and all the... Read More

Writers Block Begone

Back when I was in college, I belonged to one of those professional associations for the video industry. (I was a student member.) The monthly newsletter had... Read More

Why Article Writing is Increasingly Important in This SPAM Era

There is no doubt that Spam has affected online business in a very big and negative way. So serious is the Spam problem today that many ISP... Read More

Creating Your Perfect Article Summary ? 7 Tips

What should be in your article summary? It's otherwise known as an abstract or article teaser. The purpose of your article summary is to entice a potential... Read More

Web Content Barn Blasted by Shotgun Software - Article Marketers

As we prepared to move our 12,000 article database from one server to another and make a serious business of it, instead of the formerly free service,... Read More

In Search Of Ideas For Articles

Finding something to write about can be frustrating for all writers from time to time.I have made a list of a few suggestions for those days when... Read More

Ten Top Tips for Writing Articles on the Internet

Online readers love information, but be sure your information is crisp, clean, clear and concise. Internet writing is different from print.1. Keep your paragraphs short, even a... Read More

Marketing Your Home Business in Just 30 Minutes a Week

It's all the rage. It's what everyone is talking about. It is unquestionably the most effective form of marketing available to home based business owners. It costs... Read More

What to Look for in an Article Submission Site

Ease of Submission With so many article distribution sites out there, it amazes me that some still require their submitters to jump through so many hoops. When... Read More

How To Write Best Articles

I've been able to distinguish 3 main categories that people fall into, regarding the subject on writing articles. Allow me to share them with you.Here we go!Category... Read More

Article Marketing

A revolutionary marketing device that I call article marketing I now will share with you. Now the sole question is can article marketing me? That depends on... Read More

How to Use Autoresponders With Your Articles

Now that you see that articles are the number one way to promote your business, think again about how people can get them even more efficiently.Knowing that... Read More

Article Writing Mistakes - 7 To Avoid

Making your articles available for reprints by other ezine publishers and webmasters is the cornerstone strategy in building an avalanche of pre-qualified visitors to your website.If you... 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 searches for the month of July 2005 itself. What this could actually mean is that a whole... Read More