Freelance Article Marketing

April 11, 2008

photo credit: Frank-Bunny

As a freelancer, writing and posting articles is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to drive Website traffic. Not only do articles send people directly to your site, they’re an effective link popularity booster…a critical factor in search engine rankings.

The first step to effective article marketing is—obviously—writing good content. Even if you don’t have writing experience, it’s a skill you can develop through practice.

And, if you’re writing about your niche, you’ll have an easier time churning out words. At the outset, keep it as simple as possible. Be yourself, give straightforward advice, and write naturally.

(Some search engine optimization pundits have, regretfully, hammered at the keyword density issue, making beginners write like Frankenstein).

Make your headlines inviting but not false. There’s nothing worse than clicking on a link because a headline catches your attention only to be let down because the article has very little to do with the headline. Be creative but don’t lie.

The more attention you can grab with your headline, the more chances an article has of being published. Top copywriters spend more time developing the headline than actually writing the article itself.

Second, spend time crafting a resource box that encourages readers to click through to your site. Don’t go overboard with links—two is plenty. Limit a visitor’s options. Too many choices and they’ll click the other way.

Once you’ve written your article and resource box, the next step is distribution—primarily through article directories. Article directories are the easiest route to publishing online.

The top article directories, in terms of click through traffic and gained links, are…

1. EzineArticles.com
2. Amazines.com
3. ArticleDashboard.com
4. ArticlesFactory.com

Once you’ve submitted to these, find one or two niche directories to round out your distribution network.

By submitting to fewer directories, you’re maximizing your time. Remember the 80/20 rule? Well, 80% of your traffic will come from 20% of the article directories you submit to. The above four directories have shown, through personal observation, to drive the most consistent traffic.

Article marketing takes time. But, the traffic and links you gain from your writing will grow if you keep at it. Think of your efforts as a savings account. You start out small but eventually build a nice balance through consistent effort. Be patient, and your article marketing efforts will pay off…I guarantee it!

Related posts:

1. Simple Search Engine Marketing for Freelance Writers
2. Do it Yourself Freelance SEO
3. 4 Search Engine Marketing Tips for Freelance Writers

Posted in Freelance Marketing