The usual article format for a product usually goes like this: introduction, features, a sprinkling of sales copy and then a closing statement to encourage people to buy. But then what The reality is that one article alone isnt going to sweep the web and result in massive profits, especially if youre competing for inclusion in article directories amongst 100s of other people who might be writing about the same product. This is not to say that this isnt a good approach, because it does have its own benefits in reaching people who are specifically interested in the product.
But is that all there is to the story It seems kind of pointless to write another article basically recycling and rewording what youve already written because youre still just limiting yourself to the people who are looking for information about the product.
So what can a smart marketer do to get more exposure for the product and reach a wider audience
Simple - direct targeting by focusing on features. For every feature you have a new opportunity for an article which goes beyond the product itself, giving you a means of reaching every single person who is looking for something that does x and y. What youre doing really is creating for more traffic and sales channels by targeting peoples actual wants and needs. Because the direct targeting strategy tightly focuses on individuals seeking specific solutions instead of more broader targeted groups with a window shopping attitude, you are really increasing your chances of making sales significantly.
Now heres the catch! Once they find out the product not only does x and y, but a,b,c,d....etc. , they start to get excited. When you are able to exceed someones expectations and they know that they are getting more than they could have hoped for, youve got their attention in a big way. Even better if the product provides solutions to problems they didnt even know they had.
Example:
Lets say Annie is an affiliate of rss software which has the following features:
- downloads rss feeds from the web
- allows you to modify existing feeds
- feed website publishing wizard
- feed customizing tool
- submits your own feeds to feed directories
- converts feeds into different formats
- feed language translation tool
Annie then looks at each of these features and comes up with ideas for articles, like:
- how to modify rss feeds
- how to publish rss feeds on your website
- how to publish rss feeds on your blog
- how to customize feeds
- 10 Ways rss feeds can bring free publicity
- how benefits of submitting your feeds to directories
- How to translate feeds
- how to convert rss to html
- how to convert html to rss
- how to create rss feeds
- how to use feeds to promote your website
- how to find the best feeds
- 10 benefits of using feeds on your website
- etc.
The possibilities are endless for Annie. But she takes it a step further when she goes to Wordtracker to discover just what people are looking for in terms of rss software. This gives her even more highly targeted ideas for articles with often little competition in the search engines, giving her yet another advantage in reaching fresh buyers. Instead of just one article outlining a single product, shes got a dozen or more out there targeting peoples specific wants and needs. Her chances of having the articles picked up by other sources is dramatically increased and she now has even more opportunities for generating traffic and sales.
Way to go Annie!
Whether you choose to use Wordtracker or not is up to you, though doing some good keyword research using free tools can help you target your article ideas and optimize pages much better. Write enough related articles and you could compile them into an ebook or create an entire site based on them if the product sells well. But this strategy isnt just for affiliate marketers, it works just as well for your own products too.
Carole Nickerson has been a web developer and internet marketer since 1998. She now spends her days actively filling up her new blog with all she has learned. To find more like this visit:
Business can get expensive. If you are like most people starting an online business you may quickly find your savings tapped and your credit cards maxed. That is, unless you know how to market your online business for free - or nearly free.
There are many ways to market your business, but not all methods deliver the same results to every business. While you learn your way around the online business world it makes sense to start with the cheap or free methods of marketing before spending a lot of money on a system that will not work for you.
Here are three methods for marketing your business for little or no cost. Some will work better than others and some will take longer to show results. Find out the costs as well as the Pros and Cons of each method.
MARKETING METHOD ONE: TRAFFIC EXCHANGES
Traffic exchanges are very popular for new online businesses. They can be free or charge a monthly fee. The way they work is that each member views other members websites, usually for a specified period of time, to build credits. Their sites will then be displayed to other members depending on the number of websites they have viewed.
PRO: Usually free. Lots of traffic quickly. CON: Traffic is not targeted so usually works better for businesses that appeal to a wide audience. Viewing other members websites is time consuming.
MARKETING METHOD TWO: ONLINE FORUMS
Forums are online communities that discuss specific topics. There are forums (or discussion groups) on just about any topic you can think of. You can find these by doing a search for forum and your topic. Or you can go to Google and search the Groups for your key word or phrase. Forums are usually free to join.
Most forums do not allow commercial solicitations. The focus is on exchanging information. Be prepared to add useful comments to the discussion and follow the posted rules. You may be allowed to attach a signature to your comments. Put your website in the signature to attract the search engine spiders and send visitors to your site. Develop a reputation as an expert on your topic and give free advice when possible to build credibility.
PRO: Targeted traffic. Builds credibility CON: Have to be careful not to be labeled as spam. Must spend time answering questions and posting comments. Depending on where you post and what you say you may or may not see a lot of traffic initially.
MARKETING METHOD THREE: NEWSLETTERS
Start your own newsletter right away. While this does not bring traffic to your site it does take advantage of the visitors who do come. The code for collecting emails can often be obtained from your host provider for free or an autoresponder service which is free or paid depending on your service.
Have a place for visitors to enter their email address and name. Send them a free report or email once a week with tips or news about your topic. This will permit you to build a relationship with prospects as well as grant you permission to contact them again with your offer. It often takes up to seven contacts before a prospect will buy, so dont let them leave without getting their email!
PRO: Permits you to contact interested prospects again. Builds relationship with customers and potential customers. CON: Effort is needed to provide quality information on a regular basis. Does not attract new visitors.
Each of the marketing strategies outlined above are proven to work. What works best for you and your business will depend on various factors such as; what your business is, what time you can spend marketing and what information you can provide. Start using two or all three of these methods and you will be creating a solid marketing foundation for your business.
Copyright 2006 Sandra Le Vaguereze
Sandra Le Vaguereze is the webmaster of