Glen Brugger

Article marketing is one of the best, most cost-effective ways to drive visitors to your site. You write articles about a subject you are an expert of, add a signature box that includes links back to your own site, post them to appropriate ezines and directories, and enjoy an increase in visitors.

Of course, you have to have something interesting to say. An article likening dust motes to nubby sweaters is not likely to garner much attention. At least, not any positive attention.

The best articles are those that share helpful information with readers. The internet, after all, is where the majority of us go for information. If you can deliver needed information to readers, they are likely to keep coming back for more. Even the best of information needs to be well-presented, well-written and interesting. Below are 6 red hot tips to help boost your readership.

1) Use Short Paragraphs

Many people simply skim their way through articles. Dense, heavy paragraphs are a turn-off to people who feel that they have to dig through all that prose to get to the one tid-bit of usable information. Yes, you are doing them a favor by giving them the information, but don’t make them have to work for it (they won’t appreciate you if you do).

Remember: you want people to read your articles. That means you have to deliver them they way they want to read them, not necessarily the way you want to write them.

2) Use Bullets and Numbers

(Like I am doing here). Bullets and numbers help to break down information into chunks or steps that readers can easily grasp. Further, they highlight the fact that each tip/idea/bit is important in its own right.

3) Use Sub-headings or Sub-Titles

Not all ezines and article directories will allow you to do this. When they do, however, take full advantage of them. Sub-headings allow you to highlight the most important information and to draw attention to it. Your sub-headings also let readers know when your information is taking a turn, or when you are introducing a new idea. Alerting readers to these changes allows them to keep up with you as they don’t have to pause to figure out why you’ve just switched subjects.

4) Choose an Attention-Grabbing, Keyword-Rich Title

Search engines attempt to figure out what an article is about by “reading” the title and then searching the article to make sure the article has delivered on the title. When the search engine is confident that it “knows” what the article is about, it ranks it higher than articles that it can’t clearly define.

So, for the search engines, it is important that your title contain the keywords people are likely to enter into a search engine when trying to find information. You’ll notice that this article‘s title begins with “Article Marketing Strategies.” That is my way of letting the search engines know exactly the sort of information they will find here.

Readers might appreciate knowing what this article is about, but people are a bit more emotional than search engine spiders. For that reason, it is always a good idea to appeal to reader emotions in the title as well.

5) Keep Readers Interested from Beginning to End

Don’t give it all away in the first paragraph and then fill the rest of your minimum-word-count with drivel. If your subject matter is so small that it only warrants one sentence or paragraph, then maybe it is not a good candidate for a full-length article. Or, maybe you can find another similar subject to compare or contrast your subject to.

Another way to keep readers interested is to beef up your articles with real life stories or anecdotes. People love to read about other people, so if you can inject some real life stories into your writing, even the most mundane subject can become interesting.

6) Use Facts and Figures When Appropriate

If you can bolster your article with facts and figures, do so. This not only gives readers useful, verifiable information, it establishes you as an authority on your chosen subject.

One of the most important things to remember about article marketing is that there are two people involved, each with his/her own needs and wishes. You, the writer, want to entice readers back to your site. Your reader, however, will only go to your site if he/she believes there is something there that he/she can benefit from. It is up to you to use your articles to convince readers that visiting your site can be beneficial for them. The way you do this is to make your articles as reader-friendly as possible

http://TheEssentialeBooker.com was created by college professor and professional writer, Kaete Mariaca, to teach writers of all levels how to successfully write, publish, market and sell profitable eBooks. Whether you write as a hobby or you’ve written a novel, she can teach you the new rules of publishing that allow you to take your work directly to your audience. Kaete is the author of “Opt-In Email: Build Your List & Make Money – Fast.” For a free download, please visit: http://www.yoursuccessmadesimple.com.

7200937 Reed Barton http://ezblog.jp/jomumford/