Archive for July, 2008
7 Steps to Getting Published on Authority Sites
Posted by AC Editorial Team in Affiliate Marketing, Article Marketing Tuesday, 29 July 2008 06:40 21 Comments
Backlinks from authority sites not only mean better search engine placement, but super-high quality traffic. But how do you get published on authority sites? Follow these 7 steps to getting your articles published on authority sites.
1 – Search Google (and other engines) for your keywords. Authority sites will typically show up on the first two pages of results. Note down all the sites from which you’d like to get links, including the contact information of the webmaster. You’ll probably want to keep track of this in a spreadsheet.
2 – Determine the type of article each site prefers. Do they publish articles, news reports, reviews? Do they offer free white papers, case studies, or special reports? Do they have an opt-in exchange with industry ezines or newsletters? Your goal is to decide what types of copy they can use – so you can provide the copy in exchange for a link!
3 – Tailor your topics and titles to the sites. Once you have a good idea of what will appeal to the webmaster, come up with at least three focused, unique, and keyword-rich topics you can write about. Also write some catchy titles based on the titles you find on each authority site. Webmasters always want articles with eye-catching titles that include good keywords.
4 – Write some rough drafts. Skip the opening and closing paragraphs, and just jot down the points you’d like to cover in each article. Remember that ALL good articles – no matter what type they are – are tightly focused, and offer solutions in an easy-to-read, short paragraph format.
5 – Open a dialogue. Once you prepare your titles and draft your articles, start networking with those webmasters. Send them a personalized email that shows you’ve actually read their web site and understand the type of visitors they want. Include the titles of your articles, and ask if they’d like to publish them on their site.
If your articles are on an in-demand topic, with a tight focus, you should have no trouble getting them accepted by webmasters. If you’re offering a white paper, case study, or special report, give the title plus a synopsis of no more than three sentences.
6 – Offer custom content. It never hurts – especially if the authority site has high PR – to offer customized or exclusive articles just for that webmaster. Webmasters love free, non-duplicate content. Be sure you honor your agreement not to publish them elsewhere, including on your own site.
7 – Remember what an authority link is worth. Yes, it takes more time to develop unique articles – and to personally ask webmasters to publish them. But consider what it would cost to buy a link on an authority site, IF you can buy a link at all. The extra hour or two of your time can be worth many thousands of dollars in advertising costs, not to mention the increase in leads and business.
5 Point Strategy for Article Traffic in Tiny Niches
Posted by AC Editorial Team in Affiliate Marketing, Article Marketing, Free Traffic Monday, 28 July 2008 13:13 3 Comments
The traffic and backlink opportunities that come from writing articles can go beyond submitting to article directories. Let’s say you’re writing articles to establish your expertise in a tiny niche, such as technical knowledge of enterprise level software. The typical how-to article for an article directory is written for a more general audience, and probably won’t get you much traffic – or business.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t do article marketing. All you need to do is adjust your strategy from getting mass traffic to getting highly targeted, specialized traffic by:
1 – Writing the RIGHT type of article for your niche.
2 – Targeted both authority sites and article directories to get the maximum coverage.
Your goal is not to get your articles syndicated on thousands of mass market sites. Instead, you want to get links from high traffic, high PR sites that will turn YOUR site into an authority site in no time.
Let’s look at this strategy in more detail.
First, think carefully about the type of article that will attract eyeballs in your niche. Most articles fall into one of five basic categories: Trade/Specialty; Informational/How-to; News/Current Events; Creative; and Journal/Blog articles. To attract highly targeted traffic in a small niche, you’ll probably be writing Trade/Specialty articles.
Second, who is your business audience? Is it industry “insiders,” people who have spent their lives working with a particular industry or product, and who share a common technical language and jargon? Members of credentialed professions (doctors, lawyers, engineers, real estate agents, etc.)? Researchers, such as scientists or anthropologists? Hobbyists and collectors? Members of clubs, societies, and organizations?
Knowing who makes up the audience of specialists and enthusiasts in your field means you can tailor your articles to them – and that they will consider reprinting your articles on their sites.
Third, think of your articles as lead capture tools. If you’re targeting micro-niches, you want to convert every serious reader of your articles into a lead. So take a tip from those PPC marketers who also play in small niches – be sure to capture leads with an opt-in form, and then follow up with white papers, case studies, or downloadable reports.
Fourth, rewrite your specialty articles into press releases. Press releases give you access to an important group of online movers and shakers: journalists and reporters. Online reporters often publish on authority sites and high traffic blogs. So if you can get yourself quoted – and linked to – in online news stories.
Fifth, publish in the big article directories anyway! Never underestimate the value of publishing technical or specialty articles in general article directories. If the directory has a category that’s even remotely connected to your niche, you may be one of only a handful of contributors on that topic. You’ll still get all the benefits of the directory’s speedy indexing and a quality backlink – and every quality link helps.
The Week’s Top Affiliate Marketing News Stories (July 21, 2008)
Posted by Sarah Holland, AC Staff Writer in Affiliate Marketing, SEO, Website Development, Weekly eNewsletter Tuesday, 22 July 2008 17:40 No Comments
Affiliate Voice – A different take on the creation of an Affiliate Marketing Industry Association that hopes to work in tandem with the recently formed Performance Marketing Alliance.
New York Senate Votes to Repeal Amazon Tax – Find out the latest on the vote to repeal the Amazon Tax and what New York affiliates can to do take pro active political action.
Guide To Networking at Affiliate Summit 2008 East – Affiliate Summit is coming up in just a few weeks! Check out this guide to networking before you go.
Online SEO Tools – The Ultimate Collection – IF you are into search engine optimization don’t miss this ultimate collection of SEO tools available online.
.ME Domains Great But Not for Affiliate Marketing – Despite the rush to buy the new .me domains that went up for sale last week, they seem to be less than ideal for affiliate marketing – read on to find out why.
Article Marketing: The Human Factor
Posted by AC Editorial Team in Affiliate Marketing, Article Marketing Tuesday, 22 July 2008 11:31 1 Comment
One of the least appreciated benefits of articles is also one of the most obvious: articles send people, not just search engine spiders, to your site. So incoming links are not the only benefits you get from article marketing. These human elements are also at work when you submit articles to directories…
1 – Qualified traffic. Individuals who read and enjoy your articles will often send traffic your way, via reviews or creating links you didn’t need to ask for. Those are targeted visitors pre-disposed to consider your products and services.
2 – Reputation. Well researched, well written articles show off your expertise and inspire confidence in your visitors. That draws the kind of traffic that’s interested in what you have to say – and sell.
3 – Word of mouth. Automation helps, but the best source of the best kind of traffic is a recommendation from someone who likes your stuff. Articles help get the word out about what you offer, and a well done piece pre-disposes them to like it. Which leads us to another important human factor…
4 – Viral Marketing. You can recycle your articles into viral reports or ebooks for subscribers to your opt-in list. It’s easy to encourage others to pass along your report if it’s filled with quality content. In addition, many webmasters will be more likely to link to a download page that offers a quality free report on a relevant topic.
Of course, well-researched, well-written articles take time. You have to weigh the value of that effort against dozens of other pressing demands. To help mitigate that dilemma, if you have the funds, you can outsource some or all of the article writing chores.
But be careful. Writing well takes expertise and skill. It’s still your name and site that goes on the final article. Put your best foot forward. If you don’t, your articles may get you some links, but they won’t attract real visitors or help you convert them into buyers. In fact, poorly written articles can HURT conversions. After all, would YOU buy from someone whose articles don’t inspire confidence?
