Get the best from your article submissions by polishing your web site first. Your web site plays an integral role in your article submission
strategy. If it isn't up to par, your article submission projects won't
produce much in the way of results.
To support your efforts in writing and submitting articles, you need a
solid workhorse, which is the job of your web site. It's not just for
looks, but rather serves the purpose of offering something of value to
your target audience and converting browsers to faithful readers, loyal
newsletter subscribers and committed buyers!
On the Internet, just like with bricks-n-mortar businesses, appearance
is critical. Use these strategies to elevate your web site giving it
literal curb appeal and improving your business, which translates to
more article acceptances and more exposure in your target market!
* Cut the Pomp and Circumstance
As with so many elements of the Internet, the use of a Splash Page
featuring fancy graphics and an Enter button is obsolete. Most people
find them irritating and won't even venture past this point to see the
rest of your web site, so delete your splash page now!
* Professionalism
If your web site looks the Internet Amateur Hour, you're probably
turning off prospects. Quality clients/customers won't do business with
you if your image is unprofessional. Make sure that pages are neat and
organized featuring content that's easily readable. Be consistent in
formatting from page-to-page to prevent a thrown-together look.
* Focus
Just like your articles, your web site needs focus. No business fills
every need for every consumer, so direct your web site to the
prospective clients/customers in your target market. Be clear about the
products/services you offer and engage prospects in your specific
market by catering to their needs exclusively and better than your
competition.
* Presence
Online businesses have to overcome the hurdle of not having
face-to-face contact with prospects. Make interaction with you a simple
process by providing a contact form, listing a phone number and
including an e-mail address on every page.
* Stick to Business
Does your web site look reflect you as a business professional or does
it blast prospects with a variety of hard-to-read fonts and excessive
graphics? Limit the number of fonts and colors used throughout your
site. Use graphics judiciously avoiding slow-loading designs that
frustrate prospects.
* Content
They call it king for a reason, so don't dethrone your efforts by
featuring the same old content. Give prospects and search engines, plus
your regular clients/customers, fresh content that fits your theme and
offers value to your target audience.
* Accentuate
Pay special attention to your Articles Page. Include reprint details
with your required guidelines above your articles. Use inviting
language in your guidelines encouraging publishers to take advantage of
your material. Make it convenient for publishers by listing articles
alphabetically by title and include a three-line description. Link
titles to the actual article page with offer versions in html, pdf and
text files.
* Courting Publishers
Publishers are very busy people, so make it easy for them to publish
your articles. Offer a separate publisher's only subscription notifying
them when you have a new article available.
* Show Your Smile
Potential clients want to know who you are. Include a photo on your
Article Page for publishers/editors to use when they reprint your
articles. Prospects also appreciate being able to actually see a person
because it makes doing business online much more personal.
* Call-to-Action
You're wasting time, effort and valuable space with web pages that
don't give clients/customers the opportunity to do business with you!
Each page, even your individual article pages, should always include a
call-to-action. Strut your stuff by offering prospects your newsletter
and/or subscriptions to your exclusive members-only offerings.
Streamline the process and gain more clients.
* Testimonials
Share client/customer testimonials with prospects instead of keeping
them to yourself. Add at least one testimonial per page including
article pages letting prospects know just how valuable others find your
products/services.
* Respect Clients/Customers
More than ever, people are concerned with the security of their private
information. Establish a clear privacy policy and publish it on your
web site and linking to it from each page.
* Guarantee It In Writing
Decide your return/refund policy before your web site goes live! No
matter how good your product or service is, at some point, you're going
to have an unsatisfied customer. Create a consistent refund policy up
front and update it immediately on your web site if you change it.
* Polish The Final Product
Grammatical mistakes like misspellings, improper punctuation, and
capitalization errors signal prospects that you're not attentive to
detail. Have someone proofread your entire site including your articles
to make sure all text is error-free.
So, what's your curb appeal? Your web site is your online office and
showroom. Does it make you look like a professional or more like an
amateur with a sideline hobby?
Remember, marketing with articles is about generating exposure.
Although publishers need articles they may not accept them if your site
is poorly designed, disorganized or filled with grammatical errors and
outdated content. Put your best foot forward to prospective publishers
and clients who come to you through your article submissions. If,
despite your best efforts, your web site still needs work consider
hiring a professional. You'll quickly recoup the cost of hiring an
expert with more sales and increased exposure!
(c) 2005, Davis Virtual Assistance. This article may be reproduced in
all venues so long as the content and by-line are reprinted intact and
all links are set live.
