This post is a continuation of the
article marketing article that was written last week. This article focuses on the article format itself.
As was already stated, you need to grab your reader’s attention, hold their interest, build their desire and then request they take action. Selling through the subtly of articles can be more effective than a sales page when done correctly.
The attention grabber is your headline. This serves two purposes. The first 3-4 words should be the keyword phrase you are targeting because your article will become searchable in the search engines AND in the article directory database if you are using these distribution channels. The rest of the headline is where you finish grabbing the reader’s attention. Make sure your headline is about 60 characters long or less including spaces. Search engines don’t like long headlines and many readers don’t either.
The first paragraph should quickly and clearly tell your reader what the article is about and how they’ll benefit by reading it. If it makes sense to do so, include the keyword phrase you are targeting in the first sentence and bold it.
Some sample headline formats are:
Gallstones Symptoms: The Causes
Head Lice: A Parental Nightmare That CAN End
Acne and How To Remove it Naturally
These 3 examples should tell you EXACTLY what the keyword phrase being targeted is and hopefully grab your attention enough to get you to stop and read the first paragraph.
If you’ve crafted the first paragraph well enough, you will have captured their interest enough to get them to continue reading the article.
The body of the article is where you deliver enough information to deliver on the promises of your headline and first paragraph while is subtly builds a desire to want to know more.
ALWAYS keep the focus of the article on them, their desires and their problem. You are using the article to try to show the reader you can help them find a solution. Avoid using I and me unless you are writing a review article and you still need to turn that back towards the reader as quickly as is possible.
The last paragraph is where you summarize your article and remind the reader that you’ve given them some useful information. If it’s possible and makes sense, try to end the last sentence with your keyword phrase and have it italicized.
The resource box is where you can put a link to additional information. This could be a blog post or web page that you have written that gives a little more information and directs them to a sales page, landing page with an opt in box or whatever action you want taken.
I know this seems like the long way around to get traffic to your website and it is BUT it is a method that generates highly targeted traffic.
Think about this: Your visitor first entered their keyword phrase in the search engine or article directory search box. They found your article and read it which inspired them enough to click on your link in the resource box. Once on your blog or web page, your reader again has the opportunity to go where you lead them or click away.
Writing informational pages that softly sell by informing and leading isn’t for everyone because you have to think about the problems you are trying to solve for your customers then write just enough useful and teasing information to make them hungry enough to take the next step.
You need a lot of articles with this type of marketing to generate much traffic but it is highly targeted and motivated traffic and when you do it well
article marketing is fun and rewarding.
