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Are You Using Your "Secret" Marketing Weapon?
by Steve Slaunwhite
A few years ago, I wrote a 500-word article that has – directly or indirectly – generated more than $76,000 in business for me. That rivals many of the sales letters I've mailed over the years.
That simple article took me less than three hours to write. And, unlike a sales letter, I never had to invest in envelopes, postage, or expensive mailing lists to get it working for me; attracting great clients.
Now, I admit, the results I achieved from that particular article were higher than usual. However, overall, articles have generated far more business for me over the past few years than just about any other marketing technique I use. They work so well, in fact, that I've made them the cornerstone of my current marketing plan.
This isn't a revelation. Most successful freelancers and other independent professionals understand the power of "article marketing". Yet, strangely, many aspiring, and even some established, copywriters don't take advantage of this technique.
Why? I have no idea.
Do YOU write articles to help promote your copywriting services? If not, you should.
Think about it. You can write! It's your "secret" marketing weapon. Trust me, there are many, many self-employed professionals who envy you. They wish they had our way with words so they could write more articles to promote themselves and their businesses.
So, frankly, you'd be a fool not to leverage article marketing to the hilt.
Start today. You don't need a go-ahead from an editor. There are dozens of ways to publish and distribute an article to quickly spread the word about your services. Here are just a few ideas:
>> Send your article to ezines and websites that target your market. Online publishers often struggle to find great content. They'll want to hear from you.
>> Pitch your article to traditional magazines and newsletters. It's a little harder to get published in print, but don't let that stop you from trying.
>> Publish your article in your ezine or blog, or on your website. When potential clients visit your site, an article positions you as a knowledgeable expert.
>> Attach your article to quotes and proposals. I learned this technique by accident, and it works like a charm. In fact, I've discovered that sending a related article along with a quotation works better than attaching a writing sample!
>> Submit it to an article syndication site. There are dozens available. The article I mentioned earlier ("9 More Writing Tips for Successful Email Marketing') has been reprinted more than 100 times by website and ezine publishers, just because I submitted it for syndication!
>> Add your article to your portfolio. It makes a great sample. Not only does it demonstrate your expertise on the subject, it also showcases your writing prowess. And, remember, there are a lot of copywriting gigs that are editorial in nature, such as case studies and newsletters. It's not all sales letters, folks!
As you can see, there are many ways promote your services using articles. The ideas I list above are just a few.
Ready to get article marketing working for you? It takes a commitment. I suggest you put yourself on a schedule to write at least one article per month. Get each one published and distributed. Then watch your client base and reputation grow.
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