Friday, February 25, 2005

How to Market with Ezine Articles

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How to Market with Ezine Articles
© 2004 Charlie Page
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Of all the ways that people have invented to sell things
over the Internet, writing free articles to run in ezines is
perhaps the most effective. One great thing about this
method of marketing is that you can do it with NO money. So
if you are just starting your Internet marketing career, put
away the Visa and warm up that keyboard!

Article marketing may be the perfect way to market. It's
free to do. It educates prospects. It gets your message in
front of thousands of interested prospects you would NEVER
reach otherwise. It's viral. Best of all ... it works!

So what is "article marketing" and how can it impact your
world? Glad you asked. ;)

What we call "article marketing" is simply writing
informative articles and having those articles run in
ezines. If that sounds hard, it's not. Let's run the numbers
for a moment.

There are over 300,000 ezines out there. Estimates say that
over 90% of them use free articles in their ezines. That
means there is a HUGE market for your articles, no matter
what you want to write about.

We like to say it this way. From cat food to Katmandu,
there's an ezine out there for everyone. You included.

=====> The Big Picture

The first step is to understand the goal of article
marketing. The goal is to write an informative article and
have it run in as many TARGETED ezines as possible. When
people read the article they see your resource box at the
end of the article, click to your website and buy your
stuff. They learn something, you make money. Simple.

Notice the emphasis on targeted? Please, please, whatever
you do, do not waste an editors time with articles that they
don't need. One of the greatest things about the Directory
of Ezines is that you can use it to find the perfect ezines
for your articles ... fast. Use the DOE, but never spam
editors with articles they can't use.

;)

=====> How to Write the Article

You want to write an informative article about something you
know. Once you chose your subject, here's the magic formula
for writing the article. Five easy steps.

1. Be yourself. Don't try to write like anyone else. Let
your personality shine through.

2. Tell a story. People love to hear an interesting story.

3. Limit yourself to 600 words. This is an ideal length for
most ezines. Format your article to 65 characters per
line with a hard return at the end of each line.

4. Have a clear opening, make three or five points it the
middle, and have a brief conclusion.

5. THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Give the reader a few steps he
or she can take to make your idea work for them. Tell
them what to do first, second, third to accomplish the
task you are writing about.

If the reader can take ACTION based on what you wrote (just
like you can now apply this formula to your writing) you
will have delivered valuable information to them. Do that
and, hopefully, they will keep reading your stuff! ;)

=====> How to Find the Right Ezines

The absolute, 100% effective, surefire way to do this is to
use the Directory of Ezines. Sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

Look for ezines that have these three things. First, the
ezine content matches your article content. Second, the
ezine accepts articles. Third, the reader is someone who
would be a good customer for you. Once you nail down those
basics you have found the perfect market for your articles.

=====> How to Approach the Editor

The BEST way to approach an editor is this.

1. Subscribe to the ezine.
2. Read a few issues.
3. Write a personal note commenting on what you enjoyed
about the issues you read.
4. Offer your article as one that might fit in.
5. Ask to be informed if your article is run.
6. Thank them for their time.
7. Be available if they have questions.

If an editor chooses your article, the odds are they will
run your articles in the future as well. Stay in touch and
you can develop close relationships with literally hundreds
of editors. Remember that each editor represents thousands
of readers that you may never reach any other way. Also
remember that the editor is a busy person. Keep your email
brief.

=====> How to Maximize Your Return on Time Invested

Include a "resource box" at the end of the article. A
resource box is where you sell the reader on going to your
website, subscribing to your ezine, or taking any other
action you want them to take.

Marketing with ezine articles is truly a win-win-win
proposition. The publisher wins because he or she gets
great free articles. The reader wins because your article is
informative and tells them how to accomplish an important
task as easy as 1,2,3. You win because hundreds of thousands
of readers see your selling message at the end of your
article.

All of this with no out-of-pocket costs. Now THAT'S a
beautiful thing!

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Charlie Page owns the Directory of Ezines. Visit him on the
web today at http://www.directoryofezines.com

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

The Four Laws of Relationship Marketing

Success is working well with one customer at a time.
by Arnold Sanow

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By practicing Relationship Marketing we build loyalty and differentiate ourselves from all the competitive forces we face.

To keep from just becoming another commodity, follow the four laws of relationship marketing on a daily basis and watch your sales ... grow!


1. You’re not just closing a sale, but opening a relationship
Closing the sale is only the beginning of the sales process. We are all in business for the long term. The key to continued success is building a solid relationship with our current customers. These are our best customers. In fact, it is six times more expensive to get new customers than it is to persuade our already happy customers to use us again. In addition, if we keep in touch with our customers on a regular basis and treat them like gold our business from referrals will skyrocket.

2. People buy who you are, not what you do.
There are two ultimate reasons why people will want to work with you. It’s because they like you and they trust you. Your character, manners, kindness all play an important role for continued success in a service oriented business. In fact, in an article in USA today titled, "Americans are ruder than ever" it was pointed out that those companies who treated customers with kindness and respect were prospering.

3. You’re not selling, but solving problems.
Your sales success will grow when you take the time to listen to your customers wants and needs and then show them products and services that are best for them. By understanding the difference between features and benefits you will not only solve your customers’ problems, but also insure your success.

Features are about you and your product or service -- what it is.

Benefits are the specific results your product or service offers to your client or prospect -- what it does.

For example, when one travel agency manager understood I had a four-year-old child he immediately focused on resorts with kids programs. When he focused on the benefit of a children-only dinner and the fact that my wife and I could eat in peace, I was sold!

4. Develop "strategic" relationships.
By developing a niche in the travel industry, you can separate yourself from the crowd. For example, Aspen Travel of Jackson Hole, Wyoming tripled their sales in a couple of years by going from a general travel agency to a specialized agency that works with film production companies. Their relationships are so good that all their business is from referrals from one production company to another.


Success is working well with one customer at a time. As Joe Batten said, "Before you tell- ask, before you talk- listen, after you listen- relate, always show that you care. When you can translate that you care … people will want to do business - and then don’t let the details get in the way!"
Copyright © 2004 Arnold Sanow.


______________________________
Arnold Sanow, is a nationally renowned business/communications expert and author who speaks professionally. He works with his clients to provide them with the tools, techniques and solutions to improve and maximize individual and organizational performance.

Arnold has delivered over 2,500 paid presentations to more than 500 different types of companies and organizations. He was selected as "Outstanding Speaker of the Year" and "Best Program for the Year" for Meeting Planners International's Washington, D.C. chapter. He was also was chosen as the, "Outstanding Speaker of the Year" by his peers at the National Speakers Association DC chapter.

He is the author/co-author of 5 books to include, Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere... 8 keys to creating enduring connections with customers, co-workers ... even kids... Marketing Boot Camp and the Charisma Card Deck.

Visit Arnold at his website, here: www.arnoldsanow.com
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My favorite point: Become a problem solver!
See what I do to solve peoples prosperity problem trough using the internet:
http://www.getfreeinformation.com

Sunday, February 06, 2005

The Potential of Internet Income

THE POTENTIAL OF INTERNET INCOME
(SFI Internet Income Lesson #2)

In this lesson, you will learn the three factors which assure us of continued exponential Internet growth. These three factors are: Moore's Law, acceptance of digital environments, and convergence.

You will learn how these principles prove that Internet marketing will have exponential growth and exponential results for decades to come. You will learn how to best position yourself as a home-based entrepreneur to take advantage of the digital opportunities that lie ahead...

To read the rest of this lesson, sign up for free at http://getfreeinformation.com and register for SFI.