2. 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.
3. 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!
4. 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!
6. 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is obsolete.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!
8. 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.
10. 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.
12. 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.
14. 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.
16. 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.
18. 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.
20. 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.
22. 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.
24. 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.
26. 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.
28. 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.
30. 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.
32. 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.
33. 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?
34. 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!
35. (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.
