How can I market with articles if I can't write?

How Can I Market With Articles If I Can't Write?
By Bonnie Jo Davis

The shrewdest and most effective means of free advertising is
through providing interesting and relevant information to your
potential customers. You can do this easily by writing and
distributing free reprint articles at various web sites around
the 'net. There are literally thousands of e-zine and web site
publishers actively searching for the interesting and
informative articles you can craft in your area of expertise.
Targeting the audiences of these publishers is an essential
element of your cost-effective advertising and marketing strategy.

I am convinced that anyone with a web site can promote that web
site along with its business, products, and/or services by
implementing this basic marketing strategy. Sure, it sounds
simple enough, but what if you aren't confident in your writing
skills? Accurate written communication is the foundation of
this marketing maneuver.

Can you write?

My initial experience involved submitting articles written by
other people to publishers. I was so excited when I saw the
response generated by this technique that I decided to use it
when I began my own business.

One day I sat down with pen-in-hand attempting to begin writing
my own articles and spent the next half hour staring at the
blank sheet. In frustration, I eventually put down the pen and
walked away, later complaining to a friend that I hated to write.
I complained about lacking writing expertise and that my
qualifications basically amounted to the good grades I earned in
English classes long ago. My friend gently interrupted me
pointing out that I had been writing on a daily basis at work.
She also brought to my attention the fact that my education
provided me with the necessary skills to write competently and
effectively.

After kindly showing me the forest which I couldn't see for its
trees, my friend generously offered an incredible suggestion.
Her solution for my dilemma was that I should try begin again by
choosing a topic and then creating an outline representing the
points I wanted to cover about that topic in my article.
Choosing a topic would give me a foundation upon which to build
my article. Drafting an outline would allow me to address the
issues that I saw as pertinent and relevant to my topic.

I took her advice, narrowed my possible topics, and selected one
that I would reduce to writing. With that one topic in mind, I
proceeded to create a comprehensive outline on that blank piece
of paper. After completing my outline, I fleshed it out, added
stories to illustrate my points, and Voila... I had right there
before me a rough draft of my first article! That rough draft,
after being carefully proofed and polished, became an article
that was published in dozens of online publications. The
positive result of my effort was that my article netted me
thousands of web site visitors and rewarded me with a treasured
long-term client.

Can't get past the outline?

If you're absolutely certain you can't write there are at least
three options well worth considering. The first option is to
enroll in a writing class through your local university, adult
education program or on-line. A couple of on-line options
include Write101 Writing Tutorials at http://www.write101.
com/writewell.htm or Writers' Village University at
http://writersvillage.com/. Many local universities, community
colleges and adult education programs also offer on-line courses.

Your second option is to hire a ghostwriter. Most ghostwriters
will take your topic, conduct the research and write an article
for your review. Upon your approval of the article the
ghostwriter will add your by-line and release the article to you
for distribution. Offering research resources or providing an
outline for the ghostwriter to follow may reduce the
ghostwriter's fees. You can post your article project and take
bids from ghostwriters on-line at http://www.elance.com,
http://www.creativemoonlighter.com or you can seek a ghostwriter
using any search engine. You'll find various options that will
fit your budget. Freelance ghostwriters can negotiate regarding
their fees since they work for themselves and often offer
reduced rates to returning clients.

A third option also requires hiring a ghostwriter to write your
article and add your by-line but going further to enlist that
person to distribute the article for you. This is a convenient
and time-effective way to have the entire writing and
distribution project completed by the same individual. You can
review two companies that offer packaged services at
http://thephantomwriters.com/purchase/index.shtml and http://www.
marketingwords.com/ezinearticle.html.

Even if you honestly can't write you can certainly still educate
your target audience, earn loyalty and establish yourself as an
expert by using free reprint articles. You can invest a bit
more in your advertising and promotional efforts by taking a
writing course or hiring a ghostwriter. Whichever of the two
you may choose, you are making an investment that will be well-
returned many times over in beneficial results to both you and
your readers. Be willing to go the extra mile in establishing
your web site as the definitive choice of your targeted audience.
You'll be pleased with the rewards of your efforts.

Bonnie Jo Davis is an expert in using articles to marketing your
business, services and products. Visit http://www.
ArticlesThatSell.com/newsletter.htm to sign-up for a free
monthly newsletter to learn everything you need to know about
marketing with articles.

The author grants reprint permission to all venues so long as
the article is not used in spam and the copyright and by-line are
included intact.
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Contact Kathy on 020 88046181 mobile:07958 259 757 E-mail:bizopp@healthandbeautytowealth.co.uk

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