Using Articles to Build List
How do you feel when you see one more web page in Google search
with your name on it? I am presently surprised every time Google
alert informs me that one more webpage with my name has been
indexed.
But why would Google index those pages? I remember submitting
just one page when my first website came into existence. Yet
Google search with my name will show up thousands of pages.
The reason is not difficult to find. It is because of my
articles which are published at numerous sites. This is one of
the privileges of being an author - free publicity for months
and years after the articles are submitted to just few ezines.
This and many other features make articles effective vehicles to
find opt-in leads. If you publish relevant and useful articles
on your website or blog, you can include a webform to collect
contact details of interested persons. This will ensure that
only those who have some interest in the subject of the articles
will seek further information.
When you submit articles to ezines, you have the option to add a
resource box. This is where you can tell the readers about
yourself and how they can get more information. Your articles
give you wide publicity, build up your credibility and help you
to establish yourself as an expert in the field. It is amazing
how your articles are picked up by so many different websites
and ezines and distributed with viral effect.
In any marketing effort it is easier to find eager customers
first and then offer suitable products which will satisfy their
expectations. Your articles can help you do just that. It will
first attract people, who are looking for information on
resolving their problems, concerns or desire. Those who want to
know more will ask for it and you get more people in your list.
You get a chance to contact your list repeatedly and try to
remove any apprehensions or doubts they may have about what you
have to offer. You need to sell yourself as much as your product
and again you accomplish this with your articles.
The "list" should be considered and treated as a list of
friends. You should try to connect to them at emotional level.
This is a crucial factor in building relationship. Your intent
is revealed by your writing. Therefore it is crucial to be
absolutely honest about the message you wish to convey.
The cost involved in using articles for advertisement is
negligible. Yet it is profoundly effective. Well written
articles full of content and useful information will help in
building your list as more subscribers join. Your writing should
be able to produce that anticipation by which your subscribers
will be looking forward to the next newsletter.
This is a step to make your list more responsive. As more people
find your articles interesting and relevant your conversion rate
is bound to increase. You know your subscribers, you know what
is bothering them and you offer solutions to them. They joined
your list for this reason in the first place. Retaining a list
is as important as building it. The longer your subscribers
remain loyal to you, the more they will trust you and they are
more likely to listen to your advice.
It would appear that there is a natural connection between
writing articles and building a list. The articles you see on
the net have characters of their own. They are presented in
conversational form as if someone is talking to you. This is
different from the articles your find in printed media where the
articles tend to be are more essay-type. This unique feature of
net-based articles makes them suitable for newsletters. Emails
are most common medium for maintaining contact with your list.
You are able to communicate to them at regular intervals and
gradually clear their apprehensions.
Once you have a growing list your aim should be to retain it for
lifetime. You and your list are bound by a common interest and
personal relationship. This is your most important asset - the
real earnings for your marketing efforts.
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Sanjay Johari contributes articles regularly to ezines. Grow
your list, make new friends and ensure your success in life:
http://www.sanjay-j.com/empowerism.html