Mike Paetzold Recommends » Articles

Your chance to be a beta tester

Mike Paetzold — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:46:26 +0000

Right now Jonathan Leger is looking for beta testers of his new Instant Article Wizard 3.0. Now Jonathan creates some great software and I have used both of the first two versions of Instant Article Wizard.

They have been very helpful in creating content easily. I am beta testing the new one and it totally blows the other versions away and I loved those.

You can sign up and beta test it for free (will need to register) and see how easy it is to create unique articles on virtually any subject or keyword.

Creating articles, whether for submission to directories or as content to the various Web 2.0 sites is something that you need to be doing. This is one of the few ways I have used that will allow you to generate high quality content easily.

Check out Instant Article Wizard 3.0

Try it out and see if you are as impressed with it as I am.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article creation, beta testers, great software, jonathan leger, quality content, submission

BRAND New – And Dirt Cheap!

Mike Paetzold — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:13:40 +0000

These days, no one sells low priced ebooks that are complete and provide real value.

Most of the time, it’s a disguised sales pitch for a more expensive back-end product… or an incomplete, half-baked semi-lesson that leaves you lost and wondering what to do next.

That’s why this comes as such a pleasant and refreshing surprise!

Dr.Mani’s new ebook, “The $100 a Day Article Blueprint” is neither fluff-filled junk, nor shallow theory. It is a FULL-BLOWN business model and system that you can take to
the bank!

In a short, concise, no-nonsense style, this powerful ebook teaches one way to build a business on the Web that can generate cash quickly – and scale to a very high level, if you simply follow the plan.

Now, it would be perfectly normal for such a guide to cost $47, or $67, maybe even $97. But it certainly is weird to see how cheap it is priced – especially when there is no hard-selling of a high-ticket course or add-on “must have” purchase to follow it!

If you’re looking for a well thought-out, simple, tested and proven plan that you can follow, one step after the other, to create your own income stream on the Internet, then grab your copy of “The $100 a Day Article Blueprint” before the price goes up!

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: $100 a day, article marketing, article marketing blueprint

Advanced Article Marketing Skills

Mike Paetzold — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:58:27 +0000

Now that you have a few articles under your belt and have a handle on basic techniques for promoting them, it’s time to take a step up and tackle some advanced skills. These activities will take your article marketing efforts to a whole new level:

1. Approach editors directly.

Once you’ve proven your ability to put out high-quality articles on a consistent basis, it’s time to see if you can bypass the middleman (the article directories) and provide regular content to a newsletter, blog, or website. Locate editors of publications or blogs in your niche. Pull together a short list (with links) to some of your favorite pieces that would be appropriate for their audience, and email them a short note introducing yourself, presenting the links to your material, and asking if they’d be interested in receiving regular, exclusive content from you for publication.

The benefit for them is that they know they can count on quality content that isn’t appearing elsewhere on the Internet; the benefit to you is that you can reach a target market on a regular basis, thereby compounding the “expert” effect.

My favorite resource that teaches this method can be found at:
Blog World Tour Guide

2. Include appropriate keywords.

Keywords are words or phrases that a potential reader would use in an online search engine to look for information on a specific topic. By using keywords, you have a greater chance of someone being linked to your article from an online search engine, thereby potentially increasing the traffic to your site.

The key to keywords (pun intended) is to think like your reader would think. For instance, if you want to draw people to your handmade greeting card site, you might want to include keywords and key phrases in your article and title such as:

greeting cards
greeting card use
sending greeting cards
occasions to send greeting cards
selecting greeting cards
handmade birthday cards
anniversary cards

While keywords are no guarantee that your article will become the number-one ranked link on Google, it will certainly help people find you in the vast wasteland of the Internet.

3. Re-use your articles in other media formats.

Once you have a group of targeted articles, re-use them by recording them as audio or video and releasing them online. Some people simply respond better to other forms of communication, so by providing a variety of media types, you expand your reach. It’s just another way you can connect with your target market in the way they prefer.

Article marketing is a rich and complex strategy for drawing your audience to your site. There are so many different ways to continue to market your articles that you could spend all your time finding new ways to leverage the work you’ve already created. The best part is, there’s something for everyone!

For step by step instructions on how to convert your articles to podcasts and videos quickly check out the Sunday Night Cash Plan.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, audience, editors, podcast, quality articles, target market, video

Offline Article Marketing Secrets

Mike Paetzold — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:46:39 +0000

While most people associate article marketing strictly with online promotion, you can get even more bang for your article buck by promoting your articles – and your business! – offline. Here’s how you can turn your online articles into offline marketing engines:

1. Submit articles to local papers and newsletters.
Many local newspapers, neighborhood associations or local organization newsletters will accept contributed articles. By submitting your articles on a hot and timely topic, you can increase your exposure and potentially gain new subscribers or customers.

To find local sources for your articles, you can do a simple Google search. Enter “CITY newspaper” or “CITY shopper” (quotes included) with CITY being your location, or nearest major metropolitan city, in the Google search bar. For instance, “Tallahassee newspaper” or “Seattle shopper”.

You are highly likely to find multiple small publications in your area. Don’t overlook neighborhood associations, as well as schools, daycares, gyms, community centers, churches, and clubs and organizations that create newsletters for their members. If their readership matches your target market, getting featured in these is free and can help you to grow your online business.

Make a list of publication names and contact information, and then either email them a link to your articles, or print out a copy and send it to their mailing address.

2. Share your content with associates and potential clients.
Print one of your favorite articles and mail it to prospective clients, business associates and others who might find the content useful. Include a sticky note that says “Thought you might find this helpful,” and sign your name. Be sure your website address or contact information and a business card are included as well. Then hand-address the envelope, include your name and return address, and drop it in the mail. If you make it a practice to send out a few every week, it can pay off in added readers, website visitors and customers.

3. Turn an article into a press release.
Newspapers are always looking for interesting news and stories they can use for their broadcast or print media. If your article has a strong news hook related to a recent event or season, you may be able to pitch a story as a press release. First, do some research to find out who your best contact at the newspaper is. For instance, if you’re a landscaping company, identify who covers home and garden, then read several of their past articles to observe what topics they cover. Next, email or call them. Introduce yourself and ask what type of stories and news releases they want to receive and how (via email, fax, phone or mail).

Once you know what the reporters are looking for, you can direct appropriate stories their way. If your article topic fits, format your article as a press release and send it to them as they requested. Keep in mind that reporters and newspapers receive hundreds of releases, many of which were written and sent by people who haven’t taken any time to get to know the reporters or what they are looking for. By doing your homework and developing a relationship with them, you stand a much higher chance of getting your information published.

4. Create print booklets of your articles.
Take a few of your favorite articles and compile them into a booklet.

Here’s how:

1.Lay out the articles in a word processing program (OpenOffice.org is free) or desktop publishing software.
2.Add an “About Us” page and contact information.
3.Include a free offer inside the book, if the reader joins your email list.
4.Print one sample booklet.
5.Copy the booklets at home or at your local print shop.

Then, it’s time to distribute the booklets.

Mail them to prospective clients.
Include them with all physical purchases.
Offer them as a free gift to subscribers.
Bring them to networking events and leave at information tables or booths.

There are many ways to use offline article marketing strategies to enhance your results. Be creative and search for new places to display articles and locate readers and subscribers. By offering them your well-written articles, you can establish yourself as a local expert and go-to person when they need your services or products.

Not sure you can do article marketing? Check out Easy Article Marketing course and get started today.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, local newspapers, local papers, neighborhood associations, organization newsletters, prospective clients, publication names, target market

What Makes Quality Content

Mike Paetzold — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:53:08 +0000

Whether you write about coin collecting or gardening, there are key ingredients that go into the creation of a good article. Providing quality content involves providing website visitors and readers with information they find useful and informative. While the details will vary, depending on your topic and article structure, there are some common ingredients of quality content:

Answer a question.
What answers are people in your niche market searching for? What are the frequently asked questions in your niche? Are there subject areas in your niche for which few articles have been written? Find out what readers in your niche are looking for and write articles that will answer those questions. Brainstorm a list of questions and topics. Providing the answers that readers (and potential buyers) are searching for will help to establish you as an expert who meets their needs.

Write clearly and accurately.
Minimizing – or eliminating – grammatical and spelling mistakes is essential to good, high-quality content. Before submitting any article for publication, run spell check and proofread it to catch any spelling and grammar issues. If possible, have another set of eyes look at the article to catch anything that you missed. Another tip is to read your work out loud to catch awkward phrasing or repetitions.

Include a compelling title.
If your title isn’t interesting, no one is ever going to get to your beautifully crafted article. Scan a few newsletters and blogs and see what articles and posts grab your attention. When in doubt, consider possible titles that include “5 Ways to…” or “10 Tips for…” Such titles always attract readers who expect short tidbits and quick reads for their time. Good titles require some effort, but since the title is the first thing potential readers see, it’s worth your time to craft a strong one!

Be concise.
Online readers prefer short articles, ideally those between 300 – 500 words. There’s a fine line between providing enough content to answer your reader’s quest for information while not providing such a long article that they don’t make it to the end to click on your resource box.

What makes quality content? It’s content that a reader is looking for, that answers questions, offers information a reader wants and promises more of the same if they click on your link. Quality content is what will attract visitors to your website and make your article marketing efforts work.

Want to write more articles faster? Check out 7 Minute Articles and increase your output and corresponding traffic.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, article structure, blogs, grammar issues, high quality, quality content, website visitors

What Kind of Articles Work Best?

Mike Paetzold — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:11:49 +0000

There are limitless topics that you could write about. But to make the biggest positive impact on your business, the articles that work the best are those that match the interests of your niche market.

If your business is selling information products to stay-at-home moms who want to start their own at-home business, then you want to write articles that demonstrate your expertise in that area. When those readers get to your resource box at the end of your article, they’ll click on the link expecting more of the same great content. Writing articles for dog lovers, for instance, when your target market is aspiring work-at-home moms just doesn’t make sense.

The best explanation I’ve ever heard of this was by Jimmy D. Brown who coined the term “useful but incomplete”. What he meant was that your articles should be “useful” to your target audience, but “incomplete” in that they should lead the reader hungrily to seek more information from you. They’ll turn to your resource box in search of more.

Quality is also a key ingredient to successful articles. While anyone can throw together a few sentences, combine a few paragraphs, paste on a resource box and call it an article, this slap-dash method is not likely to produce the results you desire. Quite simply, quality content is the key for any kind of success in article marketing.

Online article directories are filled with articles written by non-native language writers who don’t understand grammar or sentence structure, or by those who have simply copied what someone else wrote and plugged it into an article spinner without thought for the value of the finished article. Using such shoddy marketing methods will never help your article marketing efforts, and will likely brand you as unprofessional and harm your reputation as a business owner.

Most editors in search of content would rather find an expert on EzineArticles.com or LadyPens.com with 10 high-quality articles, than one with 500 junk articles. When editors and readers see junk articles, they assume that everything that person does is junk. Not a great way to build a business!

When you offer well-written, relevant content that helps your reader answer a question or gain new knowledge and understanding of a subject matter they’re interested in, you’ll establish yourself as an expert and advance your article marketing efforts and, ultimately, your business.

Want to write more articles faster? Check out 7 Minute Articles and increase your output and corresponding traffic.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, information products, niche market, quality articles, target audience, target market

Tracking Your Article Marketing Results

Mike Paetzold — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:42:51 +0000

When developing your article marketing campaign – or any marketing campaign for that matter – it’s a good idea to track your results to analyze what’s working and what’s not. Figuring out where you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck helps you maximize your results and minimize your investments. There are many affordable and easy-to-use tools to analyze your web site traffic statistics to give you a better picture of your results.

The easiest way to keep an eye on your article marketing efforts is through your web hosting stats. If you’re using a hosting company with a standard Cpanel, you can easily see where your traffic is coming from over time. If you’re using a company like HostGator.com, you’re already set. Just log into your Cpanel and click on Awstats to look around. The important stats to look at are “referring” traffic to see where your traffic is coming from.

Another free way to track your success is with Google Analytics at Google.com/analytics/. Google Analytics will help you determine where your visitors are coming from, which article directories are referring the most traffic, and which of your articles are paying off. Their easy-to use interface allows you to also track your sales and conversions from articles, test a variety of resource boxes, measure your site’s bounce rate and much more – all by installing a tracking code on your blog or website.

Google Analytics’ features are too many to list here, but suffice it to say the service will help you fully and completely analyze your website traffic so you know exactly how to tweak your article marketing efforts for better results. In addition, Google Analytics interfaces with other Google tools such as Adwords and WebOptimizer. Using Google Analytics in conjunction with your article marketing strategy may also help you increase the effectiveness of your Adwords campaigns.

The next step is knowing what to do with the information that you uncover with these two tools. The first thing is to find all the sites are already publishing your articles (by looking at the “referring” sites) and contact them to see if they’d like more of your content. Also, find out which of your articles seem to be the most popular based upon the amount of traffic you’re getting. Using these articles as guides, figure out what the commonalities are. Are they all on similar topics? Are they about the same length? Are their titles or resource boxes alike? Replicate what’s already working.

By figuring out what you’re already doing well, you can easily tweak your future efforts to be more and more successful over time. Just remember that gathering data is easy; putting it to good use is more complicated, but that’s where the results come from.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, awstats, cpanel, google tools, hosting company, marketing campaign, traffic statistics, web site traffic

Will Article Marketing Work For You?

Mike Paetzold — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:57:14 +0000

Article marketing is one of the most popular methods of promoting a business online. Not only is it easy and low-cost, it works and anyone can do it!

By writing articles on your areas of expertise and offering this content free of charge to online and offline publishers, you can:

spread the word to your target market
demonstrate your professional know-how
create a body of work that continues to “sell” you and your website long after the initial article creation

Other website owners, bloggers, and newsletter publishers are constantly looking for quality content to provide to their readers. You help them out by providing your well-written, targeted articles. In return they include a plug about you and your business, called the “author resource box,” at the bottom of the piece. The resource box includes a link to your site. So, they get free content, and you get free publicity. It’s a win-win!

You may be wondering if article marketing will work for your niche or industry. The short answer is yes! There are blogs and newsletters and ezines and websites on just about every topic under the sun, from accounting to Zoroastrianism.

Here’s a short list of businesses that can benefit from article marketing:

Service providers
Bloggers
Affiliate marketers
Ebook Authors
Infoproduct sellers
Online Store owners
Coaches and consultants
Realtors
Podcasters
Membership site owners
Authors
Speakers
Network marketers

In short, if you’re selling something or trying to drive traffic to your website or blog, article marketing is for you. It’s one of the most efficient ways to attract targeted visitors, to build trust among your readers, and to gain new customers or clients.

Here are some broad examples:

Bloggers can use article marketing to attract readers to their blogs and increase their subscriber base.

Webmasters can use article marketing to create valuable backlinks, and increase website traffic.

Writers can use article marketing to exhibit their writing skills, educate readers, and attract clients.

Hairstylists can use article marketing to share hair care tips, showcase their expertise, and attract business to their salons.

Dog trainers can use article marketing to share dog training lessons, and inform the public about the needs at a local shelter.

Whatever your passion, article marketing can benefit you and your business. When used correctly, it can successfully attract targeted traffic to your website or blog, grow your mailing list, help you become an expert in your field, build trust with your readers, make your website more popular, spread your name and website across the Web, add backlinks to your site, allow you to “advertise” free, brand yourself and your business, and generate sales.

As you can see, the benefits of article marketing are numerous.

Who can benefit from article marketing? You! And, it starts with just one article.

Not sure you can do article marketing? Check out Easy Article Marketing course and get started today.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, author resource, backlinks, bloggers, ebook authors, ezines, free publicity, initial article, marketing service, newsletter publishers

A Killer Resource Box – The Payoff For Your Effort

Mike Paetzold — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:08:11 +0000

Article directories clearly state that when reprinting an article, the resource box must remain intact including the link. The resource box is one of the most important pieces of your article marketing strategy. It is what will draw a person to your site, increase your traffic and ultimately your sales.

Your resource box should include enough information to pique readers’ interest, and have a strong call to action that will encourage them to click on your link for more information. No matter how good your article is, if your resource box does not compel the reader to visit your site and find out more, you have lost an opportunity to earn a customer.

Tips for writing an effective resource box:

1. Don’t start your resource box off with your bio.

This signals to the reader that your article is complete and that they can stop reading. Instead, begin with a question or statement that will entice them to read more. Example: “Want fourteen more ways to make money from home?”

2. Do not include a full bio.

Most people are not interested in your full bio or every degree and accolade you have received. In fact, most people will skim over it and you will lose their interest before they get to your link and call to action.

3. Include at least one link, more if allowed.

Look at the resource box guidelines for each directory to find out what you are allowed to include. Most allow one link, some two. Be sure to include as many links as you are allowed.

4. A strong call to action is an absolute requirement.

Include a statement which informs the reader what they will receive when they click on your link and how it will benefit their lives. For instance, “Download Joe’s free report today for more ways to make money in your sleep!”

5. Answer the burning question.

When crafting your resource box, consider the question all readers ask (if only subconsciously)… “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM).

6. Draft a different resource box to fit every article that you create.

If the article is about home improvement, then draft your resource box to tie into that with an appropriate offer and link. If the next article is specific to tool selection, steer your resource box in that direction. Start a file of resource boxes so you can add an appropriate one without recreating it each time.

The resource box is your opportunity to tell the reader what you have to offer and what they should do next. If you can show a reader what they will gain by clicking on your link, you’re almost guaranteed to build your website traffic with the articles you write.

Want to write more articles faster? Check out 7 Minute Articles and increase your output and corresponding traffic.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses PLR to enter various niches profitably.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, burning question, marketing strategy, resource box, traffic

Mike Paetzold Recommends » Articles

Your chance to be a beta tester

BRAND New – And Dirt Cheap!

Top 10 Article Directories

Advanced Article Marketing Skills

Offline Article Marketing Secrets

What Makes Quality Content

What Kind of Articles Work Best?

Tracking Your Article Marketing Results

Will Article Marketing Work For You?

A Killer Resource Box – The Payoff For Your Effort