By Jay Harmish
Since you are reading this, it is pretty clear that you are already aware of the popularity and prospective value of information based marketing. It’s so popular that there are more than enough articles on the Web to keep the average person reading for several lifetimes, even without taking time out for a coffee break.
However, there has been a basic fact that many aspiring writing marketers have fallen prey to avoiding, and it is this: effective marketing involves more than putting a bunch of words together in an article format, throwing your link up, and waiting for the big bucks to roll in. If that’s your mindset, you’ve got a rocky road ahead of you. But don’t despair, because if you’re open to the idea that your strategy up to now is not going to take you to Millionaire Avenue, and you’re willing to reconsider and restructure your approach, chances are pretty good that success will not elude you.
Here is something you need to make yourself aware of, if you’re not already: the reason you write is to inform people. People are not jumping fences to find resource boxes with links they can click on just so your bank account balance will hit the high digits. No one cares about that – except you, of course.
But here’s the secret that will change it all for you (a secret to many, and only a relatively select few top-quality writers out there have a handle on this): Remember “The Golden Rule.” Ask yourself this question: “Why would I read an article?” Once you come up with the honest answer to that question, your entire perspective of writing will change. That’s right, you’re not the only one who reads articles to learn something valuable. People are in it for themselves. However, as a writer, you have to remember that and create content that is for others, not for you… and certainly not with the primary focus on your making money.
Write from the heart and the rest will follow. If you write an article while your first and foremost reason is to get people to click on that resource box, then it’s almost inevitable that the quality of your article will suffer at least to some extent. So, that said, get into what you’re writing and have a passion for it. Keep in mind that not a person in the world is interested in giving you a buck if you’re not willing to give something worth more than that buck in return.
When it comes to submitting your articles to article directories, you’ll notice that guidelines are set in place. They are there for a reason. They’re not there to make your life difficult. Remember, directories need you to thrive, too, and when you really think about it, they put those guidelines in play to help you maintain the integrity of your content and, ultimately, your reputation as well as theirs. More important than any of that, the reader enjoys a quality experience.
Now, here’s the real secret to effectively dealing with article directory submissions: don’t “try” to fall within guidelines. Does that seem contradictory? It’s not in the least bit. Consider this. If you honestly write for the benefit of your readers, you will naturally adhere to guidelines. You won’t have to go crazy with keywords, conforming to rules, etc. In short, write with integrity and everything falls into place. Don’t act with an intention to “trick” anyone. Again, treat others as you would want to be treated. Write as if you were writing for a reader who is looking for the same quality that you would be.
There is no way around this, and that’s a good thing. When you truly act from a standpoint of integrity, everyone wins. That includes your readers (most important), you and the directory that you are submitting to. When it’s a win/win/win situation, there’s only room for success. Yes, that includes the results that you ultimately want. So, it’s a bit of a paradox, isn’t it? Don’t be focused on your rewards and you’ll get them. As you act as your own judge regarding all of this, here’s a promise: you can try all the marketing tactics in the world, but nothing will bring home the bacon that good, clean, public-serving intentions will. You can take that to the bank. It’s one deposit whose interest will accumulate quite rapidly – and at a very high rate of return.
Jay Harmish is a marketing and writing enthusiast who acts as senior editor for [http://www.articlesahoy.com]ArticlesAhoy.com, an article directory that focuses on providing quality reading and content for all.
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