| The toughest part of article and blog marketing is | | | | relevant subject that would get your target |
| coming up with interesting topics to write about. | | | | market thinking about what you offer. For |
| Typically, the way you write up a publishable | | | | example, if you sell dog grooming supplies, write |
| article differs a bit from what you put on the | | | | about different breeds of dogs and the best |
| company's blog. Articles tend to be more | | | | matches of lifestyle and breed. People thinking |
| fact-based and educational, while blog posts | | | | about getting a new dog look for that type of |
| provide an opportunity for more of a personal, | | | | article...then they will be looking for the supplies |
| op-ed bent. In either case, you need something to | | | | you sell. If you sell tile flooring, publish articles |
| start with. Here are some ideas for each of these | | | | about the allergy problems carpet can cause. |
| writing tasks: | | | | If you sell business services, you may write |
| Topic Ideas for Articles | | | | articles about aspects of accounting or taxes that |
| The purpose of publishing online articles is two-fold | | | | are interesting to business owners - possibly even |
| - to increase the number of backlinks to your site | | | | the ones that you have dealt with. If a struggling |
| and to encourage potential customers to click | | | | entrepreneur is reading an accounting article by a |
| through to your business site. Thus, article topics | | | | small business expert who also happens to |
| should focus on what your potential clients want | | | | provide SEO services, they might well click |
| and need to know. | | | | through and continue reading... and realize they |
| Start with what you do and how you get it done. | | | | need those services too. |
| Break it down by product line, single service, or | | | | Include a tool on your website for potential |
| some step in the process. Explain why what you | | | | customers to ask questions. Very often, these |
| do is important, and how it benefits your | | | | questions will lead you to excellent article topics. |
| customer. Publishable articles typically must be at | | | | You get two benefits here -- the opportunity to |
| least 500 words (about 6 to 8 paragraphs) but | | | | interact directly with a potential customer by |
| rarely need to be much longer. This means that | | | | answering their question, and the ability to turn |
| you can write a separate article not only for each | | | | that answer into a general interest article. |
| product or service you offer, but for individual | | | | Topic Ideas for Blogs |
| features of each - what the feature is, what | | | | Blog topics, and posts, for that matter, are much |
| problem it solves or benefit it provides, why it's a | | | | easier to come up with. You can blog about your |
| great deal, and where to find them. Bam - 500 | | | | business, the industry, recent news, your |
| words. Do not sell in your article... save the sales | | | | customers... the list goes on and on. Every time |
| pitch for your resource box or the landing page | | | | you submit an article, bust out a quick blog with a |
| on your website. | | | | link to the article (on your own site, preferably). |
| For example, a hardwood floor retailer has | | | | Include a little opinion in your blogs, and ask for |
| started carrying a line of glues that have low | | | | responses from your readers. |
| VOCs. An article may compare standard glue to | | | | Sign up for newsfeeds related to your business |
| low VOC glues, explain the differences, explain | | | | and industry and jot down quick 150 to 300 word |
| why a low VOC product is a better choice and in | | | | response to the news. Feature an employee or |
| what situations, and how to identify a low VOC | | | | customer, promote community events that your |
| product. Then, in the resource box, the reader is | | | | business sponsors, evaluate the competition |
| directed to the landing page on their website that | | | | (professionally, of course). Because blog postings |
| provides more information on the new line of low | | | | can be so much shorter than published articles, |
| VOC glues and a way to contact their company | | | | they should be far easier to create and post. |
| to order. | | | | Keep the tone positive and professional, and keep |
| Once you have published an article for each | | | | the content interesting. Faithful blog followers |
| product and feature, you can always start over | | | | often become excellent reference -- they will |
| again. While you generally cannot submit the | | | | forward your link through their own blogs and |
| identical article twice, the odds are that writing a | | | | even through Twitter and Facebook, building your |
| fresh article on the same topic will end up with a | | | | traffic as they go. |
| different approach than the previous one. Any | | | | Just Keep Writing |
| time you add a new product or discover a new | | | | Whether you focus your efforts on articles or |
| benefit, be sure that idea goes on your article | | | | blogs, the key is to keep writing. The more you |
| topics list. | | | | write and publish, the easier it will be to do. You |
| Aside from products, services and features, | | | | will soon find yourself with more ideas than you |
| effective article topics include any tangentially | | | | need! |