How to Get Started Writing Articles for the Internet

By Susan Dunn
Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004

We all know how much promotion you can get writing articles for the Internet. Have you thought about it? Here's how to get started.

Writing articles for the Internet is one of the best ways to promote your practice and products. It works better than advertising and doesn’t cost a cent.

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

The most popular articles are "how to" articles, but you can also think "topical." Publishers look for articles relating to holidays, tax time, spring, etc. Work about 6 weeks ahead. A business coach will have things for readers at tax time, and a florist can make use of Valentine’s Day.

USE DIFFERENT ANGLES

Use different angles to reach different audiences.

My specialty is emotional intelligence and here are some of the different angles I've used: "Marketing with Emotional
Intelligence," (business), "How to Have an Emotionally
Intelligent Valentine's Day," (holiday), "Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child," (parents), "What is Emotional Intelligence?" (general), Managers with Emotional Intelligence Succeed," (management), "All Coaching is About Emotional Intelligence," (coaches).

HOW TO SUBMIT

Look on a search engine for submission sites.

You can start with (www.digital-women.com) for business-related articles. For general articles, try (www.ideamarketers.com) (self help, coaching, Internet marketing, web design, management, family, Christian themes).

Some sites require some html coding. You just need the basics, so go here: (www.web-source.net/html_codes_explorer1.htm) for a nice little primer.

Don't be intimidated. You can practice on (www.topten.org), where you write it out, submit it and see what it looks like then go back and correct if need be.

If the word count is needed look under “Tools.”

Another way to submit is yahoogroups. These you submit via email in a special format. The number of characters across each line must be 65 or less, including spaces. Use Notepad on your computer, or go (www.notepad.com) for a FREE program that allows you to format your text and also convert it to html.

Or format your article online (www.formatit.com).

Go to (http://groups.yahoo.com) to read about yahoogroups and how to join lists. You must join them the group in order to submit articles but it only takes a minute.

RESOURCE BOX

In exchange for all this free writing you do for editors and Web publishers, you get about 6 lines of copy at the bottom of your article where you can talk about yourself, what you do and what you have to sell. Use it for all its worth, and you'll find its well worth your time to write and submit articles on the Internet.

SHORTEN THE LEARNING CURVE

Work with a coach who does a lot of Internet writing. Paying for one informational phone session can cover a lot of territory, give you confidence, and get you going quickly. I often walk people through the different sites and software, show them the ropes, and get them jumpstarted with creative ideas.

LET SOMEONE WRITE ARTICLES FOR YOU

There are individuals who will ghost-write articles for you, and also individuals who offer article-writing services: (www.webstrategies.cc/articles.htm). The article goes out under their name, with citations to you and your products and services in the article and also in the byline (which must be kept as-is) and this amounts to 3rd-party endorsement, as well as allowing you to piggy-back on the reputation of a known Internet writer and be presented by someone who knows how to write for the Internet.

RESULTS?

Does it work? I have gotten 100% of my clients through articles I've written on the Internet!

About the Author
(c)Susan Dunn, Marketing Coach, (http://www.webstrategies.cc) . Let us help you write and launch your eBook online. Article-writing service, web strategies, press releases (national and international), all your Internet mearketing needs. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE eZine. Put "Checklist" for subject line.