Article Submissions and the Viral Effect

If you haven't tapped into the article submission world, then you're missing out on a supreme traffic treat (and some 5 Pillar commissions!).

Sites like ezinearticles.com and articlecity.com have a major online presence. They're visited by thousands of Webmasters each day looking for fresh Web site and e-zine content. There's outstanding traffic potential here, if you know how to work it.

Ezinearticles.com even has a nifty reporting tool that allows you to see how many views each article submission receives, as well as votes, comments on your article, etc.

Let's use it to grow your 5 Pillar business in a viral fashion. The effects can really be tremendous!

First, avoid the #1 mistake "Internet marketers" make. I mentioned this submission strategy to another affiliate and she immediately made the wrong assumption. She thought that she was supposed to write about Web site building and Internet marketing, and refer readers to the SBI! order page at the end of each article.

That would definitely be a B-B-B-AD idea.

Why? THREE reasons...

Reason #1) The best article submission Web sites do not allow you to include affiliate links in the body.

Reason #2) Articles on Web site building and Net marketing invariably end up sounding like "just another sales pitch for a product." No one likes getting hit over the head with a "disguised sales pitch"... Ouch!

Reason #3) The Web site and Internet Marketing related categories are heavily saturated AND cynical. Your articles get moved down the list quickly AND it's very hard to break through the noise and cynicism.

So what's a 5 Pillar Affiliate to do? Glad you asked...

When I submit an article on diet and exercise (related to my SBI! site) or motivation (related to my more hard-core Internet marketing site), for example, the "views" are much higher than they are for articles that I submit pertaining to Internet marketing or Web hosting.

So stay away from the crowded, over-pitched categories.

OK...

With this in mind, let me show you, step-by-step, how to use this technique to really grow YOUR 5 Pillar income, not to mention any other monetization technique you may be using.

Step-By-Step Application

Just last week, I was brainstorming a rather clever way to increase sign-ups for the 5 Pillar Program. (After all, that *IS* one of my tasks as Ken's newly appointed 5 Pillar Affiliate Manager.)

Instead of writing an article on Net marketing and then submitting it to the right category at ezinearticles.com, I browsed through the categories first...

http://www.ezinearticles.com/

The category of "Success" struck out at me. The 5 Pillar Program has always been synonymous with the word "success" so I began to think of a way I could work that angle into an article, and also tie in a nice plug for the program.

In other words, I started with the category and then wrote an article for it, rather than the other way around. Step #1 was underway.

In an hour, a new article titled "You're Already Successful, Silly" was born. TA DAAA!

You can view a copy of it here.

Notice the theme of the article.

Is it about building a Web site?

Nope.

Is it about Internet Marketing?

No way. Not even close.

It's an inspirational article that offers motivation and an alternative way of defining what success really means.

Notice at the end of the article how I tie in my own personal success story and mention that I've helped others find success on the Internet? That's Step #2.

Then in my sig file I keep the "success" theme going by inviting them to join a successful program like the 5 Pillar. And THAT is Step #3.

A week later, my "Success" article has received over 100 views. And at least 4 Webmasters have selected the "Ezine Publisher" button (see its icon to the right of my headline) in order to use my article in THEIR own e-zines.

Now think what would happen if you multiplied your efforts, submitting your article to several article sites, AND writing 3 unique articles per week. Imagine what that could do for your traffic over a period of time.

Article submissions are viral forms of advertising. As the number of people who use your articles increases, the more frequently your RR URL will be displayed.

The biggest take-home lesson of all?

Write a great article, the best possible. Do this and more Webmasters will pick it up and spread YOUR word for you.

OK... let's talk nitty-gritty about how this can work for *YOUR* 5 Pillar business.

Maybe you've been using article submission sites to promote your Web site. Did you ever think about using them to promote SiteSell products? It can definitely be done. The process is pure C-T-P-M.

The content (C) is your article -- make it good. The traffic (T) comes from submitting to multiple article sites. Over time, the viral effect kicks in as dozens of Webmasters use your content on their sites and e-zines.

The PREsell (P) comes into play as you offer useful advice to a target audience, using your own unique voice that will engage them. Then you monetize (M) by adding your RR URL in your sig file.

Here's an example...

Let's say you write a useful article about "wearing proper running shoes" and you submit it to the "Sports" category.

Dozens of athletes will see this article and benefit from your sound advice, and several fitness-related Webmasters will send it to thousands of their subscribers. Even though the topic is not related to building a business Web site, you can bet most of the readers have thought about starting their own business at one time or another.

In fact, a recent Harris survey tells us that 72% of them are thinking about starting an online business.

So in your sig file, say something like...

John Doe is a personal trainer and author of the popular JohnDoeFitness.com - a Web site born out of his passion. It offers tips to keep in shape. Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you'd like to write about. Discover how to turn it into a profitable Web site like John has. Visit http://passion.sitesell.com/YOUR_RR_URL.html to learn more.

Don't like your particular RR URL? This is a FABULOUS time to utilize Name Park It! (NPI!) so you can create a nice, concise URL (ex., yoursite.com). Then create a redirect from your NPI! domain, or a subdomain specifically for this, that goes to your RR URL.

And...

If you're *REALLY* feeling savvy, you can set up a Track It! URL that redirects from your Name Park It! domain to track the conversions. With Track It!, you can see just how well THIS little technique works!

Important! The article does NOT sell SBI!. In fact, it doesn't even mention it. It's offering useful information to people interested in fitness. In other words...

It PREsells you!

The sig file is very subtle, yet extremely effective -- particularly if your article offers useful information that turns you into a credible source on the subject.

And your article delivers two possible traffic sources...

Even if readers do not visit your RR URL from the article, if it's good, they'll take a peek at your Web site and read more of your helpful, informative content. As they browse your site, they may also see your "About Author" page that mentions how you built your site.

Yet *ANOTHER* opportunity to PREsell and then convert by referring visitors to an SBI! site.

Click - Click - kaChing!

Hang on, though. Before I continue, I want to make one thing clear...

Don't expect the article to sell tons of SBI! subscriptions all by itself. It probably won't. Most people may stay on your Web site and not click through to the sales site. However, writing articles helps build your credibility so when they do visit your site and stumble upon your SiteSell references, they'll be more open and willing to buy.

And, of course, they may also click on your Google AdSense ads or convert for other ways you monetize. The more income streams you have, the greater your chance to convert into dollars. As Ken has told me...

"Lisa, you don't want 5 Pillar Affiliates to promote only SBI!. If you can help a person become more successful online and if we are just a part of that success, it's pure WIN-WIN."

And I guess that's true. Look at my experience. And look at Allan Gardyne. Allan is THE affiliate guru, representing hundreds of programs. SiteSell has been his #1 earner for years, way above every other hot product that comes and goes.

But we're only a part of his business.

So...

If you happen to get an SBI! sale or two from the sig file... GREAT! If it's from the site, SUPER! And if this viral technique converts into other dollars, that is more than icing on the cake.

It IS the cake.

Other ways to use this technique...

SiteSell has other wonderful products. The free Masters Courses and the paid "Make Your ______ Sell" e-books offer other strong PREselling approaches for article-submitting.

For example, if you have a Web site on copyrighting, you can write an article for this category. Then in your sig file refer them to the *FREE* Netwriting Masters Course.

Let's wrap it up...

Article writing is beneficial for your Web site AND it's a great way to do some viral PREselling for your 5P business.

As you write your articles, remember...

Have fun and be creative!
Take extra time to develop a headline that will knock 'em dead and increase your click-throughs.
Examine other articles in your category of expertise and offer unique advice that OVERdelivers.
Stay away from overcrowded categories like Internet Marketing and Web Hosting.

Here are some of the popular article submission Web sites...

http://www.articlecity.com/
http://www.ezinearticles.com/
http://www.isnare.com/

Happy submitting!

The 5 Pillar Marketing Guide

Article Submissions and the Viral Effect