Lesson Objective:
Today you will continue writing your ezine article for submission to the ezines you chose
day before yesterday.
Skills Needed:
· Basic Word Processing
Today’s Lesson:
Part 1 – What type of ezine article should you write?
What’s the best type of article to write for the ezines?
Articles that either solve problems or explain critical “news” (and the impact of that news
on the audience) represent the two best types of articles to write for virtually any ezine.
Either help people relieve some pain they may or may not even realize they have… or
explain to them how some current event impacts their lives positively or negatively.
These two types of articles accomplish two critical things for you:
1. These articles give you the highest likelihood of getting published, since ezine
publishers always want to educate and inform their audience – and –
2. The ezine audience will view you as “the expert” since you solved their problem
or you explained how the news impacts them.
I know yesterday we told you to come up with 5 ideas for ezine articles… but sit down
right now and brainstorm 10 more ideas for articles you could write.
If you have trouble thinking of something, ask yourself these questions:
1. What problems do my audience members have that I can explain how to solve?
2. What is going on right now in the news that will impact them and how should
they react to it?
3. If I were to advise someone just getting started in my area of expertise, what 10
things would I tell them they really needed to know?
Once you’ve decided on the subject of your article move on to Part 2 of today’s lesson.
Part 2 – The proven ezine article “formula”
I have been writing professionally for over 10 years and have developed this strategy for
turning out 500 to 1000 word articles in nothing flat!
Quite frankly… you are about to make back the entire price you paid for this ebook in the
next couple of pages.
I am now revealing…
The ezine article formula
First I’ll outline the formula and then walk you through a real example using an actual
article I just wrote.
Step 1 – Write out a focusing statement. Why are you writing the article and what do
you hope to accomplish.
Step 2 – Write a “hook” for the story that either arouses curiosity or some other
powerful emotion.
Step 3 – Write out the main thought, subject or news item you will lay out in the
story.
Step 4 – Write out 3 or 4 main points you want to make about your subject.
Step 5 – Write out one to three sentences that support each point you are making.
Step 6 – Throw in a quote, a website to visit, or a brief story or anecdote that
illustrates the overall theme of the article and place it where it makes the most sense.
Step 7 – Finally, tell people what conclusions they should draw or actions they
should take as a result of reading your story.
Step 8 – If you haven’t already, create a compelling headline that captures reader
attention and arouses interest.
Step 9 – Read the story aloud and smooth out any spots that don’t “sound” right.
Let’s dissect the following article to see how I constructed it.
Step 1 – Write out a focusing statement.
The focusing “intention” statement goes something like this:
“I want to write a 500 word article giving favorable exposure to my friend, Joe Vitale’s
new book while using the latest developments in ‘print-on-demand” publishing as the
‘news’ angle for the story.”
Title - Internet Changes the Face of Book Publishing
(I actually wrote the title last once I saw the best news angle.)
The fact that a friend of mine recently published a new
book came as no surprise since he has already published
about ten others.
This is the “hook” in the first paragraph that arouses curiosity.
However, as I dug deeper into the story I realized he was
using the Internet exclusively to publish, print and sell
his book. A growing trend among authors, even established
writers with dozens of books to their credit, involves
using “print-on-demand” publishers, email and websites to
sell just as many if not more books faster than by
traditional publishing and marketing methods.
This section arouses curiosity even more and then ties in with a trend that is going on
right now – that’s the “news”!
The story about the how the book has been published and
marketed rates as impressive and innovative as the actual
subject of the book. The writer, Joe Vitale, has written
books for such organizations as the American Marketing
Association and the American Management Association. His
latest book “Spiritual Marketing” takes a spiritual, almost
metaphysical, approach to accomplishing your business and
personal objectives. Since the book approaches operating
your life and business in more direct fashion, it seems
natural that the production and marketing of the book
should also stray from the beaten path.
Point 1 – How the book is published is newsworthy, but to explain the point I use Joe’s
book as the example.
Joe decided to use a “print-on-demand” publisher, 1st Books
Library (www.1stbooks.com). Most people expect that
authors cash in on lucrative book deals and fat royalty
checks. The realities of traditional publishing come as a
shock when they discover it takes years to get a book
published and the giant publishing houses do little to
market a book. If the author wants book sales then it is up
to them to hit the trail marketing the book. Publishers
print books – authors sell books!
Point 2 – Why Joe and other authors choose to use print on demand publishers and how
traditional publishers fall short in marketing books.
Advancements in computer and printing technology have made
the miracle of “print-on-demand” publishing possible. With
print-on-demand a book doesn’t get printed until a customer
places an order, thus eliminating the risk most publishers
take by printing thousands of books that may or may not
sell. Also, print-on-demand publishers enable authors to
distribute their work in electronic form as “eBooks”
customers download and print right from their computer
screen.
Point 3 – The “what” and “how” of print on demand publishing.
As proven by the Harry Potter phenomenon, “word of mouth”
advertising represents the best way to sell books.
Traditional book marketing involves the hit-and-miss book
signing circuit. Joe took a different approach. He emailed
everyone he knew or did business with, told them briefly
about his book, and then told them they could go to
Amazon.com or 1stBooks.com to order a copy. Just that one
email has sparked book sales all over the world as people
read the book and tell their friends.
Illustration or brief story.
Even though the book has only been available commercially
for a couple of months, Joe has sold hundreds and this
initial success has even led to discussions with a famous
offline publisher.
If you could use a lift in your personal or business life,
Joe Vitale’s innovative book, “Spiritual Marketing” is well
worth picking up. Plus, when you think about the exciting
and ground-breaking process that brings the book to your
computer screen or front door it makes the whole purchase
that much more exciting.
Conclusion and action – in this case subtly telling them why they should pick up Joe’s
book!
The Result?
In the process of giving people a news story about the latest trend in printing technology I
gave Joe’s book some excellent exposure.
Tips on writing your article:
· Don’t worry nearly as much about style as about providing valuable content
and giving people information they can use.
· Explain in your writing the same way you would as if you were one-on-one
with someone over a cup of coffee or a beer.
· Lead people logically to your conclusions – imagine that you knew nothing
about the subject (or very little) and needed someone to give you a step-by-
step explanation.
Part 3 – Editing your article
Here are the basic steps for editing your article.
1. Run a spell check. I know this sounds elementary but you’d be shocked at how
many people don’t do it.
2. Read the article aloud slowly – try to do it at ½ your normal reading pace. Force
yourself to slow down.
3. Make any adjustments so it reads smoothly and naturally.
4. Add your “killer” resource box. (See more about this in Part 4 of Today’s
lesson.)
5. Email the article to at least 3 friends and ask them to read it. Ask them to give you
whatever feedback they want.
6. Take their feedback and use what makes sense. If one person tells you something
you can take it or leave it. If all three point out a problem area then you’d better
pay attention.
7. Make changes based on the input of your volunteer editors.
You’re done now right? Not quite yet…
Part 4 – Add your resource box to the end of the article.
Your resource box is your author bio and “killer ad” all wrapped into one. This is where
you entice people to come to your site or take some sort of action.
Unless you are getting paid up front for writing the article – this step is where you make
or break the payday!
Usually, you can get away with 5-6 lines of promotional material here.
When your article gets published, your resource box is what people read to find out more
about you.
You need a compelling one that makes them want to click over to visit your web site! (Or
whatever action you want them to take.)
Typically you should use some character formatting to separate the end of your article
from your resource box. Anything like this works fine:
=========
* * * * * * *
+++++++++++
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>>>>>>>>>>>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resource Box Samples:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yanik Silver has developed a whole series of sales letter
templates available at ==>http://www.instantsalesletters.com
In less than 3 minutes you can create a winning letter
guaranteed to sell your product or service...WITHOUT WRITING!
Subscribe to his free ezine: *Surefire Marketing Secrets*
Send a blank email to: mailto:instantletters@getresponse.com
*Plus get his 3 day mini-course on direct mail secrets*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*********************************************************
How Much Is One Good Sales Letter Worth To Your Business?
Yanik Silver has created the ultimate no-brainer,
fill-in-the-blank sales letter writing resource. In less than
3 minutes you can create a winning letter guaranteed to sell
your product or service...WITHOUT WRITING!
Check out =====> Instant Sales Letters
*********************************************************
In the next example Yanik’s resource box relates back to an article he wrote about
creating powerful offers.
The tie-in makes the resource box that much more powerful!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See how Yanik Silver creates an irresistible offer for his
new Instant Sales Letters
==>http://www.instantsalesletters.com
In less than 3 minutes you can create a winning letter
guaranteed to sell your product or service...WITHOUT WRITING!
Or you can get more surefire marketing secrets by
subscribing to Yanik's free Ezine - just send a blank email
=======> mailto:instantletters@getresponse.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notice that Yanik gives the full web address including the http:// and uses the mailto: in
front of his email address.
This makes it so practically everyone can just click on those links from their email
program or web browser and either go straight to your site or send you an email.
Here are some others I’ve used with great success:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-
author of an amazing new ebook, "Turn Words Into Traffic,"
that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly
drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or
affiliate link!
Click Here => Turn Words Into Traffic
Multi-Media Newsletter => igottatellyou@optinnewsletter.net
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=============================================
Why are some people getting rich selling their ebooks?
Jim Edwards and Joe Vitale have created the *ultimate* guide
"How to Write and Publish your own Outrageously
Profitable eBook... in as little as 7 Days!"
FREE Details: ==> 7 Day eBook
FREE Mini-Course: ==> mailto:7dmini@optinnewsletter.net
=============================================
==============================
Are YOU a "Lazy Achiever"?
"The Lazy Man's Guide to Online Business"
How to Work Less, get Paid More and have
tons more Fun! Proven tips, tricks, techniques
and strategies of Superstar "Lazy Achievers"!
Click=> Lazy Man's Guide To Online Business
==============================
Do up your own “killer” resource box now and insert it at the end of your
article!
Part 5 – Sleep on it!
Before you send your article off to the ezine editors you should sleep on it!
Put the article away and pick it up in the morning for a final read-through and edit.
You’ll probably see at least one thing you can improve when you take a fresh look
tomorrow.
Summary of Today’s Assignments:
1. Decide on the subject and type of article you will write.
2. Write out your focusing statement.
3. Write your initial draft.
4. Edit the draft yourself.
5. Add your “killer” resource box.
6. Send the draft off to at least 3 friends.
7. Make their suggested changes.
8. Sleep on it.
9. Make your final edit in the morning.
Today’s Resources:
“Turn Words Into Traffic” – Jim Edwards’ guide to creating an avalanche of free
traffic to your website using the power of ezine articles. Recognized as the web’s leading
course on how to use articles for massive publicity and profits… all free!
Ezine Directories and marketing information
Top Ezine Ads
Directory of Ezines
Bonus Article you’ll enjoy very much on this topic of getting traffic and visitors
from publishing articles.
=====================================
Increase Sales By Flying Under
Your Prospects' "Radar Defenses"
- by Jim Edwards
(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
=====================================
How do you persuade someone to do what you want them to do?
A whole world of marketing exists around us trying to do
that every minute of the day. Do you even notice it anymore
or, like your prospects, have you subconsciously set up a
system of "radar defenses" against the daily bombardment of
marketing messages?
Take a minute and count up the advertising methods which
fight for your attention (and money) every day. Just the
basic list includes:
· Yellow page ads
· Newspaper and magazine ads
· Postcards, catalogs, and direct mail circulars in your
"snail mail" box
· Radio pitches interrupting the flow of your favorite songs
· TV ads - about 20 minutes worth per hour now
· Hundreds of storefronts, "mega" malls, and strip malls
· Highway billboards by the thousands
· Circulars hung on your doorknob
· Illegal signs on stop signs and telephone poles
· Legitimate email messages
· Spam email or UCE (unsolicited commercial email)
Just these 11 sources can overwhelm your brain with
marketing messages. Like trapped rats, people develop
defenses against this never-ending onslaught. They throw up
a wall or a "radar defense" that goes into action the minute
they smell a "pitch" or a sales job. Don't blame them. We
all do it!
So how can you get around this psychological wall against
the constant sales and marketing messages? Well, the answer
does NOT lie in hitting people with more frequent and
obnoxious advertising or sly, sneaky tactics. You might get
them to trust you for a minute, but it will backfire in the
long run.
You must do two things instead:
1. First, you must establish credibility for yourself and
your business as an expert.
2. Second, you must reduce their fears about doing business
with you.
Doing these two things will get you past their defenses and
allow you the opportunity to persuade them to buy your
product.
So how do you accomplish these two "simple" things? What
will win someone's attention, raise your credibility, and
lower their fear factor all at the same time? The one-word
answer really applies to most everyone.
Trust!
If a seller can get behind your defenses with information
which makes you trust them, then that credibility will carry
over into a sale much of the time.
How can you get this credibility?
Well, take this next fact as online marketing "gospel," for
many people have proven its effectiveness.
Fact: Publishing and promoting with free articles gives you
one of the most powerful opportunities available to tip the
buyer's credibility scale in your favor.
How can we prove this works? Quite easily actually. Take a
break from reading this and go check out a newspaper or
magazine for a minute.
Which do you trust more, the ads or the articles? Most
people will choose the articles hands down. Why? Because
the articles don't try to "sell" you anything. Instead, they
hand out useful information for educational or other
practical purposes.
Most of us grew up in a culture which says we can believe
and "trust" what appears in the standard "news" or
"information" format. In other words, if it appears in
print, then we can believe and trust the author.
So go ahead! Use this lifetime of conditioning to your
advantage in selling your products and services!
Very few things will create an atmosphere of trust and
confidence in people as reading one of your articles on a
subject that greatly interests them. It shows you know your
business. It also demonstrates you will do more than just
try to sell them something.
Publishing articles literally lets you fly under their
advertising "radar defenses."
So remember these points when deciding whether or not to use
articles to promote your business:
1. Few things create as much trust and confidence in the
minds of potential customers as reading an article you wrote
on a subject which specifically and intensely interests
them.
2. Articles establish credibility quickly because, right or
wrong, we've all been trained to trust the "news."
3. An article, or series of articles, will differentiate you
from the competition, who bombard people with nothing but
sales messages.
4. Providing content-rich, non-sales-oriented articles will
also help build and solidify your relationship with existing
customers so they give you repeat business.
----
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-
author of an amazing new ebook, "Turn Words Into Traffic,"
that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly
drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or
affiliate link!
Click Here ==> “Turn Words Into Traffic”
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