Free Articles = Free Publicity (Or, How To Get Free Publicity For Your Business) – Writing-Articles
Free Articles = Free Publicity (Or, How To Get Free Publicity For Your Business)
Publicity?you're business can survive without it, but it certainly won't thrive without it. Maybe you've seen your competition at it - their website was featured on a major newspaper or television show. Or perhaps you heard them mentioned on your favorite morning radio show on the way to the office. The point is, when it comes to publicity, some businesses are getting it. And here comes the real shocker - some of them are getting it for free! Yep, there really is such a thing as free publicity, and we're going to show you a very simple way that you can start getting it.But first, let's take a moment to discuss what publicity is. According to www.dictionary.com, publicity is "Information that concerns a person, group, event, or product and that is disseminated through various media to attract public notice." Did you see what I just did? Through this article, www.dictionary.com just got free publicity (they'll need it, so you can look up "disseminated"). Articles are just one of many ways that you can spread the word about your business, but it's the one of the easiest to use.Free Online ArticlesThe number one way to get free publicity (and to establish yourself as an expert in your field) is through writing and submitting free online articles that relate in some way to your business. Now before you throw your hands up in disgust, saying something like "I'm not a writer, I'm a business owner!" just wait a minute. The chances are, your business's new or existing product, service or upcoming event is something that the rest of the world cares about (otherwise, you wouldn't BE in business). As obscure as it may be, you'd be amazed at the number of people out there who are yearning to learn more about something that your business makes you an expert about.If you don't believe me, narrow your business down to a list of ten keywords that come to mind when you describe your profession. Now, do a Google search on each of those ten keywords (see, I slipped in yet another instance of free publicity, and through your articles, you can do the same!) The top ten or twenty results are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sites that could be featuring your articles.You may be asking yourself "Sure, the readers get something out of these free articles, but what about me?" Well, despite the fact that no one is paying you to publish your articles, free articles come with an incredibly valuable thing?it's known as the resource box.The resource box is where you get to promote yourself and your business! You can include a brief biography about yourself or business along with a link to your website or affiliate program, your address, phone number, email address,? whatever! The point is, when your readers get done with your article and they want to know more, the first place they'll go to is your resource box! The next place they go is?well, where ever you want them to!What Do You Write About?Well, just about anything. The first place you should go for inspiration is your Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't have a FAQ section of your website, check out your competitor's sites (really, it's okay, as long as you don't copy it down word for word?) If your FAQ's are truly that, and not just a list of questions that you hope and pray that people would ask but they never do, then you'll have plenty of possibilities.Whatever you write about, make sure it's something that people are genuinely interested in. Because if it's something people are interested in, then it's something that the websites that cater to those people will be interested in. And don't worry, there's no need to write a novel, nearly all web content articles are within a 300-1000 word range.Also, make sure to follow the basic rules of grammar and spelling. Even if your article is worthy of a Pulitzer, it'll never earn one if it's full of careless mistakes and spelling errors.Once you've checked your spelling and grammar make sure to read the article aloud. This will give you a chance to make sure that the article flows smoothly and logically.Getting Your Article PublishedOnce you've written and edited your article, the next step is to get the word out. And unlike articles that are written for pay, it's really not that hard to find webmasters and ezine editors willing to publish your piece. Since they don't have to pay you for the content, they're more than happy to provide you with free publicity.If you have a lot of professional and Internet connections in your industry, don't be afraid to take advantage of them at this point. Not only will it give you more exposure, you'll be doing your friends a favor! Once you've contacted them, you're next stop will be to submit your article to free online article databases. Here are a few to help you get started:? www.articlecity.com? www.ezinearticles.com (requires free membership)? www.thewhir.com/find/articlecentral/? www.businessknowhow.com/newsletter/articleguidelines.htm? www.expertarticles.com (requires free membership)? Or, just go here www.bellaonline.com/articles/art12838.asp for an extensive list of places willing to publish your work on their site or publication!Now, you're armed with all you need to know to start getting the free publicity that you've been dreaming of. Better yet, no one will be able to pinch and wake you up!About the Author:
If your website could use some fresh, custom content but you don't have the extra money in your budget, there's no need to worry. Jennifer Gibbs (http://www.JenniferGibbs.com), a 5 star freelance professional from South Georgia is more than happy to provide your site with original, tailored and EXCLUSIVE content in exchange for free products, services and/or membership access. For more information, send your request (along with your website URL) to: info@jennifergibbs.com.
10 Ways, How To Get Significant Exposure For Free – Ezine-Publishing
10 Ways, How To Get Significant Exposure For Free
Ezine are one of the best source of information on the web today. They are generally free and can make a huge impact marketing success if used correctly. Ezines may include ads, articles, jokes, quotes, advertorials, business opps, brief up dates about the publisher's site or business, testimonial and much more.The word "ezine" is short for electronic magazine, also known as a newsletter. They are an excellent way to find detailed information about specific field on interest. At the same time they expose a gold mine of contact and possibilities! Ezines are delivered via email and 99 % of them are free. They can be sent daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly, it just depends on how the publisher of the ezine wishes to distribute the newsletter. Ezine is breakthrough of marketing solution today. We can promote our business with change banner, swap ad and write article. You can literally get hundreds of hits per day without spending a dime on advertising using ezines! There are ten techniques how to promote in ezine, although the impacts are indirect. They work and the potential is unlimited.1. Write Testimonials!Most Internet business look for and need testimonials. Testimonials give a business credibility and businesses know this. So they are always looking for kind words about their company that they can show to new prospect of customers. Therefore, anyone that comes to site and sees testimonial may well check out the site.2. Write Articles and submit them to Ezine publishers!Writing articles is really a great way to get free exposure. This particular method does take more time and some work but it can really reap huge rewards. I'm sure you've noticed when you read the articles in your favorite ezines , the author's information is listed at the bottom ( this is called a by ?line ). Of course if you wrote an article, you would also include your own by- line. This tells folks who wrote the article and a little bit about the author including your URL. By submitting your article to as many ezines as fit your criteria, you have the potential of getting thousands of targeted hits FREE.3. Give Away a Freebie!Ezine publishers are usually looking for ways to keep their subscribers reading and interested contest are really a great way to accomplish this. A good way to get free exposure is to participate in a contest.For example: Let's say that you sell health supplement. Suggest to an ezine publisher that relates to health possibly that you will be willing to give away one bottle of supplement to one lucky winner each issue. The publisher can do the drawing and email you the lucky winner's email address. Of course an announcement would take place in that issue and your company name and URL would be credited for the generosity. Of course you are giving away something of value but at the same time you are building credibility with the readership, creating recognition for your name and product .4. Some Ezines Accept Free Advertising!Do a search using The Directory of Ezines for ezines that accept free ads. This is a quick way to find them and is another way to get exposure at no cost. One thing to keep in mind, most ezines that accept free advertising are new and don't have many subscribers. Of course they are free you can place ads in as many as you have time for thus getting your ad in front of hundred of people.5. Swap Ads !This form of promotion may not apply to you unless you have your own ezine, another way to advertise free is to swap ads. Find other ezines that a circulation close to yours and who relate to what it is you are advertising. Offer to swap ads. Most will be glad to! This allows both of you to get fresh exposure. You will have your site being expose to hundreds of targeted.6 . Trade links with other web sites. They should be related to the subject of your web site. Instead of trading links, you could also trade banner ads, half page ads, classified ads, etc.7. Form an online community. It could be an online message board, e-mail discussion list or chat room. When people get involved in your community they will regularly return to communicate with others.8. Participate on message boards. Post answers to other people's questions, ask questions and post appropriate information. Include your signature file at the end of all your postings.9. Post your ad on free advertising areas on the internet. You can post it on free classified ad sites, free for all links sites, newsgroups that allow ads, free yellow page directories, etc.10. Start an e-zine for your web site. When people read each issue they'll be reminded to revisit your web site. They'll see your product ad more than just once which will increase your orders.ERNY SETYAWATI IS THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF BALI GLOBAL MARKET. To know more visit us : http://www.baliglobalmarket.com
Ten Ways to Get Cheap (and Free) Magazine Samples
Ten Ways to Get Cheap (and Free) Magazine Samples
1 - Join a reading or writing group. Ask members to bring in their
already-read magazines and have an exchange. Do the same with interest
groups you belong to or know about - playgroups (parenting, home, cooking, family mags), business networking groups (entrepreneurs, home business, finances magazines), church (religious, devotional periodicals).2 - Offer to take a friend to the doctor's office. Okay, that sounds goofy but I love taking my children to the orthodontist, pediatrician, and dentist offices so I can scan the table of contents and skim the articles in the parenting, children's, family, travel and money magazines. I bring a notepad and take plenty of notes. Find an article in an old magazine that would help your research? Ask the office to make a copy of it; offer to pay.3 - Subscribe. Remember if you subscribe to a magazine that is for business purposes, you can deduct the cost of the subscriptions if you itemize your taxes. I am a food writer so I keep all receipts for food and writing magazines, and food and writing books to deduct as business expenses.4 - Take up publishers on their free copy offers. It used to be that all magazines would let your send in a postcard and check the "bill me" square and you will end up with two or three issues before they cut you off for not paying. These days, we cannot even be inadvertently dishonest. I get mailings from magazines offering me one free issue. I will send in the postcard and usually have a bill to pay before I have read the free issue. I then can decide to subscribe or put the bill in the postage paid envelope and decline to pay.5 - Look for the online issues of particular magazines. It is true that many use original content online (another good market to explore) but even the different content will show you what type of material the magazine is looking for.6 - Read newspapers online. Do you want to write travel articles? Visit the major newspapers online. Most hire freelancers to cover a great deal of their special interest articles. Contact information for, in this example, the travel section editor will likely be available on the website.7 ? Send for the writer guidelines. Look in The Writer's Market. If you are looking for parenting magazines and find one that sounds about right to you but you have never seen, send for the writer guidelines and request a sample issue. Double check the listing of the magazine to see if there is a reduced price or you have to send a stamped envelope to receive a free copy.8 - Go to the library. This is so obvious! Make a bi-weekly appointment to go to the library and review the magazines you want to write for. Make notes. Use the library's copier to photocopy the table of contents, or an article or two to review at home.9 - If your public library does not carry the magazines you want to know about, travel to a college library. They are set up for your kind of research. While most require student identification to use the reference materials, you can read the periodicals unimpeded.10 - Bookstores! Grab a pile of magazines, buy that over-priced latte and carefully review the magazines you have found to study (remember, if you spill on it, you buy it!)Terms of use ? This article may be used freely in online and print, newsletters and websites that do not charge a fee to readers. The resource box at the end must be included. The article may not be substantially edited but grammatical or typos can certainly be corrected. Thank you.Pamela White is the publisher of Food Writing, an online newsletter and author of FabJob's guide to Become a Food Writer. Her newest book, Freelance Writing: Begin the Adventure is available at
http://www.food-writing.com/pages/3/index.htm