When you start to write articles and publish them on article directories, you're no longer just a marketer. Instead, you're transitioning into the role of an ‘information provider', and that is something that you need to take very seriously, and truly start to cash in on.
Basically, it all boils down to this: Why do people read articles on article directories?
Really the answer to that is simple: They want to find out information on a certain topic.
As an article writer, you’re the person who is providing that information, and that is the basis for your newfound role. With that role there comes a lot of extra responsibilities – if you want to take advantage of it, that is.
Many writers approach this responsibility fairly haphazardly, but you’re going to want to be different. What you want is that your readers regard you as a trusted and respected source of information, and thus know that you’re not going to mislead them.
Once you’ve gained this trust and respect, you’ll be regarded as an ‘authority’ on the topic, and readers are far more likely to listen to what you have to say. With this kind of trust, and that kind of reputation, you should have no problems getting more traffic than you probably ever dreamed possible.
So how do you achieve it? Simple:
1. Make sure your facts are right
Before you publish an article, be sure to check your facts. Nothing is worse than publishing something that is blatantly untrue, or misleading. With the internet on your side, checking facts is really something that is pretty easy to do, and it shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes.
2. Offer helpful and honest advice
Too often advice is only offered when there is something to gain from it, however, if you offer help and advice even when you stand to gain nothing, your reputation is going to be enhanced (so you’re really gaining something anyway!).
Naturally, any help and advice you offer is going to have to be truly helpful, otherwise it just defeats the purpose.
3. Pick topics that are of common interest
Selecting the right topics is something that you should definitely try to do. In any niche there are bound to be certain ‘problem areas’ or ‘points of interest’, and you should try to have your articles concentrate on these.
As you can probably well imagine these ‘problem areas’ offer a great avenue for you to offer help in!
Remember that trust can take a lifetime to build, but a single moment to destroy. So once you’ve built up a reputation, you should do your utmost to ensure that you never compromise it in any way.
Really, there is no reason why you should compromise it anyway seeing as there are so many ways to take advantage of a good reputation without compromising it.
Brick by brick, you’ll build up your reputation until you are a true ‘authority’ – a ‘guru’ of sorts!