In preparation of the discussion of web articles, let’s clear things first with business websites. To start things off, there are two main methods of earning online:
1. Selling your own product/service
2. Promoting other product/service
One of these is not better than the other – they are both great things to do! If you want to maximize your exposure and income, you can actually do both at the same time – you just have to be careful about how you do it.If you plan to sell your product/service by sharing articles on a website, here are some things to consider offering:
One great way to market or promote these products is by Article Marketing (or Content Marketing).
If you plan to sell your product/service by sharing articles on a website, here are some things to consider offering:
- Information products such as article content, eBooks, podcasts, video tutorials, newsletters, special reports, step-by-step membership sites, product reviews, recipes, social media posts
- Services, such as virtual assistance, coaching, design, writing, etc.
- Coaching and consulting packages which are services and information products at the same time
- Hard goods that are niche specific, such as books, garden tools, pet supplies, etc.
- In-person classes and paid events
- Online classes, such as webinars, video courses, email courses
You can also encourage others to be affiliates. This means that when you advertise or recommend other people’s information products, hard goods, and virtual assistance packages, you earn a commission each time someone buys via your link.
Although many features of web communication have remained persistent through the years, technology is still evolving prodigiously. Today, you have countless ways of getting your message out on numerous platforms and channels.
The communication platforms are:
- websites
- blogs
- videos
- social media
- membership sites
- forums
Let us not forget that articles are the foundation for all of these modes and methods of communication. Articles are the fundamental units of all forms of online communication. Think about this for a minute or two.
You basically have the basis for any number of awesome, information-based products to sell, if you have a bunch of articles that all cover a single niche. Therefore, if you want to build a niche following with your website, then start with the essentials, articles.
Are you doing any article marketing? Is Content Marketing part of your business strategy? leave a comment below and let us know!
I write to enlighten others- clients, interested parties, etc.
It is content, but it’s not sold. I have friends who do sell content (and others who write for pay for journals- it’s the same thing with a different venue). It’s just not me.
This boils down to your reason for having a website – If it is to disseminate information to people, the site will certainly have a different vibe to it than a site that is marketing a product or service.
Interesting information. I don’t have an online business but know a few that do, sharing this with them.
Thanks, Martha!
Great information, especially for newbies.
Thanks, Tracy!
I am very late posting for day 5. I have written about content, too! It’s about how to create a simple content marketing plan.
Not a problem, Bing! The Ultimate Blog Challenge is very forgiving! 🙂
I have read that pictures catch more eyeballs than words, and that soon most of the web content will be video. (maybe just because it takes up more storage space.)
What are your thoughts on the transition to video?
Great question, Doug. Until the point when the search engines can automatically transcribe video to find out what it is about, text will still be important. The best bet (at this point) is a combination: have some great text that the search engines like Google, Bing, and, Yahoo can index, along with a video that delivers great content to your visitors.