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Author: Timothy Prahl

Affiliate Marketing Training -- Article Marketing, 5 Key Elements

Affiliate Marketing training would not be complete without explaining the HUGE upside to Article Marketing. Once published, these content specific articles will keep generating traffic to your website literally for years.

The Internet marketer uses articles to direct traffic to a website or blog where he has a product for sale or other valuable information. An article IS NOT a sales page ... as such, it WILL BE rejected by the article directories. :-(

In considering utilizing article marketing, there are 5 specific steps required in order to gain benefit from the article.

* Carefully choose a top keyword relating to a product or information that is the ultimate focus of your article. Utilize a keyword search tool in order to identify other keywords and phrases that complement your primary keyword.
* Develop quality information regarding your subject. Your goal is to provide enough information for the reader to see the value, but you DON'T want to provide all the answers ... pique their curiosity to learn more.
* Provide examples, tips, or tutorials to demonstrate how the article's subject will be beneficial.
* Expand your points to paint a picture of the process. Be careful to keep your text informative without bordering on a 'sit-down' classroom session.
* Shine your apple before submitting. Perform a complete review and edit as necessary.

After writing, it is always advisable to save your article and walk away for awhile. We all have a tendency to write what WE want to hear. Return to your draft and put your 'subjective' face on. Apply the basic steps, and see if your draft meets the criteria for the average viewer. If at all possible, have a third party, not familiar with the subject, critique the article regarding simplicity, flow, and message continuity.

Does your article 'read' like a sales page? Generally, avoiding the use of first tense ("I") will help to generalize your points. Remember, you are not selling anything ... you are simply generating interest and providing quality information.

Keep in mind that your goal is NOT to appeal to everyone. Make sure that you have identified your target audience, and have provided enough information to grab their attention.

Have you clearly defined the problem? Have you suggested a course of action that may offer a solution? Have you hinted that more valuable information remains available?

Is your information unique, or can it be found in any number of throw away ebooks? The last thing that you want is for the viewer to go "yea, yea, yea ... same old stuff".

Before you submit your article, make sure that you review your landing page destination from the Resource box. Are all of the links active? Are the keywords compatible? Is the subject of the landing page an expansion of the theme of the article? Is 'subject similar' content available on the landing page to continue to hold your visitor's interest?

Article marketing is a VERY effective tool for building your affiliate marketing business. Seek out sources of information that will help you fine tune your various article marketing campaigns. You need not be an EXPERT on the subject, but you must be knowledgeable and provide quality information and a unique perspective on its application. Over time, publication of quality articles will not only increase your online credibility, but also generate additional traffic to your website.

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