Article Marketing - 11 Proven Steps to Creating an Effective Article

I've been fortunate enough to be a qualified affiliate member of a truly outstanding wealth builders club since September 2010. Long story short, members are taught how to empower themselves to use free quality marketing tools and resources in order to build their own online business and to create wealth.

Of all the marketing tools available to the fledgling or professional internet marketer, article marketing, in my opinion, is by far the most effective. Article marketing involves writing articles and publishing them in any one of a number of article directories online. There are literally hundreds to choose from.

Article marketing is beneficial on so many different levels not to mention that it is totally free. Article marketing also enables you to build credibility for yourself, provide valuable knowledge for your readers, and drive traffic to your website, just to name a few.

However, in order to receive the benefits associated with article marketing, you need to create an effective article. Many of the articles I have written to help people with clinical depression have ranked in the top ten on the first page of Google's organic results. So, I'd like to share some of the techniques I use in my articles. The following are 11 proven steps to creating an effective article:

1. Write about your passion - I had been writing articles for about three years and during that time I was always concerned about running out of ideas for my next article. Last year, a very wise lady, who is now my mentor, had suggested that I write about just one subject I was passionate about. The idea is that if you write about something you truly enjoy, you will never have a problem coming up with ideas surrounding your passion. She was right. So let's get your creative juices flowing. Ask yourself this question, "If I had all the money in the world, what is it that I would absolutely enjoy doing and how can I write about it as a solution to a problem my readers might have"? When you are able to answer that question, you'll have a very difficult time running out of ideas.

2. Do your research - Maintaining credibility with your readers is very important especially if you want to have them coming back to read more of your material. In order to achieve that goal you must build a reputation for yourself as a knowledgeable writer. Therefore, you have to put in some time to do research on whatever it is you want to write about. If all your articles are based on a specific niche, you can literally become an expert in that field if you've put in enough time on researching your information.

3. Talk to your readers - When you write be sure to make it personal. Always write your articles as if your best friend is sitting right in front of you and your offering help with the information you provide. The fact of the matter is that most newspapers are written at a sixth grade level, so make sure your articles are easy to understand. Remember to talk to your readers not at them. You'll grab their attention quicker and they'll stick with you through your entire article if they feel that you are honestly taking a personal interest in helping them solve their problem.

4. Write unique content - If you want your articles to rank higher in the search engines so that they get the most exposure, make sure they contain unique not duplicate content. If you plan to submit one article to multiple directories, make sure that the content differs slightly for each article directory you submit to with the exception of HubPages. HubPages will not except any articles that have already been spun and published in other article directories. They want absolute unique content, no variations. So if you want to place an article into HubPages, do not have it published anywhere else.

5. Use relevant keywords - A Keyword is simply a single word or phrase that people place into the search box of their favorite search engine. The more relevant keywords you use, the higher your article will rank in the search engines. However, you need to strike a proper balance between the number of keywords you use and the quality of your article. The number of keywords in any article, also known as keyword density, should be no more than 6% of total words in the article. To find relevant keywords for your article use Google's keyword tool.

6. Share a unique piece of information - One of the best ways to solidify your reputation as a writer your readers can relate to is by sharing a piece of information that they'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere online. This is not as difficult as it sounds. That way you'll differentiate yourself from other authors who have written on a similar topic. The best way to do that is simply by including your own experience with the subject you are writing about. Recently, I wrote an article about the effectiveness of dog therapy on clinical depression. In it i wrote about how my dog was part of the solution to overcoming depressive symptoms.

7. Provide multiple solutions - Provide at least three solutions on every topic you write about. You goal is to establish yourself as someone your readers can continually go to for help. I’m more comfortable with writing solutions in a list with a brief explanation. That way my readers can simply scan the list and read what interests them as I've done in this article. But paragraphs work just as well.

8. Use pictures and videos - The old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words" is particularly applicable to writing effective articles. In point of fact, no matter how interesting your article may be, readers do have a short attention span. Several well placed pictures and /or videos should hold your reader's interest and keep them engaged. Make sure you position them by the relevant content.

9. Qualify your article - The last paragraph of your article should contain some complimentary information to the solutions you provide and serve as a "heads up" to the reader. Just as an example, you might let the readers know what positive changes will occur in their life as a result of following your suggestions. In many of my articles I let my readers know that my suggested solutions are not a substitute for standard treatment of depression. Finally, read over the qualification I've written for you in this article.

10. Get your readers involved - Another way to keep your readers attention is to get them involved in your article by asking thought provoking questions. These types of questions should attract them everytime. Always use this technique in the first paragraph of your articles. Some examples include " Just imagine..", "Have you ever felt..."?, "Can you remember a time...", and "Visualize yourself...".

11. Create an effective resource box - Your resource or bio box should always be placed at the end of the article. An effective resource box should include your name and a brief description of what your passion is and how that relates to helping the reader. Make sure to link several relevant keywords to the url of your own website or affiliate website. if you are writing an article that is not relevant to your website, you might want to link your name from the bio box to your profile in your favorite article directory. Just make sure your profile contains relevant keywords that are then linked to your website

Please keep this in mind. Incorporating these steps into your articles does absolutely no good unless and until you practice. Be prepared to write and rewrite again and again especially if you are new to article writing. I've been writing articles for over two years and many times I still need to rewrite them. Finally, be sure to proof read what you've written. Better yet, get a friend or relative to proof read your articles for you.

You've probably discovered by now that article marketing can involve a lot of work. However, the good news is that the more you write the easier it becomes and the more proficient you will be. Also, the rewards are well worth your effort.

Dave Kanofsky is a proud qualified affiliate with Wealth Creations Network. Wealth Creations Network is a wealth builders club and is not in competition with any online business. Wealth Creations Network will not only empower you to create effective articles for your own online business but will also empower you to make money online by creating wealth for yourself using free quality marketing tools and resources. You will never be asked to spend any of your own money out of pocket. So join now.