Is article marketing easy? Can you really make a full time living creating content for syndication? And what separates a GOOD article from a bad one? Is it the content? The keywords? Or the conversion percentage instead? In this article we are going to take a quick and easy look at some common article marketing questions, as well as the TOP takeaways I've learned from writing over 5000 of my own.
Curious to know more? Continue reading as we take a closer look below.
Is Article Marketing easy...
or is there a "secret" to doing it right? The truth? On the surface, writing articles is as simple as it sounds.

1. You pick a niche.
   
2. You write a title.
   
3. You create your content.
   
4. You craft a resource box.
   

And you submit your finished article, and wait for it to show up on the directory, and then in the search results themselves.
On one level, it really IS that simple.
And yet, if I've learned anything from years of continuously creating content I HOPE will convert like crazy, it rarely really is.
As a matter of fact, in my own experience, the real key to creating a successful content marketing campaign lies in what happens AFTER you write your articles.
For example, I recommend you always "begin with the end in mind" before you even begin a new content campaign.
Know EXACTLY what you want your reader to do, and strategically, how each piece of content you create ties into your marketing model overall.
For example, in my own business, I only write articles to build a list.
My model is to create content to build a community.
I don't care about back-links.
Or SEO.
I only want each article to turn a stranger into a subscriber, and every subscriber into a potential client or customer.
It's really that simple.
Even if your goals are different, understanding the underlying ethos, and reverse engineering your optimum outcome is still important.
Here is my "no frills" blueprint for creating content that converts, and builds your business to boot:

• Don't sweat the keywords.
  Instead, focus on creating "titillating" titles that stand out, and dare to be different.
  By and large, longer titles work best for me, and most likely...
  will for you as well.
  
• Don't write a book.
  Keep your articles reasonably short, and interesting.
  Be mindful of the article directories guidelines, but I find 400-500 word articles work best.
  Nothing kills my conversion or click through percentage more than long rants or diatribes, and as a rule...
  if I find myself going over 6 or 7 hundred words, I'm better off splitting it in two.
  
• Reward with your resource box.
  Don't write about your personal biography or accomplishments.
  Instead, just give something away of value that compels the click.
  Remember, the difference between a 10% and 20% CTR could be the difference between a full time income doing what you love, or struggling to make enough to pay your bills.
  

Lastly, ALWAYS have a landing page that matches the tone, tempo and marketing message of your article.
You only have a few seconds to engage your audience once they've raised their hand and clicked through...
so make the most of it, and make sure you fulfill the promise that preceded the click!