Whilst there are people making a good living from selling information products anyone who has ever created an ebook will attest to the fact that the writing of the ebook is the easy part. The harder aspect is actually marketing your ebook and getting enough “ready to buy” traffic to your ebook sales page in order to make a decent income from your work.

While each marketer has their preferred method of driving traffic over the years I have found four different techniques which consistently the majority of my ebook sales and it is these techniques that I’d like to discuss today. Almost as important as their effectiveness is that they are all free or very low cost to implement and your main investment will be simply that of time which makes them both effective and very low-risk.

Search Engine Optimization

Ebook sales letters can be surprisingly easy to rank in the search engines if you choose your keyword targets carefully. Try to look for keywords that both offer minimal competition but also suggest buyer intent. After all there is no point in targeting keywords that you’ll either struggle to rank for or for which seachers are looking more for free information than to actually make a purchase.

Let’s take the example of an ebook all about keeping tarantulas as pets. The best keywords, which would suggest someone is looking to make a purchase, might include phrases like “best tarantula book”, “tarantula keeping course” and “tarantula ebook”.

Lower quality phrases, which would likely convert fewer visitors into customers might include “how to keep tarantulas” and “caring for tarantulas”. Focus on the “long tail” and remember that it is often better to draw in a smaller number of pre qualified visitors than to attempt to flood your site with people who are unlikely or unwilling to actually make a purchase from you.

Find ways to subtly work these keyword phrases into the content of your sales letter and then build high-quality links to your site in order to rank quickly for keywords that perform.

Article Marketing

Whilst one of my main ebook sales sites manages to attract traffic from dozens of low-competition search terms it can be a struggle to target every potential keyword phrase that you find on a single page.

In these cases you can still make use of these keywords to drive traffic to your ebook sales site through the use of article marketing.

Take each of the keyword phrases you have found that show promise and write one or more articles around each of them. Follow the standard search engine optimization principles of mentioning your keyword phrase in the article title and body and then create a small “bio” file at the end of the article which promotes and links to your ebook sales page.

These articles can then be submitted to the high quality article directories and Web 2.0 sites (personally I like to use Ezine Articles, Squidoo and Hub Pages) before building some links to them in order to provide an additional boost in rankings.

Doing this can quickly multiply your traffic so I like to take a few days after launching a new ebook project to really go to down on creating keyword-focused articles to distribute which will drive high-quality traffic to my site over the long term.

Guest Blogging

Guest blogging takes the concept of article marketing a step further by placing articles that you have written onto high-traffic blogs in your niche. Whilst the same principles of article marketing still apply guest blogging relies less on traffic from the search engines and more on subscribers and repeat visitors to the sites you submit your content to and as a result can lead to an instant boost in traffic to your site.

The following screenshot shows an example of what happened to the traffic at a new ebook site of mine after successfully having a single guest post featured on a popular blog that is closely related to the content of an ebook I sell.

So if guest blogging is so powerful, why bother to use standard article marketing at all? The answer is that high-traffic blogs can be difficult to find, can have very stringent rules in terms of the articles they will accept and so writing and submitting guest posts can take considerable time.

In contrast with article marketing it is possible to create shorter, less original articles and so you can create numerous standard submissions in the time it will take you to create a single guest post. A “hybrid” form of promotion therefore tends to work best to enable you to cover all the possible traffic avenues.

Affiliate Recruitment

In many ways recruiting your own affiliates to promote your ebook is the best way to drive ebook sales. Clearly if you have hundreds of websites in your niche writing about, and linking to, your ebook sales site you will have a never-ending supply of read-to-buy visitors arriving at your website.

Furthermore your affiliates create all the content, do all the linking and invest their own time and money in order to try and drive sales to your site in exchange for a commission on any sales they generate. And because you only pay for results, if an affiliate doesn’t perform they simply don’t get paid.

When you combine a profitable affiliate program with a carefully optimized sales letter, article marketing and guest blogging anyone should be able to drive a constantly supply of potential customers to their site and see significant sales as a result.

For information on how to quickly recruit a network of affiliates to promote your ebook visit Get More Affiliates or for more general online marketing advice visit the author’s lifestyle design blog.

Every time Google changes its algorithms – it causes a frenzy among those internet marketers relying heavily on the search engines. The latest change made many marketers stock up on Maalox and Pepto Bismol as it made them literally sick to their stomachs. Google’s latest change was an attack on article directories and content farms like Ezinearticles.com.

You see, many internet marketers were writing 150-200 word articles that gave no informational value whatsoever, just to get the link. They were after the SEO benefit and not taking full advantage of what article marketing has to offer. But now, because of the new Google algorithm change sites like EzineArticles.com lost a lot of its visibility on Google and it has many internet marketers up in arms.

Now, unlike many internet marketers, I think the change is a GOOD thing – and here’s why…

4 Reasons Why I Think the New Google Algorithm Change is a Good Thing

1. It forces article directory sites like EzineArticles.com to enforce stricter editorial guidelines. Google wants quality! Your readers want quality! I can almost guarantee this is why EzineArticles.com now requires you to write articles at least 400 words. And, it’s why they are going to review your articles even more thoroughly for spelling, grammar and formatting errors. They are increasing their quality control – and that’s usually a good thing.

2. It forces you the article marketer to go beyond the article directories – and target the best websites, ezines and blogs. Now, as the Google algorithm change focuses on article directories (and I’m sure this is only the beginning!) you cannot solely focus on SEO. You need to start putting your content on targeted websites, ezines, blogs and forums that your audience is going to every day. This way, you go directly to your audience instead of you hoping they find you on the search engines. Plus, these sites will give you the credibility and expert status you need to build your business. To find out the correct way to submit your articles so you can get published on more websites (and not just the article directories) go to: http://www.articlesubmissionsecretsrevealed.com/special

3. It forces you to use other mediums to get your content out in front of your prospects’ faces. If you didn’t have a reason to start engaging in social media before – now you do. Besides trying to get rid of the “junk”, Google is changing its algorithms based on the way people search. Now, your prospects are gaining the information they need from social media sites like LinkedIn. If you want to be found and if you want to be heard, then you need to engage in social media.

4. It forces you to start creating articles that give prospects the perception that you are the thought leader. You think sites like Entrepreneur.com and WomenEntrepreneur.com (which my article submission clients have been published in!) want to publish regurgitated content that is already all over the Web? No way! So, if you are going to go beyond the article directories and get your articles published on top websites, then you need to up your game. You need to start offering information that is usually held back – and you need to “wow” publishers and readers with the information you are revealing.

How to Embrace the New and Upcoming Google Algorithm Changes..

Understand that article marketing is not what it used to be. No longer can you submit an article to thousands of article directories and expect the traffic to come pouring in! Whether you’re just starting out in article marketing, or you already run an article marketing campaign, you have to learn how it should be done in today’s world if you want it to succeed.

If you need help, remember that my online article submission secrets course, will take you by the hand and literally walk you through setting up and executing your new article submission campaign from the very start.

Here’s to submitting articles the right way – that won’t have you affected by the recent Google algorithm change and any upcoming changes.

Article marketing expert Eric Gruber creates online marketplace opportunities for authors, internet marketers and small business owners who want more website traffic, publicity and prospects. If you’re looking to build your business with article writing and article submission, check out Eric’s free ebook: How to Build Your Business Just with Articles at: http://www.FreeArticleMarketingBook.com

They’re referred to as Publicity Hounds and I’ll bet you know at least one.

They’re the people smiling back at you from color photos that accompany their profile story in the morning paper. Turn on the radio and there they are again, chatting away on a local talk show. Two months later, they show up on the cover of your trade journal. Then they’re being interviewed on the 11 o’clock news. While you’re buying expensive advertising to deliver your message, they’re doing it for free.

During my 22 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, I have seen well-meaning people fail repeatedly in their attempts to beg and cajole the media to pay attention to them. That’s because media relations is a sophisticated game with its own etiquette, protocol and rules. And with all the social media sites, you have more opportunities than ever at your fingertips.

Today, as a media relations consultant, professional speaker and ezine publisher, I teach people how to create free publicity to sell a product or service, champion a cause, create an image and establish their expertise.

Here are my Top 10 tips for free publicity:

1. Write and distribute direct-to-consumer press releases regularly to promote your product, service, cause or issue.
2. To promote your expertise, write “how-to” articles and post them to EzineArticles.com. These same articles can be sent to newspapers, magazines, trade publications, and print and electronic newsletters.
3. Create your own blog and blog at least three times a week about your topic. Many journalists who do their research online interview bloggers.
4. Post comments at other blogs by joining in the conversation, even if you disagree with the blogger. Most blogs allow people commenting to include their website URL. (See “How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion.”
5. Participate at the social media sites like MySpace, Facebook, Squidoo, HubPages and LinkedIn. These sites are growing by the day, with millions of people turning to them instead of to traditional media for their news, entertainment and networking.
6. Get to know reporters who cover your industry. Offer yourself as someone they can call on for background, commentary and story ideas. Call and ask, “How can I help you?”
7. Start your own cable TV show on your local cable TV company’s public access channel. Air time is free.
8. Look for photo opportunities. Local newspapers, TV stations, weekly shoppers, trade publications and other media are always looking for interesting photos. (See “How to use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.”)
9. Post short videos about your product, service, cause or issue to YouTube and the other video-sharing sites.
10. Post lots of content-rich free articles at your website. These pull in traffic from the search engines and can often by found by journalist and consumers who are researching topics.

Above all, be patient and persistent. The key to savvy promotion is understanding how to dovetail your wants and needs with people who want to hear what you have to say.

Need More Help with Publicity?

If you like all those ideas but would rather hire a publicist to help you implement them, see How to Hire the Perfect Publicist, an 85-page ebook that walks you step-by-step through the entire process. Includes 307 tips such as where to find candidates, questions to ask during the interview, the advantages and disadvantages of the four types of billing methods, how to help your publicist help you, and a handy chart that will help you rank your final candidates. Includes special chapters for authors and musicians. Read this ebook before you waste thousands of dollars on the Publicist from Hell who will take your money and ruin your reputation. Downloadable, so you can be reading it in minutes.

Joan Stewart publishes the free ezine “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” which gives you valuable tips on how to generate thousands of dollars in free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.PublicityHound.com

I recently wrote an article entitled…”Article Marketing Debate: Is Article Marketing Dying as the Use of Video Soars?” I then submitted it to top websites like PowerHomeBiz.com and SiteProNews.

One day after it was published, my article was being talked about on forums like The Warrior Forum – a top forum for internet marketers. For example, John Hocking (the10minuteexpert.com) wrote: “I was just reading an interesting article on the use of article and video marketing. Read the article here.

Then, let me know what you think? Is video marketing replacing article marketing or are they just two tools you can use to get traffic and referrals?”

That forum posting received responses like:

. “There are still far too many people that have difficulty with video (dial-up users, for example). Plus there are a lot of people who would rather have something they can print out to read offline. I think they are two tools and I don’t see either one replacing the other.”

. “Well, I don’t think that video can outweigh article marketing. It’s just like saying people should stop reading and only learn by watching videos.”

. “I truly doubt that article marketing will be dying. Because not everyone prefers the same method of learning. A lot of people learn better if there is a video showing them how to implement a certain task, while others pick up on the material being presented if they where to read it. So with all that being said, no article marketing will not be going anywhere.”

You can read all the comments that this article generated on The Warrior Forum at: tinyurl.com/2dro8qm

You see, this new article template…

. Created the buzz I need on the Web

. Has people talking about my article on popular forums and blogs

. Generated support for article marketing. I can use their comments as social proof in my marketing activities. And, social proof is an amazing psychological trigger.

. Increased website traffic, built my list and made me even more money!

So, How Does This New, Instant Article Template Work?

Step 1: Create your article title. First, put in your keywords than add the word debate. Then think about the conflicting viewpoints in your industry. Now, add a provocative question to the title that is related to one of the controversial subjects. For example:

. Article Marketing Debate: Is Article Marketing Dying as the Use of Video Soars?

. Article Marketing Debate: Is Article Marketing Just About Link Building?

. Article Marketing Debate: Is the Duplicate Content Penalty Just a Myth?

Step 2: Write your introduction – Now explain the controversial topic – and why people think opposite of you. Give the reasons for the opposing view.

Step 3: Show real proof that your view is the right view. For example, I show real results that my clients are getting.

Step 4: Give some tips on how they can take the appropriate action you want now. Provide useful, valuable, take-away content that proves you are an expert. This way they’ll want to come to you when they need assistance.

Step 5: Remind them of the results they can get if they stop falling into the trap of believing what others have to say about the topic. This is an important step as you want them to take the action you describe in your bio box.

Now, that you have my proven instant article writing template, start writing your articles and submit them to top websites and ezines. If you need additional help, check out my instant article writing templates at StartWritingArticlesFaster.com. Just for checking the site out, I’m giving you 3 free article templates.

Article marketing expert Eric Gruber created online marketplace opportunities for authors, small business owners, speakers and internet marketers who want more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now you can get started with writing and marketing your business with articles, by getting 3 free article templates that will help you write articles faster. Get it now at: http://www.trymyfreearticletemplates.com

It seems that a lot of people are questioning whether article marketing as a lead generation tool is “dying” because of video. Here’s real proof that article marketing is alive and kicking…

1. Key Organization Founder Denise Landers became a key contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine’s website. Entrepreneur.com receives more than 4 million hits per month! Can you imagine the amount of business she receives by getting her articles published on the site?

2. Technology expert Dan Kaplan had his best year in 29 years of business. Dan’s referrals dried up to the point where he thought about shutting down his business and entering early retirement. Now, because of articles, he is known as the “distribution technology expert” and he is now one of IBM’s top resellers!

3. Dr. Mark Hyman added article marketing and article submission to his marketing mix – and hit the #2 spot on the New York Times Best Sellers List

4. With just 4 months of article marketing coaching, organizational leadership consultant Skip Weisman received a new 25,000 consulting contract!

5. By following the strategies in my online article marketing course, Jason Dove published his book, “Crystal Reports Formulas Explained,” and sent it from selling zero copies to being number one in its specialist chart on Amazon. He secured a 95,000 euro contract and it allowed him to launch an info product to share his expertise with others and generate a modest passive income.

Now I will admit that video is playing a huge role in internet marketing today. YouTube has become one of the fastest growing sites on the Web. And, people are slapping videos on sales pages instead of making prospects read a 10 to 12 page sales letter. But video marketing and article marketing should go hand-in-hand. In fact, for every informative article you write, you should be turning it into video and vice versa. Remember article marketing is about getting the right messages to as many targeted prospects as possible in as many ways as possible.

So I think it’s quite bizarre that people think article marketing is dying. Newspapers still publish articles. All the big news sites are still delivering news. The blogosphere is still growing and ezines are still one of the best marketing tools. I bring in leads every single day from my articles on top websites like About.com and SiteProNews.com. And, because I’m posting articles on my LinkedIn group, I’ve seen my website traffic increase by an additional 18% last month.

So where is the slow death?

I figure it’s because people equate article marketing with distributing to ezinearticles.com, isnare.com,articledashboard.com, etc. With everyone jumping on the bandwagon and many talking about Google slapping duplicate content, the competition on the article directories has become fierce.

For me, article marketing is not dead…as I’ve never limited it to that.

Article marketing is using articles on your own site, contacting BIG and targeted website/newsletter publishers directly and REALLY getting your content out there, instead of just passively submitting to directories.

Use your articles to your advantage by re-using them in different and unique ways.

7 Ways to Use Your Articles

. Turn your articles into press releases

. You should be blogging every day. And, these blog posts should be automatically posted on your Facebook fanpages, LinkedIn profile and to your Twitter account.

. Develop an e-course. You can write a series of articles that you can distribute as an e-course. An e-course, or course by email, is typically a brief lesson sent over several days or weeks. This type of course a very simple way to give away some of what you know so that people get a taste of what it would be like to work with you. You can sell your e-course. Or give it away for free as a marketing promotional tool.

. Create an online publication like HealthyWealthynWise.com, SmallBusinessCEOMagazine.com and InternetMarketingTNT.com!

. For every article you write, create a video and podcast. Now, submit your articles, videos and podcasts to the top websites, ezines, video and podcast directories.

. Create your own Facebook fan page and LinkedIn group. Every article I write for my blog and for article submission, I link to it in my article marketing group and fanpage. As of this writing, my Google Analytics shows an 18% increase in website traffic due to my LinkedIn group and a 5% increase in website traffic due to my Facebook efforts.

. Dominate your niche with your very own resource and article directory. With this directory, you can promote your products, affiliate products or both! You can use your content and ask others to submit their content. You can even make it a reviews site and have others rate products, services and your articles. Make sure you put Adsense on every page. And, do not forget to sell advertising space.

Now I Will Also Admit That Article Marketing Is Not What It Used to Be.

No longer can you submit an article to thousands of article directories and expect the traffic to come pouring in! Whether you’re just starting out in article marketing, or you already run an article marketing campaign, you have to learn how it should be done in today’s world if you want it to succeed.

Over the last couple of years, article marketing and article submission has evolved into a tactical marketing strategy that must be executed properly in order to realize it’s full potential.

That’s where my “6 Module Online Article Marketing” course comes in. This course shares this information with you in a simple-to-understand, easy-to-read way. It works today, consistently and for any niche imaginable. I invite you to grab more information on this article marketing course at: onlinearticlemarketingcourse.com

Article marketing expert Eric Gruber creates online marketplace opportunities for authors, internet marketers and small business owners who want more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now you can get started with article marketing fast with Eric’s free instant article writing templates that will help you write articles in 30 minutes or less. Grab them now at: http://www.trymyfreearticletemplates.com

Are you a small business owner or internet marketer who’s pulling hair out, grinding teeth and wiping sweat from your brow trying to figure out how to write articles that drive targeted traffic to your website?

Well, then it’s a good thing you’re reading this article, because I’m going to give you the power to get out of that dark, cold, gloomy corner and see the light.

How?

First, I’m going to explain in detail what article writing templates are – and how they can help you overcome your writer’s block. Then, I’m going to give you an opportunity to get 3 of my instant article writing templates for free! These article templates are guaranteed to help you write articles faster – and in many cases, you’ll be able to write articles in 30 minutes or less. So keep reading.

What Are Instant Article Writing Templates

Article templates serve as a blueprint for building great articles in a particular style. They provide the guidance and inspiration you need to quickly and easily build an incredible inventory of high-quality, original articles.

For example, when you get my instant article writing templates at http://www.StartWritingArticlesFaster.com you get worksheets that guide you throughout the process.. Each template is in chart format. All you have to do is put the information that’s in your head and put it exactly where I ask you to. Once the template is complete, all you have to do is copy each section and paste it into a new document – and you’ll have a finished article.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Start Using Instant Article Writing Templates Now

* Inspiration - Are you stuck at the gate? Are you confused on how to begin your article? Are you stuck for ideas? Just browsing through through article templates will help you spark an idea for your next set of articles.

* Speed - Are you thinking in your head right now – It takes too much time to write articles. That’s because most of your article writing time is spent staring at a blank, white screen. Then, you focus a tremendous amount of time trying to organize your ideas in a flowing manner. But, when you use article writing templates, you’re given a structure and format. So you can write articles faster. Rather than spending time on creating the proper structure for your articles, you can now invest the time you save into writing new articles!

* Ease - Using the right instant article writing templates make it easy to build high-quality articles that are designed to inform readers while also driving traffic back to your website.

* Clarity - Since these templates have been well thought out in advance, you’re articles will flow smoothly and have a clear introduction, body and conclusion that will make your articles clear and easy to understand.

* Style - I can’t tell you how many of my article marketing clients sacrificed speed for quality. They had NO flow, NO organization, NO easy transitions. If I had submitted their articles as-is, their articles would not generate results. So, for the last couple of years, I’ve worked hard to solve these article marketing problems that hinder your chances of getting more prospects and sales online. I’ve analyzed hundreds of articles that I’ve written for my blog, for my newsletter and for article submission. I spent hours reviewing all of my client’s articles that I have proofread, formatted and optimized so it can get published on top websites like About.com, I looked for clear patterns and structures that you can use to write your articles right now. You want to use proven article templates that are designed specifically to give you an article layout and structure that insures an attractive, easy-to-read article that’s almost guaranteed to get results.

Where Can You Get Instant Article Writing Templates

Now, if you go to http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com, I’ll give you 3 of my article templates for free! All you have to do is enter your name and email in the provided box, and you’ll immediately receive the article templates download.

You can also find the complete collection at: http://www.StartWritingArticlesFaster.com

Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for Internet marketers, small business owners, authors, entrepreneurs and speakers who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, you can get 3 of his favorite his instant article writing templates that will help you overcome writer’s block and write your articles in 30 minutes or less. Get your free article templates now: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com

Some business owners attract clients and customers like magnets. Their marketing seems effortless. They don’t advertise. They haven’t made a cold call in years. They charge more. They’re regularly asked to speak at conferences and are featured in newspapers and magazines. Their articles are found on top websites and ezines. They’re invited to be guest bloggers on very influential blogs. And, everyone knows their name, and they get all the business they can handle.

It’s almost as though they were famous.

Their names come to mind when people are looking for a particular product or service. They get more business – not only more, but the right kind of business. Unlike you, they don’t have to work so hard to get it.

Why?

Because they have become a thought leader in their industry. You can too if you start writing articles with the idea of becoming a thought leader.

3 New Article Templates for a Thought Leader WannaBe.

Article template #1 – A Little Bit of Controversy

An article stating a controversial opinion can attract interest and readers if it is written well and based on facts and if it avoids inflammatory statements or personal judgments. Although “controversial” implies disagreement, you don’t have to use words that intentionally create divisions among readers and set one group of readers against the other.

Your goal as a thought leader should be to tell the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable or challenges common assumptions. Make controversy a side effect of your article rather than its goal.

Article Template #2 – Predictions

It’s generally believed that authors who make informed, reliable predictions gain credibility in their field. Good predictions are based on knowledge, experience and an ability to recognize and explain trends, developments and signals. They provide a glimpse of what lies ahead and are highly sought after by those not yet in-the-know.

Using this article template, you can quickly tap into your particular knowledge and expertise to generate articles that are both enticing and provide a high-value insider perspective for your readers.

Article Template 3 – Traps and How to Escape Them Article Template

We’ve all been trapped from time to time on almost every plane of possibility, whether it was a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or financial challenge. With this article template you get to save the day with your expertise by delivering the “escape plan” followed with a Resource Box where they can learn how to further escape from the trap.

Now, I’d like to help you escape your challenges of becoming a thought leader so you can start attracting more clients and customers like magnet. So, I’m going to invite you to claim 3 of my instant article writing templates for free.

This way you can start writing articles more articles, faster. And, then submit your articles to become the expert in your field.

Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for Internet marketers, small business owners, authors, entrepreneurs and speakers who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, you can get 3 of his favorite his instant article writing templates that will help you overcome writer’s block and write your articles in 30 minutes or less. Get your free article templates now: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com

How many times have you read a novel and felt in the action? Great novels spike the reader’s fear, anxiety, anger, laughter–even hormones. It may even keep the reader up until the wee hours, glued to the pages. Stephen King and Nora Roberts make the big bucks for good reason.

Painting a picture with words demonstrates a unique talent. However, writers must study the craft, as with any skill. The story may be clean off the rack, but may still need a nice coat of wax. No worries. These five tips will help “spit-shine” that masterpiece:

1) Show don’t tell

The number one rule. To truly “show” vice “tell,” incorporate the five senses (touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight). For example:

The boy saw the beautiful girl he wanted to ask to the prom. He was very nervous.

Becomes…

Karen stood in the doorway while laughing with her friend Sheryl. Sam stared, his heart pounding at the sight of her. Everything around Sam faded except for the sound of that angelic voice. Her long dark hair caressed soft cinnamon skin. Green eyes sparkled like rubies.

She could win a Maxim magazine girl-next-door contest. A young woman like her needed real-man quality, though. Sam didn’t qualify.

But today, Sam ate his spinach. He wouldn’t miss his chance.

Sam stood from his seat, hauled in a breath, then walked toward Karen. Karen turned to him and smiled. Roses scented the air. Karen’s favorite perfume. Now Sam’s.

Sam inhaled that familiar scent, then said, “K-K-Karen?”

Okay, this example didn’t include all the senses, but it doesn’t take a high IQ to know Sam is nervous and Karen is a nice-looking girl. No need to “tell” the reader.

2) Use active voice, not passive

With active voice, the subject performs the action. In passive voice, the subject receives the action (in other words, acted upon). Active voice is more crisp and “to the point.” It’s also less confusing. Use little to no passive voice (non-fiction writers can get away with more passive voice than fiction writers). In most cases, perform a little switcheroo to achieve active voice success. For example:

The body was carried by the hitman. (Passive)

Becomes…

The hitman carried the body. (Active)

Active voice hits home quicker and sounds better. In some cases, active voice uses less words than passive voice, and still achieves the same goal (as in the above example).

3) Cut down on adverbs (specifically “ly” and “ing” words)

Adverbs modify words. That doesn’t mean adverbs make other words better. Too often, authors rely on them for safety net support. Beware of this trap. Find a better word to replace the adverb. Action and dialog can kill the need for an adverb, too:

She quickly walked  out the bedroom to escape the boiling rage her husband created.

Becomes…

“You bastard! I hate you!” She slapped her husband, then stomped out the bedroom.

Instead of  “quickly walked,” “stomped” gives you a better picture. Through her actions and dialog, you can feel her rage. Note: Watch adverbs that modify the word “said” (he said enthusiastically; she said playfully, etc). “Said” alone works fine.

4) Limit “to be” words (is, are, was, were)

“To be” words have their place. I’ve used a few in this article. However, not using these words strengthen your writing, especially in fiction. Be careful when starting a sentence with “there were” or “there was.” Nine times out of ten, you can take these words out:

There was thick smoke in the room. There was a hit man standing by the door holding a gun.

Becomes…

Thick smoke darkened the room. The hit man stood by the door holding a gun.

Or

He was there.

Becomes…

He stood there or he sat there.

Cutting “to be” words give your writing a polished finish. Note: When an action interrupts another action, use a “to be” word:

He was washing dishes when his wife smacked his head with a spatula.

5) Use as little words as possible

In the movie Ocean’s Eleven, Brad Pitt summed it up: “Don’t use seven words when four will do.” That goes for writing. Less is best:

In order to obtain a drivers license issued by the state of California, you must be able to locate the nearest DMV.

Becomes…

To get a California drivers license, find the nearest DMV.

First sentence has twenty-two words; the second ten. They both say the same thing, but the second reaches the period faster. Why take a fifteen-minute drive on the highway when a five-minute shortcut through the back roads will get you home, too?

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to achieve “tight” writing. If you feel your writing is dull, these tips may give it the shine it lacks.

Recently, I was in a karate tournament competing in the 18 to 34 year old advanced black belt division. I was fighting for 3rd place, when all of a sudden I was caught by a punch in my eye. The punch was so hard and fast that I did not see it coming. When I woke up, I didn’t even know what I was hit with.

Now, that black belt was disqualified for malicious contact.

But as an Internet marketer and article marketer, you want to legitimately hit your competitors so hard and fast that they don’t see you coming. And, when they wake up, you already have their traffic and sales.

How to Get New Customers and Sell Like Never Before with Article Marketing

By writing and submitting articles online to the top websites, ezines and article directories, you will get more links, more traffic and more sales without any problem.

But, if you really want to compete with the BIG guys and girls in your market, then you need to follow my secret strategies to getting new customers:

1. Write articles that give away your best information for free!

Most people are afraid to give away great information so they resort to giving the same old information as everyone else. But this doesn’t differentiate you. This doesn’t show that you truly are the expert. It doesn’t give me a reason to go to your website instead of your competitors. You want to wow me with truly great, free content that makes my mouth watery for more. You want me to be like: “Oh my god, I can’t believe the information he’s giving out for free. I can’t wait to see the information that I have to buy for.” If you do this you will be a step ahead of your competition.

2.Write articles that educate the prospect on how to buy products and services within your niche.

Inform them on the types of questions they should be asking and what they should be looking for. Every question that you include should be something you do, that your competition doesn’t. An example, would be my article: “How to Choose an Article Submission Service.”

This article helped Article Marketing Experts make more than $10,000.00 in less than 2 months.

Why does this template work?

Because it pre-sells your products and services.

Now you won’t have to work as hard to close the sale.

When you go to: http://www.StartWritingArticlesFaster.com/BeatYourCompetitionVideo you’ll get even more information on how to hit your competition so hard and fast that they don’t know what hit them. Plus, I’m offering you 3 FREE Instant Article Writing Templates, including the template that helped me make more than $10,000.00 in less than 2 months.

Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for Internet marketers, small business owners, authors, entrepreneurs and speakers who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, you can Eric’s FREE Article Marketing Video and 3 of his favorite his instant article writing templates that will help you write your articles fast. Get it all now at: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com

Most of my article marketing clients and newsletter subscribers love when I relate business lessons to real life experiences. In this article, I’m going to show you how to close more sales – and I mean higher priced sales using the same process I used to ask my girlfriend’s family for their blessings.

See, in just a couple weeks, I’m going to be proposing to my girlfriend, Kristina Jaramillo. Now, I’m very respectful and old-fashioned, plus I know the fact that she’s extremely close with her family – so during the past weekend, I asked her family for their blessings.

First, I asked her sisters – which I got my first yes.

The next easiest target was the grandmother. I got my second yes.

Now, I already went through the process twice. I already got 2 yeses. And, although I was quite nervous (I paced up and down) before I spoke to the parents, it was still 1 million times easier.

Why?

Because I already got 2 smaller yeses.

Closing More Sales is a Series of Yeses!

Just like I went through a series of “yeses” to get the “yes” I really wanted – you need to go through a series of “yeses” with your customers in business.

See most article marketers try to promote a high-priced product or service in the bio box. Then they wonder why they’re not getting website traffic or sales.

Your prospects need to get used to you. You need to build trust. You need to prove that you are the expert – just like I needed to prove to Kristina’s parents that I will take extremely good care of her and our future family.

So, How Do You Get More Prospects to Move Forward and Say That First Yes?

1. Offer prospects a free special report or sneak preview in the bio box.

2. Be sure to include a reason why they should go to your website to get this free incentive.

3. Send prospects to a focused squeeze page – with no outside distractions. This way, it will be easier for prospects to say their first “yes.”

For example, check out: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com where I offer you three free instant article writing templates that will help you write articles in 30 minutes or less.

Once you enter your name and email address, you are taken to a page where you can download the free templates. You are also given an offer to get my complete collection of article templates.

Let’s say you choose to invest in my complete collection of more than 40 article templates (this means I already got 2 yeses!) I upsell you and offer you supplementary products like my Complete A to Z Article Marketing System.

I then have my virtual assistant follow up with my article marketing product buyers to offer them a free strategy session with me. At the end of the session, I invite them to take advantage of my article marketing services or my article marketing coaching program.

Notice, I start off with a free offer – then to a low priced product, to another product at a higher price point. Finally, I get them exactly where I want them – investing in my articles services or in my monthly article marketing coaching program.

See, if you want to close more sales, then you have to go for a series of yeses – and not for the “BIG” yes right away.

Now, wish me luck as I have one more “Yes” to go – the most important one of them all. I now have to ask Krissy in a couple weeks.

Article marketing expert Eric Gruber creates online marketplace opportunities for small business owners who want more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now Eric invites you to give him your first “yes”, by getting his free article writing templates that will help you write articles faster. Get his instant article templates now at: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com