Purpose of Article Writing

[IslaScotts]

Now I know that article writing can be a powerful marketing and informational tool. But what if any benefit does it have for a web design / graphic design business. I have worked in marketing, but on a product level... never a service level. I don't know much about marketing services. What I am trying to do is increase my client base from 1 every 3 months to 1 every month. Currently I get all my clients from referrals, either from other graphic artists in town or from the clients I already serve. Any direction given would be appreciated.

[netmaster123]

Articles can bring you traffic and can also create backlinks for your website, if your article is good you can generate many backlinks to your site in a very short time.

[cimmeron]

Other than possibly generate backlinks to increase your rankings, I don't know that they're much use to a service-type business (imo). You'd be better off getting listed in directories that people would actually look for you on...those will also give you backlinks, as well.

[IslaScotts]

I just got my business listed on a local listing website. I am trying to target the local market (even though all my current clients are out of state.) I was thinking about writing articles geared toward the local community. Ok basically I was going to write some articles for my clients, but I think other people around here would be interested in them as well.

And yes my lucious color, I do believe I agree with you.. that they do not really help the service industry unless it is along the lines of a medical or counsiling service.

So thank you very much for giving me your opinion guys. (Cause I am not really a businessy type. I am the wierdo, introverted type.)

[sizzler_chetan]

Tell me which directories do get u traffic.

I saw a few nice article sites getting u traffic too but directories are not helpful for generating traffic.
Both give backlinks, but in articles u get content minded backlinks which are taken a bit more stronger by google than directories which are just stuffed off with links and links.

I always believe article writing and submission as a great way of marketing

[cimmeron]

I'm listed on a couple reputable design directories that have been around quite some time - I get traffic and some clients that way.

backlinks are obviously a great way to increase your rankings but on their own, they are not going to bring clients in the door...in the service industries.

[A.N.Onym]

I'd advise to forget about the search engines and write quality articles for trusted publications in your industry, online or offline. This should get you some clients, hopefully.

Bulk article distribution starts looking like spam, lately, though.

[IslaScotts]

Well I would be circulating only in my city, most likely offline. They would be available on the web, but probably only on my site. For my clients use, and if the offline people wanted to send an online copy of it to someone else.

[cimmeron]

I think in that case, the articles would help build your local credibility, so it would be a good thing

[sizzler_chetan]

Ya article writing differentiates into many ways, like own publicity in the locality, making good name in the internet world and much more...

[IslaScotts]

Now finding the time to sit down and write them is another challenge!

[cimmeron]

yea...it's funny because I usually am thinking about stuff I want to write for a week or two and then when I sit down, it just pours out. but yea, maybe that's weird?

you could try the 'set time aside' strategy but I never can get that to work for me.

[motheninja]

Originally Posted by IslaScotts

Now finding the time to sit down and write them is another challenge!

you can always pay someone else to write them for you.

[IslaScotts]

that's cheating.. I don't cheat. I just don't have enough time between being a single work-at-home mom and running my business. Hopefully one day it will just come to me. Hehehehehe

[CallCoff]

posting articles gets great publicity, builds traffic and a load of back links. You can submit all your articles to http://estuffarticles.com and i will gladly include them if they are okey.

take a look at http://estuffarticles.com

[KenMendonca]

Our company has our own inhouse copywriter. That's how imprtant content and the articles we deal with every day are. Our site is so big that it would be impossible for one person to handle all the writing we need done. If you ever create something dental related let me know. We can always use more unique content.

[bdunndchi]

Originally Posted by A.N.Onym

I'd advise to forget about the search engines and write quality articles for trusted publications in your industry, online or offline. This should get you some clients, hopefully.

Bulk article distribution starts looking like spam, lately, though.

I have decided to go the article-writing route, but I don't want to submit to sites that are spam-ish. What sites would you suggest?

[KenMendonca]

If you're writing good content make sure they pay you is all I'd recommend.