I have a confession to make.
I think in "articles."
As a freelance copywriter working with a shoestring budget, I use articles to promote my writing expertise on the web. And it really works! But I must tell you, it's taking over my brain.
I started doing this about seven months ago, and over the past couple of months I noticed some "article chatter" happening in my head.
Now, instead of "I think I'll write Cathy an email about my new Betta fish, Harry Peesalot," it's "Maybe I'll write an article about Betta fish and post it on the web!"
The article starts flowing from my brain before I can even get to the keyboard.
What the heck is going on here? Was I brainwashed by some weird article-writing cult? Possibly, but I think it's a blessing, and I believe it can only mean wonderful things for my business.
Article Exposure: Worth the Extra Effort
Are you an aspiring freelance copywriter? Do you want to open yourself up to new opportunities in a new, specialized niche? If so, article marketing is the way to go.
Some writers will argue that it takes too much time and effort to write articles. But really now, what else are you doing with your time? Watching TV? Writing emails and complaining about how lame your life is to friends who *pretend* to be interested?
Stop writing those emails and start writing articles. You spend enough time writing down your thoughts, why not take it a step further and let yourself be heard and known as the expert you are!
Advertise Your Business for FREE with Articles
Some writers will argue that article writing doesn't offer instant payment for them. That may be true... but not if you think of the articles as free advertising. Free advertising is LONG TERM PROFIT, and that's far better than a few bucks thrown your way for articles that you write under somebody else's name and get absolutely zero recognition for.
More about advertising: The majority of advertising is paid for by the person who wants to promote their brand. Nobody thinks twice about this. You want exposure, so you pay money.... sometimes a lot of money.
Article writing is advertising exposure... but the beauty of it is, it's FREE.
I'll say it again: It's Free!
I hope this is making sense to you, because once it clicks, the articles just start flowing. And every time you contract a new writing job, you gain specialized knowledge that can be turned into 10-15 articles at the very least. What a fantastic way to build your credibility.
Two Article Authors for Twice the Exposure
Here's a thought: Let's say you have writing experience in a specialized industry, such as pharmaceutical... and I have experience in a different area, such as technology. Well, what if we got together on one website, advertised our unique writing strengths, and then each wrote 25-50 articles that highly targeted our own category? That would be double the visitors, double the job inquiries, and double the number of contracts, which could potentially snowball into something even bigger-- who knows what!
But you'll never know the potential if you don't try. So why not take a gander at article marketing! Sign up for a free membership with the friendly folks at Ezinearticles.com and start writing about what you know. It's fun, it's cathartic, and it's good for your business.
(FYI: I don't get paid to say these things. I'm just really gung-ho.)
To your freelance writing success!
Dina Giolitto
Wordbrains.com
Dina Giolitto creates core-driven copy for small business owners seeking guidance on matters of grammar, punctuation, word choice, structural organization, Search Engine Optimization - and above all, Guerilla Marketing Tactics for their websites and print materials. Add your name to her roster of talented writers. Visit http://www.wordbrains.com