Article Marketing and Newbies - A Bad Rap and Some Advice

Did you know that there are two types of Internet article marketers/article writers? Well, there are. As you know, in internet article marketing, article writing is the method used to sell a product. One type of article marketing gives article writing a bad rap. The other does not. Let me explain.

It is obvious that more advertising (exposure) increases revenue. I do not think anyone will argue against that notion.  Article marketing is a unique form of advertising in that it promises the reader information in exchange for sales, unlike the forms of advertising seen on TV and billboards where the quantity (exposure) reigns. Exposure is a rule of law in most forms of advertising.

One type of article marketer / article writer sincerely wants to inform or educate his reader. He wants to sell product, of course. This type of article writer is willing to give something in return for the sale. I will assume you are that kind of author else, you may not be reading this.

An article marketer that uses good quality content and volume to drive his sales benefits the reader and the publisher.  The reader will come back for more and the publisher's website will profit from advertising on his site.  The author, reader, and publisher benefit.

The second type of article marketer is the "does whatever it takes to make money" type.  Some applaud this mentality. Some even teach it. It may be effective in the short run, but the old cliché of the end justifies the means does not apply here.  This method incorrectly assumes the readers' expectations.

The misconception of quantity over quality in article marketing stems from the Law of Advertising: multiple exposures sell product.  Advertising in media like TV and billboards does not promise the reader information.  Selling or advertising copy is what the reader expects. Not so, in article marketing the reader is expecting information, not sales copy.

That is where the Newbie is misled. It is not a question of quantity over quality.  It is true that the quantity matters, the more the better. Unlike for other advertising in general, the readers' expectations are different. Therefore, the writers' method must adjust to the reader.

The reader is looking for information. The reader is looking for content, quality content. The Law of Advertising must now include the readers' expectations. For article marketing to endure content must be the focus of the article marketer.

It is not a question of quality over quantity. Without quality, readers will soon get bored and ignore articles as a source of information and this form of advertising will die.  Without quantity, an author-marketer will soon become discouraged from the lack of sustainable sales. He will soon quit.