Article Marketing- Newbies, What Comes First, Article or Marketing?

What comes first, article or marketing? Yes, you are right. It is the word article. It is not only because it the first word in the title, "Article Marketing". There is an even greater reason that it comes first. Let me explain.

Article marketing is the marriage of writing and marketing. There seems to be some confusion among many writers and marketers about this tool. Marketing takes many forms. As you know, it is advertising.  You can advertise in different media like video, audio, or writing. You can do it on TV, on the radio, newspapers, and you can do it on the internet.

Advertising usually requires a written script. You know that its primary purpose is to convince you to buy a product or an idea.  You know it when you watch a TV commercial or read a billboard. That is what you are expecting. Copywriting is the art of writing advertising copy. It is a highly paid profession. It takes great insight and skill to persuade people using words.

Articles, on the other hand, are for the most part informational. Yes, I know they sell something as well. They educate, inform, and even may attempt to convince you of the attributes of a given subject.  In that sense, they too are advertising.

The difference lies in what the reader of an article is expecting to read. Imagine reading this in an article about prostate cancer: "BEWARE! CANCER KILLS! You must see your doctor annually and check it out. Take XYZ pills and relieve your future suffering NOW!" That isn't the best of copywriting, but then I am not very good at it. I think you get the point.

As a reader of an article, wouldn't you expect something more like: "Medical studies have undeniably shown that cancer kills. Physicians advise and recommend that men over 40 have an annual check up.  XYZ pills may provide some relief, but first check with your doctor."

I am sure that you see the difference. The first piece obviously and blatantly is selling you XYZ pills.  The second piece is also selling XYZ pills, but it at least gave you one piece of information, men over 40 should have an annual check up. You are reading an article, not watching TV.

Article marketing is unique to the Internet. It is a method used to inform and to sell (advertise). As an article marketer, consider the readers expectations and that is an expectation of information. The buzzword is "content". Provide the reader with content. Copywriting has its place even in article writing, but content reigns supreme.

Article writing is not copywriting. Its main purpose is to inform; its secondary purpose is to sell. That is why the word "article" is first and the word "marketing" is second in Article Marketing.