7 Tips to Grab New Clients

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7 Tips to Grab New Clients

7 Tips to Grab New Clients

As a business professional, you probably realize the value of writing articles for print publications to telegraph your expertise. Have you considered that writing articles for online publications can build even more buzz for your business?

Some professionals dismiss online articles because they lack the prestige of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Yet online articles have a distinct advantage in that they are searchable by keywords. This means prospects using keywords matching your area of expertise can be taken to your website within seconds.

Advantages of publishing articles online include the following:

- When people read your online article, they can immediately click on your website to take advantage of your special offer or more information.

- When potential clients or customers perform a search on your name, all your articles come up, enhancing your credibility.

- You can use strategic words to create a keyword rich article that will help your target audience find you in a crowded Internet environment.

- You can submit the same article to many different websites, thus getting more return for time spent writing the article.

The most popular articles give practical how-to advice about how to solve a problem facing your target audience. Though your lead paragraph is very important in a print publication, you need an even more compelling lead and title when you write articles to be read online.

Crafting a Catchy Title

Once you've finished your article, crown it with a catchy title. It should combine elements of surprise, curiosity, and contain a strong emotional hook. Effectively, your article title must stop people in their tracks and compel them to read the article.

Below are additional tips for writing articles online: - Create a list of keywords your target audience would use to find information on your topic. You want to use those keywords in the headline and body (especially the first paragraph) of your text.

- Get to the point as quickly as possible, preferably in your opening sentence.

- Succinctly outline the steps or a course of action that will help a reader solve a problem.

- Keep the article to 500 words or less.

- Keep sentences and paragraphs short.

- End with a firm call to action.

- Use a time-sensitive offer and strong benefits in your resource box to motivate the reader to click on your site immediately.

Perhaps the best thing about publishing articles online is that when your target audience uses the right keywords, your article could come in the search results along with a Wall Street Journal article on the topic, literally putting you on the same page and further enhancing your expertise.

Marisa D'Vari is owner of Deg.Com Communications based in Manhattan and a national speaker. Visit her website http://www.BuildingBuzz.com for free articles, reports, and tips. Her new book, Building Buzz: How to Reach and Impress Your Target Audience, is available at bookstores everywhere.

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

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AP - Detroit's automakers, making a second bid for $25 billion in funding, are presenting Congress with plans Tuesday to restructure their ailing companies and provide assurances that the funding will help them survive and thrive.

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AP - Walloped by the recession, automakers' U.S. sales are plummeting as hard-to-get credit, job losses and other stresses make many Americans wary of taking on big-ticket financial commitments.

Thai government falls after court bans premier (AP)

AP - Thailand's prime minister resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests that paralyzed his government and closed the capital's airports. Cargo flights resumed and protesters promised to lift their siege by Wednesday.

'Chemical Ali' sentenced to death in Iraq (AP)

AP - A special Iraqi court sentenced Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin, "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid, to death Tuesday after convicting him of crimes against humanity for his part in crushing the 1991 Shiite uprising in southern Iraq.

Ga. Senate runoff could decide balance of power (AP)

AP - Georgia voters had their hands on the balance of power in the next U.S. Senate as polls opened Tuesday for a runoff election, one of two unresolved races that Democrats need to win to get a 60-seat majority impervious to GOP filibusters.

India demands Pakistan hand over terror suspects (AP)

AP - India picked up intelligence in recent months that terrorists were plotting attacks against Mumbai targets, an official said Tuesday, as the government demanded that Islamabad hand over suspected terrorists believed living in Pakistan.

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AP - Shaking hands with yourself is an amusing out-of-body experience. The illusion of having your stomach slashed with a kitchen knife, not so much.

Britney Spears tops Yahoo searches (AP)

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Heat rally in final seconds of OT to beat Warriors (AP)

AP - Chris Quinn hit a tying 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in overtime, Michael Beasley stole the ensuing inbounds pass and made the decisive free throw, and the Miami Heat pulled off a wild 130-129 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

Thai court disbands ruling party (Reuters)

Reuters - Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was banned from politics for five years and his party disbanded on Tuesday, plunging the country deeper into chaos and raising fears of a violent backlash by government supporters.

Europe looks to galvanize banks (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Commission on Tuesday promised measures to get state-aided banks to start lending to the real economy but EU finance ministers squabbled over ways to push back against the global financial crisis.

Georgia votes in key Senate run-off election (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. state of Georgia votes in a run-off election for U.S. Senate on Tuesday that will help decide whether Democrats gain a big enough majority in the chamber to ram through legislation virtually at will.

Oil back above $49 after early dive (Reuters)

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Two U.S. soldiers charged for abusing Afghans (Reuters)

Reuters - Two U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been charged with the abuse of Afghan detainees, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

Chances of WMD attack in big city greater: report (Reuters)

Reuters - The chances of a terror attack on a major city somewhere in the world using weapons of mass destruction are better than even, according to a task force mandated by the U.S. Congress, The Washington Post reported in its Tuesday edition.

India demands Pakistani sign of faith (Reuters)

Reuters - India demanded Pakistan hand over 20 of its most wanted fugitives as a sign of good faith on Tuesday, while both sides tried to cool tensions over the Mumbai attacks that have threatened improving ties.

Lots of TV and Web harms kids' health (Reuters)

Reuters - Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web makes children more prone to a range of health problems including obesity and smoking, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Thai court bans PM, flights to resume (AFP)

AFP - A Thai court stripped Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat of his post and outlawed the ruling party on Tuesday, prompting jubilant anti-government protesters to lift a blockade of Bangkok's main airport.

Pakistan offers 'joint investigation' into Mumbai attacks (AFP)

AFP - Pakistan offered on Tuesday to work hand-in-hand with India to track down those responsible for the Mumbai attacks but declined to respond immediately to a demand that it hand over 20 terrorist suspects.

7 Tips to Grab New Clients

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