| are lots of travel website owners who write travel | | | | has some of his own material but decides to visit an |
| articles for article marketing, many of whom I believe | | | | article directory and find some content to help build |
| do not give themselves the best shot at successful | | | | his site faster. He finds a really great article about |
| results. In this article I will explain why from my | | | | visiting Jamaica and would love to use it but the title |
| observations that I think some travel writers let | | | | 'Cheap Flights To The Caribbean' is a problem. Yes |
| themselves down and how I believe they can | | | | you've guessed right – the only reference to |
| improve their results. | | | | cheap flights is in the author bio. Mathew decides |
| The Nitty Gritty | | | | against using the article on his website because he |
| First of all article marketers submit articles to article | | | | has ethics and does not want to mislead his site |
| directories as part of their website promotions | | | | visitors. |
| – that and much of what I'm saying here | | | | He then spots an article titled 'Fabulous Jamaica |
| applies for any niche. Ideally article marketers are | | | | Resort Review'. Mathew expects a genuine review |
| working towards the following: | | | | from somebody who has visited the resort, but he |
| · Long term backlinks pointing to their sites | | | | doesn't get that. Instead there is a brochure like |
| · Viral effect of articles being re-published on | | | | article extolling the virtues of a hotel or all inclusive |
| authority sites and ezines | | | | resort that just happens to be linked to in the author |
| · Click throughs on those links | | | | bio - and an article that shows no indication of the |
| · Establish themselves as an authority in their | | | | author ever setting foot on the beautiful island of |
| niche | | | | Jamaica. There is also a sentence recommending a |
| · Credibility in the eyes of readers | | | | website for more information within the article body |
| The first 3 are about getting more traffic to your | | | | and that website just happens to belong to the |
| sites, the last 3 are about benefiting from the traffic. | | | | author – goodbye credibility. |
| Article marketers will not benefit from their work if | | | | Reality Check |
| they produce: | | | | With these scenarios the authors have thought that |
| · Poorly written articles | | | | they were being clever and used the best keywords |
| · Show a lack of first hand knowledge | | | | and phrases in the titles for what they are promoting |
| · Ruin their credibility by misleading and | | | | in the author bio. Fair enough if the article content |
| disappointing readers | | | | matches the titles and key phrases – shooting |
| It's all common sense but not every writer gets it. In | | | | yourself in the foot article marketing if it doesn't. |
| order to explain more I will use some potential | | | | If you promise a review of a resort you should |
| scenarios. | | | | deliver just that and not something that can be |
| Information Searches | | | | found on any travel brochure or travel site. A review |
| Jess and Mick have booked a cheap flight on the | | | | should be an author's opinion written from experience |
| Internet to the Canary Islands. As they need | | | | and nothing less. Recommending your own websites |
| accommodation it's only natural that they do a search | | | | in the article body not only spoils an article but is also |
| for the type of accommodation that they want. | | | | a credibility hit. |
| They use 'Canary Island holiday property rentals' in | | | | If your misleading article is accepted on article |
| their first search and are pleased to see an article | | | | directories do you want to benefit from the viral |
| titled 'Canary Island Holiday Property Rentals' at the | | | | effect of your article being published on other |
| top of the search results. | | | | websites and ezines? Would you want content on |
| Disappointment hits them when they find that the | | | | your website or ezine that is misleading or pure |
| article is about the Canary Islands in general and has | | | | unpaid for advertising? I know that I wouldn't. I really |
| nothing to do with holiday property rentals except | | | | enjoy reading good travel articles and reviews, but |
| for a link in the resource box. The author has lost | | | | often find them disappointing for the reasons that |
| credibility because their title is misleading and the only | | | | I've outlined. |
| links that are likely to be clicked on are the Google | | | | Any good and ethical sales person, and that includes |
| ads that you generally find on the article directory | | | | Internet marketers know that to do well you need |
| pages or more likely Jess and Mick click away and | | | | to build up trust with your prospective customers. |
| continue their search. | | | | You want your articles to work for you so start |
| They finally find the information that they really want | | | | thinking about them from the point of view of a |
| and accommodations sorted out they now want | | | | reader or publisher and you won't go far wrong. |
| information about hiring a car. Their search is Canary | | | | The travel niche is huge and nowadays many |
| Islands car hire, the top link is an article titled 'Canary | | | | travellers search the Internet for information before |
| Islands Car Hire'. Imagine how annoyed Jess and Mick | | | | they book their dream holidays. The majority of |
| feel to find yet another general article about the | | | | travellers know nothing about Internet marketing, |
| Canary Islands and the only thing concerning car hire | | | | article marketing or key phrases. All they know is |
| is a link in the author bio – goodbye credibility, | | | | what they see – that they are being misled. |
| article and click throughs! | | | | Would you click on a link and buy from an author or |
| Publisher Searches | | | | seller who is misleading you? |
| Mathew is building a website about the Caribbean. He | | | | |