Article Marketing Attract Website Traffic With A Sharp Resource Box

A resource box is the few lines of text found at the bottom of most topical articles one might read on the Internet. And savvy article marketing experts know that the resource box, albeit small, is a prime piece of online real estate for attracting qualified website traffic.

In fact, a great article writer will compose the entire body of an article for the sole purpose of retaining the reader's interest until she reaches and reads the tiny resource box at the end.

When a reader likes the content they just finished reading, it's a case of human nature to want more. So in its turn, the resource box should provide a live link to further related information, or at least to the source of the article. But like the article itself, the resource box must demand the reader's interest, and then motivate her to click the embedded link.

If the article body acts as the bait, then the resource box must act as the hook. Every fisherman knows that good bait is essential, but a sharp hook is what catches the fish.

Here are a few tips toward creating sharp article resource boxes that will reel in highly targeted prequalified website traffic and potential customers, without fail.

1- Pick at least one primary keyword or key phrase from the article body, and use it in the article resource box. That will serve the reader as a strong visual and mental trigger, as well as a lead in to the next set of information you want her to view.

2 - Where possible, use keywords and/or key phrases as the anchor text for resource box links. In other words, 'click here for more candle making tips' will prove much more effective than a link that says only 'click here to read more.'

3 - Clearly illustrate the benefit that the reader will receive simply by proceeding onward and clicking the link to the next page.

4 - Mention the author's name and/or the company name where appropriate, along with a few words to enhance credibility. As an example: 'Master candle maker Jane Doe has operated Doe & Doe Artistic Candles Studio since 1996.'

5 - Use the ad writing principles of attention, interest, desire, and action to craft the text of the resource box.

6 - All unnecessary and transitional words (and, the, or) should be edited out wherever possible.

7 - And finally, we suggest writing at least 3 to 5 versions of the resource box before choosing the final copy for publication.

Expert article writers regard fifty words or about five lines of text including the link - as the optimum length for a sharp resource box. More than that may actually reduce the overall effectiveness of the resource box, and the reader motivation it intends to create.

So, given that much needs to be said in a limited space with very few words, it almost goes without saying that the resource box must be as carefully crafted as any small classified type advertisement that one might insert for fee into any national publication.

While small in size, the article resource box remains as prime real estate in terms of driving prequalified website traffic. Don't underestimate the power that can be unlocked within five short lines of text.

Internet marketing expert Dan B. Cauthron has long been recognized for his No Nonsense approach to doing business on the net. Dan freely offers useful insight and online business wisdom at his main website: http://DanBCauthron.com

My Deepest Article Marketing Secrets! - Part 5

I think a good author's resource box is short and sweet. An author's resource box that is written in the style of a classified ad and explains your credentials as well as the benefits of the offer works well.

What I've seen people do to increase their results from article marketing is also to break up a very long article into different parts, so there is part 1, part 2...but leaving them wanting more by having the remainder of your article on your website is a great tactic. I haven't used it myself before, but I know others are having success with it. It leaves things hanging and that always gets click-throughs.

A little enthusiasm in your resource box surely helps, and you do need to be enthusiastic about your products and be willing to put on the sales hat online to make sales, but too much of the hyperbole and people do get turned off. So probably a balance would work.

[b]How To Outsource Article Writing[/b]

I personally use freelancers myself to write some of my articles; I'm looking for volume but I'm also looking for quality. So before I hire a writer, I'd always check out their samples first. And if they are good, I hire them to write articles for me.

I typically get a batch of 10-20 articles first before doing anything of a more bigger scale or giving my writers repeat projects. I like to make sure they are producing quality work.

If you're doing article marketing, be in it for the long-term. There's a lot of patience required to see some tremendous results from article marketing, but the wait will be well worth it, and you'll get some pretty nice long-term traffic.

Fabian Tan is the author of the free 51-Page Report:

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Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your free copy now before it's gone!