Do you write articles to drive traffic to your website?
It’s a proven way to get qualified prospects to visit your site.
I am just starting to do that for this blog, but luckily I have a bit of an advantage in this area:
I have been writing offline articles for years now.
And in my experience, having a few different templates to structure your articles, makes the process a whole lot easier.
Here are 3 that I use regularly, and save me tons of time and energy:
1. X Steps (or Ways) To Solve a Problem or Present a Benefit…
First, you must have a solution to a problem or a strategy to share with your readers.
So imagine that you have developed a method of using cheap, remnant newspaper space ads to drive hordes of traffic to your website (by the way, this is true…).
Let’s say that you can chunk the process down into 7 steps from start to finish.
Well, then the title of your article (if you are generous enough to share this information for free) could be something like:
“A Simple, 7 Step Offline Strategy That Brings a Tidal Wave of Traffic to Your Website”
You then outline the 7 steps people need to take in order to make this happen.
See how that works?
Tip: Even if your solution or strategy doesn’t necessarily involve clear cut steps, it would benefit both you and your readers to break the information down into digestible, easy to follow chunks.
That way, anyone reading your article can easily wrap their minds around your solution.
“7 Easy Steps to a
2. Frequently Asked Questions Template
The good old FAQ page isn’t just for websites anymore.
When you are addressing a topic of concern or confusion for your prospects, this format can be extremely effective.
For instance, how about Lasik Eye Surgery?
Thousands of people with poor eyesight would love crystal clear vision, but many of them probably have questions and concerns about the Lasik procedure.
Surgery on your eyes? Kinda scary…
So, include an introduction explaining what you are going to write about, then dive right into the most pressing questions, plus your answers, regarding the topic.
(Please keep in mind that I have no knowledge of the Lasik procedure. This is just a template for writing articles…)
***
Question: Are there any long term, negative side effects of Lasik?
Answer: Lasik has been around for over 30 years now, and only .07% of patients during this time have experienced any relapse or worsening of their vision after their procedures.
And most of these people are extreme cases where eye injuries or preexisting conditions (nothing to do with the Lasik procedure) created the adverse effects.
Question: How long does the procedure take?
Answer: The entire procedure for both eyes takes roughly 20 minutes. You are literally in and out before you know it. However, you are advised not to drive or do participate in any strenuous activities for the remainder of the day.
Question: How soon can I get back to work? How soon will I experience my new, clear vision?
Answer: You may experience some slight haziness during the first hour. However, after a good night’s rest, the following morning you can start your first normal day with perfect vision.
Question: How much does the procedure usually cost?
Answer: The procedure costs $997 per eye. But if you get them done at Optical Institute, you can take advantage of our special: $1497 for both eyes.
***
Get it?
Okay, let’s move on to our final template.
3. Personal Story Template
This is hands down the most enjoyable format to work with because it’s about your favorite topic… YOU!
And the template is brain dead easy.
First, tell a story about yourself:
Let’s say it’s the time you took a class in college to overcome your fear of public speaking, and you were so scared that you almost walked out the first day.
But you didn’t. And you kept working at it.
And a few years later, you found yourself winning public speaking competitions and receiving standing ovations in front of hundreds of people. All because you had the courage to step into a frightening, unknown situation.
Second, share the lesson you learned:
You realized, what separates successful people from unsuccessful people is the ability to step into uncertain situations with boldness, knowing that there is never a “perfect” time to take action.
And you carried that lesson with you into all other areas of your life, making a habit of pushing your boundaries and your comfort zone, because there is no “100% Money Back Guarantee” attached to life.
Third, switch the focus to your readers, as a lesson for them to take away. Challenge them to take your lesson to heart.
That’s it. Easy and fun, right?
(This is actually a real article/blog post I wrote. You can read it here: http://onlinebusinessfreedom.com/how-to-overcome-anything/)
There are dozens of other article templates you can use, but these are the three I use most often. I hope they help you as much as they have helped me.
Hopefully they will save you a lot of time and effort, while infusing your articles with focus and clarity.
-James D. Lee
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