Looking for a new marketing strategy? How about article marketing?

Do you like writing? Are you an expert in your field? Or passionate about a particular subject? Then article marketing might be a good strategy for you

This subtle (and free) form of online advertising is all about writing and submitting an online article. And it's a true win win situation since these articles add value to the content of online publishers and e-newsletter distributors whilst simultaneously spreading YOUR word.

One of the most well known platforms for doing this is www.ezinearticles.com. Set up in 1999, this resource gives you exposure to hundreds of thousands of daily visitors who in turn have thousands, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of e-mail list members of their own. So, in effect, if you write a great insightful article you may get

• a lot of exposure to a lot of people
• a boost to your credibility
• and possibly some direct business

This really does work, I got a Swindon based client simply because she’d read something I‘d submitted and then clicked on my website link. There should be no surprise that this kind of thing happens - after all those coming to your website WILL want what you are offering...

I also discovered one of my articles within a high circulation US based business advice newsletter - so it is possible to momentarily become a legend in your own lunchtime!

Ezinearticles is packed with lots of good ongoing advice about creating the best possible piece and it is wise to read this since there are thousands of authors with whom you are competing. However, the very act of learning to write such an article can be enormously helpful in honing a fresh new marketing perspective.

Has anyone else had marketing success using this method?

What is a QR code?

At the Planning and Promoting an Event Workshop I ran yesterday, one of the promotional vehicles I mentioned was a QR code which drew blank faces from most of the attendees. (As a trainer, it’s always a relief to know more than the attendees…)

Having done pretty extensive research here is my explanation for you:
You may have begun to see crossword like bar codes appearing in various places and wondered what they were. Well basically these provide the fast delivery of information by allowing you to connect to website addresses, video clips, phone numbers, geo coordinates, text and more simply by taking a photo of the QR Code with a smart phone that has a QR Code reader application.

Standing for “Quick Response” and originating in Japan, these are already popular in Asia and the US and we are beginning to see these used here. Indeed household names like B & Q are already making full use of them –  Take a look at this image below:



Should you be thinking about using them, the same marketing rules apply as to all marketing methods:

Will YOUR target audience use them?
At this time, those who are initially most receptive will be those with a high tech know-how and may be more receptive to your presence on the web, and through social networking sites

Remember WIIFM which stands for
What’s in it for me? There seems little point using a QR code for something which disappoints, or your clients and customers will not bother looking at them again! So these should definitely ADD VALUE.



In practical terms it is very quick and easy to generate a QR code for your website, video clip, text message, location details etc by using any one of several sites. Here is an excellent blog which describes 10 such sites. I used the quikQR website and it literally took seconds.

What’s more you need not be restricted to black and white, although it will cost you to customise it is possible to have your logo, an image, or a colour scheme incorporated.

Take a look at the galleries of two companies that do this. One based in Farnham and one in Edinburgh

QR codes can be printed onto any material or included into your website or blog, and certainly they may be a way of using a small space to put across a lot of information whether this is a seasonal special offer; a video clip of a product application, a connection to cut price tickets for an event; the ingredients of a dish or the history of your venue. QR codes can be developed over and over again for each of your required applications.

How did I use my first QR code (above)? By linking it to my postcard gallery so you can see my work in glorious technicolour – Scan and enjoy!

Have you used a QR code yet? Please share how…

PS:  If you are looking at less usual ways to market you might also find these useful:

• About article marketing
• And for all round inspiration here are 40 ways to market

It's Marketing, Jim, but not as we know it...

I apologise to any keen Trekkies out there for plagiarising that well known phrase but it seemed a good idea at the time...

Many companies think that marketing is about chucking money at glossy brochures or high profile ads, but honestly that need not be the case. You can spend no money at all, or just a little AND still get business...

Let's start with the no money technique.

Due to savvy advice by Samantha Russell of The Social Sardine I decided to experiment with posting expert articles online. With some help from Sam for the initial set up and having read the very wise words on how to get the best results I blazed away.

Last week, as a direct result of this I got a piece of work in from Swindon (I am east of Basingstoke) When asked how she heard of me, my new client said she had read an article on a marketing site, followed the link to my website (got embedding the hyperlink sussed then...)read about my postcard service and decided they were exactly what she needed.

I am happy and so is she - having been sent the postcards her words were "Wow, Jane, they're great! And you were so quick! Thank you so much!"

Of course I don't like to be boring but this only worked because of the process in place which underpinned the marketing stuff in terms of the website being done well(thanks 48k) a downloadable pdf on the postcard service; an agreement that can be used remotely and a no risk payment plan to suit the client and me

Now how about the "little money" technique

Having taken a table at his local fete, a website designer asked what he should take as give aways as he had a limited budget. I suggested he go the the supermarket and look at party bag goods as they often provide inspiration.

This resulted in plastic trumpets for the kids which could be heard all over the ground and glasses of Prosecco for the adults - oh yes - and ultimately 14 solid sales leads.

I love it when a plan comes together...