Article directories clearly state that when reprinting an article, the resource box must remain intact including the link. The resource box is one of the most important pieces of your article marketing strategy. It is what will draw a person to your site, increase your traffic and ultimately your sales.
Your resource box should include enough information to pique readers’ interest, and have a strong call to action that will encourage them to click on your link for more information. No matter how good your article is, if your resource box does not compel the reader to visit your site and find out more, you have lost an opportunity to earn a customer.
Tips for writing an effective resource box:
1. Don’t start your resource box off with your bio. This signals to the reader that your article is complete and that they can stop reading. Instead, begin with a question or statement that will entice them to read more. Example: “Want fourteen more ways to make money from home?”
2. Do not include a full bio. Most people are not interested in your full bio or every degree and accolade you have received. In fact, most people will skim over it and you will lose their interest before they get to your link and call to action.
3. Include at least one link, more if allowed. Look at the resource box guidelines for each directory to find out what you are allowed to include. Most allow one link, some two. Be sure to include as many links as you are allowed.
4. A strong call to action is an absolute requirement. Include a statement which informs the reader what they will receive when they click on your link and how it will benefit their lives. For instance, “Download Joe’s free report today for more ways to make money in your sleep!”
5. Answer the burning question. When crafting your resource box, consider the question all readers ask (if only subconsciously)… “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM).
6. Draft a different resource box to fit every article that you create. If the article is about home improvement, then draft your resource box to tie into that with an appropriate offer and link. If the next article is specific to tool selection, steer your resource box in that direction. Start a file of resource boxes so you can add an appropriate one without recreating it each time.
The resource box is your opportunity to tell the reader what you have to offer and what they should do next. If you can show a reader what they will gain by clicking on your link, you’re almost guaranteed to build your website traffic with the articles you write.
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Deb
From a #blog30 member.
Do you have a recommendation for article distributors beyond the directory Ezine articles?
Ruthan
Ruthan Brodsky recently posted..3 Reasons Why Social Networking Doesn’t Work for Business
Twitter: evelynbrooks
says:
Thanks for the reminders of how to do this. I’ve just started publishing articles at Ezine and I’ll remember your advice, particularly about the “strong” call to action!
Evelyn
blog30
Evelyn Roberts Brooks recently posted..Weekend Be-Happier Tip 27
[...] 2. Article Marketing – the niche you’ve chosen for your blog is probably one that interests you a great deal. And if it’s interesting you’re far more likely to spend more time doing it. You need to create content not only for your blog but also to be submitted to article directories. Use the resource box to advertise your blog so people can find you. (Here’s how to write a killer resource box.) [...]
Twitter: JWean
says:
Thanks for the tips. I’ve had a tab open all day with the only thing left to do is write the resource box. I just couldn’t find the proper wording, or exactly what I should include.
Jeremiah M. Wean recently posted..Why You Absolutely Need to Buy Now
Thanks for your article. I’ve just written my first article for ezine. I’m trying to find out how to put the links into my resource box. I’m very new at this.
alberto cantoni recently posted..Pedometer Watches and Pedometers Their Uses and Features
These are great tips and another thing I like to do with the resource box is to take the last paragraph of the article and span it from body to resource box. This will lead people into the resource box and with the right WIIFM and call to action your CTR will be much better.
Bill Wynne recently posted..Choosing a Personal Domain Name
Enjoyed your article and thought i could bring my contribution to it. So, about the size:
Size doesn’t matter: Different resource boxes work for different situations. I use short, plain resource boxes most of the time. Some people argue that in order to get the maximum number of clicks from your article, you need to make full use of the 1,100 characters available to you in ezinearticles.com resource box. That is wrong!
In principle, a short ad can be as powerful as a longer one, and the same applies to resource boxes. It all depends on how you POSITION your offer. In fact, my opinion is that the person who can describe everything in a two-line ad is a better copywriter than one who takes pages to describe the same!
Thank you for this article .Just created a resource box with your instruction set.Thank you for this ..
saptak mandal recently posted..Complete SEO Packages
Thank you for this article. I’ve only just written my first resource box for EzineArticles, so this was extremely useful – particularly the advice for including a specific “call to action” in your resource box. That made a lot of sense.