Visibility, Credibility and Position Through Articles and Celebrity Testimonials

A huge problem for many people trying to gain market visibility and position is the amount of competition vying for the same market. An extremely effective strategy for gaining visibility is by writing articles. This positions you as more of an expert and valuable resource rather than “just another” vendor or salesperson.

Writing articles is a great way to niche yourself as an expert in your field or specific industry. By providing practical information, you can reach specific audiences. This can create exciting opportunities for you and your business.

The great thing is you can begin immediately to utilize the power of articles. Many people believe you have to wait until an editor approaches you before you can be published. In today’s world of technology, you can write an article in the morning and by afternoon reach thousands of folks all over the world.

Not only can you submit articles to various resources online, you can also use articles in a press kit, marketing kit and as a service to your client base. Additionally, you can start your own e-zine (online newsletter).

A simple search on the Internet in your area of interest and the word newsletter in that search will bring up countless places looking for well-written articles. For example "fishing newsletters" on a google search brings up hundreds of listings.

If you are a good writer and your information is valuable, other people can actually help you to reach more of your market. They can send a copy of the article or your ezine link to clients, friends, or associates. I have had numerous experiences where my clients so liked an article they would duplicate it and send it to their client base. The only thing I require when someone does that is they include by byline. (Definition and example below)

This is a fantastic way to gain an even greater reach with my information. The fact that it is sent out by my client to their clients lends itself to even more credibility.

Another great way to gain massive credibility is through celebrity testimonials. Recently, I had the opportunity to write an article about Hot Rod Hundley. A former NBA All Star player, Hall of Fame winner and the Voice of the Utah Jazz, Hot Rod Hundley graciously shared his upbringing, some of his professional experiences and shared stories about his dentist, Dr. Scott Kiser. The fact that a well-known figure like Hot Rod, who is considered one of the greats in the NBA shared his experiences about Dr. Kiser is one of the best endorsements a dentist can get. To read the full article click http://www.greatsmilesutah.com/spotlight.htm

Types of articles for promotions and publicity:

• Tips

• How To

• Column

• Interviews

When asked to write an article you absolutely must make sure to keep articles at the length requested by the editor. If they ask for 500 words, then give them 500 words. They know exactly what they need and if you can accommodate them, there is a greater chance you will be asked to write for them again. They have specific areas in their publication they must fill and if you give them too much, or too little, you make their job more difficult. The idea is to make their job as easy as possible.

Secondly, make sure the articles are well written. No typos, good sentence structure, no misspelled words. Although I consider myself to be a very good writer I often have articles edited by a professional editor.

Always submit your work by the deadline given. If possible, get it to the editor before their deadline. Again, this makes their job easier.

Keep in mind that once something is in written form, there is no turning back. You never know how long the life of an article is, nor do you know how many people might see the article. That is why it may pay to have your own professional editor.

Study the publication for which you would like to write. There is no point to write for a publication that doesn't reach your target market. Again, this is about gaining exposure within your market. When I first started writing for publicity, I would write for just about any publication and often on topics that, although qualified to write on, were not focused on the area I wanted recognition as an expert. I soon realized  this was a waste of time, money and energy. Now, being fully focused, I am getting extremely great results.

I mentioned a byline. Simply put, that is the section at the end of the article that tells readers a bit about you. In many cases you will be allowed to include your contact information such as a phone number, email address and web address. If given a choice between the three, I will put the web address over the other items. My website can provide even more information about my company and the services I provide.

Sample Byline

Kathleen Gage is a business advisor, keynote speaker, and trainer that helps others gain market dominance and visibility within their market. Call 801.619.1514 or e-Mail kathleen@turningpointpresents.com . Get Gage’s FREE 4 day online marketing course by visiting www.kathleengage.com.

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