In Business Since 2001 We accept Paypal
Home Article Directory
More from Bill Platt
"Bill Platt for Book Authors" Youtube Channel
Training for Book Authors
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
FictionPlots.com (350+ Plots & counting)
Please Support Our Advertisers

 
D9 Hosting


Snowballs Rolling Down a Mountain! (Updated)

Copyright (c) 2003-2023

FIRST IMPRESSIONS CAN LAST A LIFETIME

The very first step in the promotion process is making contact with your potential customer. Once contact is made, it is suggested that you have 30 seconds to get their attention.

I personally feel that you have three chances to get their attention. In your first shot, you have less than 2 seconds! That is how long it takes someone to read your Headline. This is usually how much time you are allotted to snag someone's attention even in a radio spot or television ad. Also, in a direct sales call, your prospect may only give you two seconds to get his attention before he/she tunes you out!


YOUR SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

Many volumes have been written on how to write a good headline. These tutorials on writing good headlines can usually apply equally to your radio and tv ads, as well as on your direct sales call. To understand the power of writing a good headline is not the point of this article, so I will move on.

Most television ads and radio ads last 30 seconds, so you might have an additional 28 seconds to turn around the contact with your potential client. Even in a direct sales call, you will be given 30 seconds as a rule to dig yourself out, since it will usually take that long for a person to figure out how to get rid of you. In a written ad or article, that same 30 seconds usually amounts to maybe one or two paragraphs of text, at which time your prospect will be drawn into your ad or article, or they will move on to more important matters.


YOUR LAST CHANCE TO MAKE THE CONNECTION

Your third chance to get your prospects attention materializes only when you have successfully navigated yourself through the first 30 seconds! At this point, you have captured your potential clients attention and they are giving you the opportunity to take them where you would like them to go.


EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR MESSAGE

There is one technique that you can use which is a proverbial snow ball rolling down a mountain! That technique is to place your business behind your name, and to sell your name through the art of writing Free Reprint Articles. Save your business information for the Resource Box that accompanies every Free Reprint Article.

If you would spend the same amount of time that you could potentially spend with a single client in a direct sales situation, and apply that time to writing an article on a subject that people would like to read about, you could realistically be launching your own snowball of Mt. Everest proportions.


THE PUBLISHING CYCLE

There are thousands upon thousands of publishers out there in the world today. In the old world of publishing, it could take you years to become established enough so that publishers would begin to publish your work. Not only that, it could take months just to get one article to the finished stages that would catch the fancy of the good ol' boy system of publishing.

In today's Internet world, there are so many more publishers out there looking for even more content than was needed by the industry as little as five years ago. With the advent of the Internet system of doing things, anyone could become a publisher. With the flood of new publishers, the need for great content exploded as well.

Therein lies our greatest opportunity to market ourselves.


IN THE PAST

In the month of March 2000, I took articles that I had written for my own publications and repackaged them for general distribution. I also took some time to create a couple new articles just to meet this task. In March, I started promoting my articles to other publishers. I spent three solid weeks promoting my articles in the same way that I had been promoting my big newsletter.

I asked each publisher who published one of my articles to forward me a copy of their published ezine with my article inside. The publishers who allowed me that consideration gave me the opportunity to track my results. In the month of March, my articles gave me and my newsletter exposure to more than 500,000 readers! In that three week period, I effectively doubled my subscriber base!


YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

This article, up until this point, was originally written in July of 2000. I called the process *a snowball rolling down a mountain,* because in the months following the release of my first articles my site traffic began to grow exponentially, and my cash register began to ring.

Through September of 2000, I had managed to have my message seen in publications reaching over 2 million people!

In September of 2001, I took my own advice and shifted the focus of my own business. After much observation and contemplation, I built my new business around the writing and distribution of Free Reprint Articles. I eventually phased out my old business to focus more time on the program that had given me much to celebrate.


REAPING THE REWARDS

Now, years later, I am still reaping rewards from the first articles that I had written way back in March of 2000 because they continue to be published even today. I believe the reason they continue to be published is because the content of those articles is still as relevent today as it was at the beginning of the new Millenium.

There are more than 50 articles in circulation right now promoting my own business. There are hundreds more in my archives that are promoting the businesses of my clients.

For the good of my business, my clients are also reaping the rewards of both my writing and distribution activities.

One of my ghosted clients had to take a hiatus from the publishing cycle, just so that he could catch up with his new workload.

I also have clients that I have helped by distributing the articles that they have written on their own. Cajun Clark was excited when he told me:

"Let me share something with you: Your submission services and guidance have done more for my infamy :), to build my website traffic than any thing else I've tried. FYI, there are now, according to Google, 262 pages on the Internet that contain http://www.cajunclarks.com, many of which came from your submissions."

WHY A SNOWBALL?

I think of every article as an individual *snowball rolling down a mountain.* The reason why I think of it like this is because the article will be published when I release it, then again every few months as other publishers discover its existence. Imagine in your mind the snowball rolling downhill in the cartoons --- it just gets bigger and bigger as it travels downward.

With each roll of a snowball --- with each published article, I am generating more and more recognition as being an expert in my field. By marketing myself effectively, I am lending credibility to any business venture I may undertake.


DOING IT FOR YOURSELF

Once you have created your own articles with Free Reprint Rights, it will be time to start promoting them to editors and publishers everywhere. Here are five announcement lists for publicizing your new articles:

Free Ezine Content - mailto:FreeEzineContent-subscribe@topica.com

Free Reprint Articles - mailto:Free-Reprint-Articles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Quality Checked Reprint Articles - mailto:QC_Reprint_Articles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Political Thoughts - mailto:Political-Thoughts-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Article Depot - mailto:Article_Depot-subscribe@topica.com

Once you have run the course of the Article Announce Lists, then it will be time to turn to the Article Directories. Here is a list of Article Directories that you can use:

Ezine Articles - http://www.EzineArticles.com/

Opportunity Update - http://www.OpportunityUpdate.com/

EZ Ad Success - http://www.EZAdSuccess.com

Idea Marketers - http://www.IdeaMarketers.com/

Ebooks N Bytes - http://www.EbooksnBytes.com/



CONCLUSION

Whether you are looking to promote your articles, or whether you are simply a publisher or webmaster looking for content, then these are mailing lists and websites that you will want to pay close attention to.

If you place yourself on the content provider side of the equation, get prepared for what lies ahead...

Great Big, Huge Snowballs Rolling Down a Mountain!

Honest officer! I haven't been drinking!


About The Author: Shop Amazon - Top Gift Ideas
You can become a better writer, with the right training. If you are looking to improve your writing skills or learn how to better market your writing projects, visit Bill Platt's website to see how he can help you: http://PlattPublishing.com/ If you are looking to buy or sell writing services, check out Bill's Freelance Writer Marketplace at: http://FreelanceWritersReview.com/

VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >> 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 << Excellent Article

Tell our authors what you think about their article.



Top-Level Category: Articles

10 Most Recent Articles Written by Bill Platt

Four Tips For Creating An Effective Authors' Resource Box
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-08-27 | Word Count: 1669 | Page Views: 8024 | Votes: 18 | Rating: 2.50
In article marketing, there are many factors that will affect your articles' ability to promote your website in the most effective manner. In this article, we will briefly discuss a couple those factors, before we dive into how to create an effective Authors' Resource Box, also known as the About The Author Information.

Website Traffic Generation: Winning the Love of the Traffic Fairy
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-08-24 | Word Count: 1149 | Page Views: 8908 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 1.86
Some people still believe that all they have to do is build a website and customers will magically appear on their site... Once they have built their websites, they wait anxiously for the "Traffic Fairy" to come and sprinkle its magic dust on their website too, so that they can make lots of money like other success website owners.

What Kind Of Backlinks Are Best At Helping Your Website In Google?
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-08-21 | Word Count: 439 | Page Views: 9965 | Votes: 23 | Rating: 2.74
I was in the Warrior Forum, and someone asked what kinds of Backlinks are worth pursuing. This is my answer to that query.

Understanding the Mechanics of Effective Article Marketing and Article Syndication
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-08-01 | Word Count: 1399 | Page Views: 6549 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 1.80
Visit several marketing blogs or marketing forums, and you will find dozens of people proclaiming the death of article marketing as an effective marketing tool. Before we start agreeing with them, consider this...

Top 10 Reasons Why Online Marketers Fail With Article Marketing
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-07-31 | Word Count: 1025 | Page Views: 7811 | Votes: 13 | Rating: 2.08
If you've been marketing products online for any length of time, you've likely heard people talk about the power and promise of article marketing for the promotion of your online business. Unfortunately, many online marketers have tried to utilize article marketing to benefit their online business and failed. In this article, I document the top ten reasons why people fail to find success with article marketing... And how to fix your article marketing campaigns...

Article Marketing Tip: Stop Trying To Sell From Within Your Articles
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-07-30 | Word Count: 1229 | Page Views: 5996 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 1.40
The basic premise of article marketing is to present people information that will be important to them, then at the end of the article, present information "about the author" and offer to the reader a means to see how the author can help the reader further. When done well, article marketing continues to be one of the most effective methods of promotion that one could employ online.

The Six Degrees of Internet Marketing
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-07-30 | Word Count: 991 | Page Views: 8420 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.43
The theory behind the Six Degrees of Separation is that all people on earth can be connected together in as little as six steps. Now, I know what you might be thinking at this juncture... That sounds fun and interesting, but what does that have to do with Internet Marketing? That is a great question that I am going to answer for you in this article...

How To Increase Your Rates and Earnings As a Freelance Writer
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-07-29 | Word Count: 1191 | Page Views: 5937 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 1.55
Freelance writers fill a very important role in today's business marketplace. They create the on-demand, customized content that business owners everywhere need to push their businesses forward. In this article, the author explains what freelance writers should do to ensure that employers will pay them well for their services.

The Death and Resurrection of Quality Content
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-07-25 | Word Count: 769 | Page Views: 7578 | Votes: 13 | Rating: 1.85
No matter where you go online, you are bound to find someone complaining about the quality of content available online. When we want to find information that answers our questions for us, the last thing we want to do is to land on a MFA (Made For Adsense) website with questionable content. And yet, many of the people who complain about this state of affairs also contribute to the problem...

Successful Article Marketers Help Readers Solve Problems
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2013-07-24 | Word Count: 816 | Page Views: 26030 | Votes: 34 | Rating: 2.79
Every week, I have the opportunity to speak with people about the benefits and challenges of using article marketing to promote an online business. Article marketing is about getting your sales message in front of potential customers and to get links to your website. Many interpret this to mean that an article should directly promote a website within the article, but that approach is wrong and will reduce one's success using this methodology.

All of Author's Articles on this site:

Most Recent "" Articles

Ann Arbor, MI Offers A Lot Of Year-Around Family Fun
Written by: Jeb Maxwell | Distributed: 2010-01-20 | Word Count: 595 | Page Views: 4757 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 1.25
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the home of the University of Michigan, a leading institution of higher education. Ann Arbor is a wonderful place to visit. The University is co-mingled with the city and greatly expands the cultural places and events available in the area.

Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-02-20 | Word Count: 486 | Page Views: 5926 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane, Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death of her mother.

Finding the Adventure in Travel Again
Written by: Helen Bergstein | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 718 | Page Views: 4395 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.64
If you want to experience adventure at every level of your next trip, you need to go beyond the usual resorts and places to stay. If you're like most travelers, personal safety remains a priority, especially in today's world. A growing number of savvy travelers have found the perfect balance between adventure and comfort.

7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 563 | Page Views: 5304 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your party.

Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 840 | Page Views: 5360 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.

1569 Unique Ways To Get A Free Lunch
Written by: Steve Robichaud | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 3622 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
Everywhere you turn - T.V., Radio, magazines, or the Internet, someone is talking about government grants. What's the real story? Does the government give away real money, to ordinary people, to use for whatever they want? Let's take a closer look:

Don't Wait to Start Your Marketing Strategy
Written by: Jo Fulkerson | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 3906 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
Your novel is finished, you’ve had it edited by a professional Editor, and you’ve done the rewrites. What? You haven’t had an editor edit your work yet? This is a must. There are many editors advertising in Writer’s Digest.

NEVER Reply to an eGroup Post!
Written by: BIG Mike McDaniel | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 5157 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
eGroups are collections of people subscribed to a common (discussion list) address. When one member sends an eMail message to the eGroup address, it is automatically sent to everyone else on the list. As subscribers open and read their eMail, discussion threads take shape with additional posts and replies. The attraction of eGroups is the ability to join in at your convenience as opposed to the confinement of live chat rooms.

Reasons behind Shoulder Pain
Written by: Jessica Horowitz | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 4954 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
Pain between the shoulder blades, or any pain for that matter, is your body's way of notifying you that something is amiss. You should never ignore it and hope it will *go away by itself*. There are a multitude of possible causes of pain between the shoulder blades. We'll discuss common ones in this article and start with the most serious conditions first:

Effective Managers Need To Coach
Written by: Wendy Hearn | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 4434 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 0.75
Bearing in mind the fast pace of business today and the need to stay competitive, it's essential that managers should be effective. They need to be especially effective with their people and this requires learning to coach. For most managers, coaching has been added to their role anyway, but the majority haven't received any training in coaching skills.

Most Viewed "" Articles

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY - LIFE'S BIGGEST QUESTION
Written by: Richard Sparky Bryan | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 13808 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
When did Americans stop taking responsibility for their own actions? My friend agreed that the slide began in the late 1960's with the growth of the drug culture. But he was quick to emphasize that although the sixties began the slide, the real sharp slope did not arrive until the 1990's. Along about 1993, the slide began to sharpen. It was not until early 1998 that the slope became a steep cliff.

High Thread Count Bed Sheets. How Many Threads Does A Bed Sheet Need?
Written by: Liz Beresford | Distributed: 2004-09-14 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 6583 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
High thread count bed sheets, often called percale, are much advertised, but what exactly does 'high thread' count mean? You know that it means quality and comfort, but do you know why? It used to be considered good to have thread count of 180-200 but thread counts of up to 1000 are advertised these days.. So what is going on? Does high thread count always mean better quality? Is there an optimum thread count, and if so what is it?

Muzzling the Motor Mouths: Silence Workplace Windbags
Written by: Bill Lampton Ph.D. | Distributed: 2005-12-01 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 6329 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 0.50
During my twenty-three years in management, I dealt with blabbermouths frequently, so for the last ten years I have advised clients on how to silence the workplace windbags. Here are my suggestions for muzzling the motor mouths:

Better Than Botox is there a Safer Substitute?
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2005-09-08 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 6224 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
Women since time immemorial have always looked for ways to enhance and prolong their beauty. This of course becomes more difficult as they age.

12 Ways to Promote Your Business And Website for Free
Written by: Ivana Katz | Distributed: 2005-03-29 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 6196 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
You are very excited!! You have finally created your own website!! But the trouble is customers aren*t knocking on your website door. Why? The most probable answer is...

Transform Your Work Area into a Homey Environment
Written by: Ted Roberson | Distributed: 2006-02-24 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 6030 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 1.25
Nothing enables one to think and work better than a comfortable working environment. Especially if you have a sedentary job, you've got to have little knick knacks around that will enliven your spirits or which you can look at for inspiration or just to zone out in relaxation.

Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-02-20 | Word Count: 486 | Page Views: 5926 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane, Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death of her mother.

Sell Yourself, Not Your Products or Services
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2004-05-03 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 5645 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 0.50
Sell yourself, not your products or services. The point we need to make is that your products and services will change over time as your business adapts to the realities of the marketplace.

Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 840 | Page Views: 5360 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.

7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 563 | Page Views: 5304 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your party.

Highest Ranked "" Articles

Finding the Adventure in Travel Again
Written by: Helen Bergstein | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 718 | Page Views: 4395 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.64
If you want to experience adventure at every level of your next trip, you need to go beyond the usual resorts and places to stay. If you're like most travelers, personal safety remains a priority, especially in today's world. A growing number of savvy travelers have found the perfect balance between adventure and comfort.

Freedom- or Burden of Choice?
Written by: Patsi Krakoff | Distributed: 2004-09-30 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 1099 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 2.57
Everyday decisions have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented. A trip to a typical supermarket reveals enormous choices such as 85 different crackers, 285 types of cookies, 230 varieties of canned soup, 80 different pain relievers, and 360 kinds of shampoo. Does this improve the quality of our lives?

Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 840 | Page Views: 5360 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.

Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-02-20 | Word Count: 486 | Page Views: 5926 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane, Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death of her mother.

Testimonials and Reviews Increase Your Real Sales Potential
Written by: Bill Platt | Distributed: 2006-02-10 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 2930 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.00
The one essential ingredient for online success in any endeavor is gaining your prospect's trust.

7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-05-11 | Word Count: 563 | Page Views: 5304 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your party.

Ann Arbor, MI Offers A Lot Of Year-Around Family Fun
Written by: Jeb Maxwell | Distributed: 2010-01-20 | Word Count: 595 | Page Views: 4757 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 1.25
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the home of the University of Michigan, a leading institution of higher education. Ann Arbor is a wonderful place to visit. The University is co-mingled with the city and greatly expands the cultural places and events available in the area.

How to Decorate Your Home on EBay
Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-09-14 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 2159 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 1.20
If you are on a budget (and who isn’t?), a wonderful place for find home decorating accessories is auction sites like eBay. But before you go a’baying, here is some advice...

The "Proprietary Blend" Nutritional Supplement
Written by: Will Brink | Distributed: 2006-02-10 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 3511 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 0.60
In a nut shell, I went onto cover each of these common marketing terms that are used to sell supplements to unwitting consumers and explained each in detail as to what I view as their common misuse within the market place.

Brink's Unified Theory of Nutrition
Written by: Will Brink | Distributed: 2006-02-24 | Word Count: 0 | Page Views: 2323 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 0.60
Regardless of the topic, a unified theory, seeks to explain seemingly incompatible aspects of various theories. In this article I attempt to unify seemingly incompatible or opposing views regarding nutrition, namely, what is probably the longest running debate in the nutritional sciences: calories vs. macro nutrients.











Download an eBook today
 
Directory Navigation
Locate By Category:

ALL Categories
Arts & Crafts
Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Business - Offline
Business - Online
Career
Computers
Education
Family
Finance
Food & Drink
Health & Wellness
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet
Nature & Pets
Real Estate
Religion
Self Improvement
Shopping
Society
Sports & Recreation
Technology
Travel & Leisure
Uncategorized
World Events
Writing & Speaking

Change Number of Results:
50 - 100 - 200 - 500
Article Reprint Rights
Creative Commons License

This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License


You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
Article Statistics
Word Count: 0

Total Views: 3938

Article Rating: 0.50 of 5
Votes Cast: 2

More Articles By Author:



Last Distribution Date:
2004-05-03 04:59:25

Internal ID: #2729





All Articles are Copyright © 2001-2023 of the Defined Authors.

All other material and images on this site are:
Copyright © 2001-2023, ThePhantomWriters.com