Article marketing has entered the mainstream over the past couple of years -- and for good reason, given all the benefits it can bring. But before you start cranking out a slew of articles in hopes of endless web traffic and sales, stop to consider the purpose of writing articles in the first place.

Article Marketing vs. Article Writing:

The purpose of article marketing is to increase your website traffic, improve your search engine ranking, and position you as an authority in your field.

The purpose of article writing is to educate or enlighten your readers. Don't confuse these two purposes.

If you write articles to help your readers, all the benefits of article marketing will come soon enough. But if you fail to give readers something of value in your articles, and you'll waste your time and theirs.

What to Avoid:

First-time article marketers often try to churn out as many articles as possible. While quantity does help, you should never put it before quality.

Regurgitating what's been written before is the path of the lazy writer. Take the higher road. Offer a new interpretation on your subject matter. Dig deep for the real article. Make it helpful. Make it insightful.

* If you write truly helpful articles…
* If you answer your readers' questions…
* If you write to educate...

The benefits will come:

* Your articles will be published in more places.
* Your articles will be read by more people.
* Your readers will be more likely to respond.

Write to Educate:

Picture the smiles on your readers' faces when they find the exact information they've been searching for. Imagine how inclined they would be to take the action you want them to take. The more unique and helpful your articles, the more distribution they'll earn. The two are directly proportionate.

Good luck, and good writing!

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett.