When you think of advertising your business, a few basic concepts likely come to mind.  Whether you think of print ads, online ads, message board posts, or social networking, you have touched on a major part of ensuring business success.  What you may not be aware of, however, is that there is yet another marketing strategy that can be quite successful.  Writing articles to be published online or in local newsletters and papers can be a great way to get your name out there while establishing you as one of the best in your field.

The key to marketing through articles is actually to steer clear of advertising.  While posting information about your business or craft at the bottom of an article is advised, the article shouldn’t read like a sales page.  Your goal is to offer information that readers want and need.  If you are a painter, for example, you can write an article about creating works using multiple mediums or mastering perspective when drawing people.  Take what you know and offer people valuable insight into it.  Readers will understand that you know your subject will and you will generate interest in your work.

When you decide to write articles, you will find that there are many options for publishing them.  Online, you can find numerous article directories that allow you to post articles with your information in them.  These articles can not only be read online, but can be added to newsletters and websites, provided that your information remains at the bottom.  This is an excellent way to gain free advertising for your business.  Your articles can also be posted on blogs or can be published offline in newsletters, brochures, newspapers, and other forms of print.  If your articles are well written, you will be able to find plenty of places to use them.

Today’s business market is more competitive than ever, and you simply need to find ways to stay ahead of the competition.  Don’t sit by hoping that your networking page and business cards will offer you all of the business contacts and connections that you need.  Take the time to write articles in order to build a bigger customer base.  Not only will you create new contacts, but you will find that you are able to help many budding artists or crafters to hone their own hobbies while encouraging them to take a closer look at you.