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I Just Want to Be Noticed! Is it Really That Difficult?

Does it seem like the pool of aggressive, talented authors increases by the day, and the need for quality content has never been greater?

Today, the most successful authors go to extraordinary lengths to gain more readers and outlast the competition. Endless new marketing tactics and strategies are being attempted at a steady pace, with authors hopingsomething will stick with audiences.

If there are so many ways to get noticed in your niche, is it really that hard to be unique?

Take a moment to read our top 10 ways you can stand out as an Expert Author.

1. Build Your Story: When your readers wonder who you are, it should be easy to find. Improve your credibility right away by ensuring you’re not a “mystery person” writing articles. Your profile, author photo, areas of expertise, goals and past achievements should be clear for everyone to see. It is also important to have an active presence on relevant social media and include an ‘About’ section on your website.

2. Focus on Your Strengths: Many authors have expertise in multiple fields. While this can be beneficial in the long run, when you’re trying to get noticed starting out, you need to focus on your strengths and master your craft. Think about applying for a technical job. You will have a much better chance at landing the job if you’re an “expert” in one area than if you’re “pretty good” in everything. Stick to what you’re good at and build from there.

3. Getting the Essentials Right: There are essentials everyone must get right in order to achieve success. First, stop focusing on the traffic and instead think about creating a connection with the reader. When writing your articles, you should answer three important pieces of information: why, how, and what. Don’t simply tell your readers what to do, how to do it, and why; create value and purpose. Refer to this blog for more tips on Getting Read: Essentials to Making Your Article Worth It.

4. Act Like a Professional: Some authors try their hardest to get ahead even if it means hurting their credibility. Your personality, attitude and ability to communicate professionally should be at the top of your list to improve. Think about your decisions before you go all-in on your next step, and put yourself in your readers’ shoes to get a clear perspective. You don’t want to turn them off by acting like an amateur.

5. Find Your Voice and Shout: Ok, we’re not encouraging you to scream at your audience here. However, you do need to break out of your shell and learn to be vocal about your writing. You want to be the life of the party with great ideas who gets all the attention, rather than the quiet one in the back of the room. Share your ideas and aspirations with your readers. They want to hear them!

6. Perfect Your Timing: Time management is a skill that takes, well, time to master. What’s more important than using your time wisely is to introduce new articles and products when the time is right. You need to research when your readers are in-tune the most, and when you should pounce on the opportunity to connect with them. Click here for a unique perspective on reaching your audience at the opportune time.

7. User-Friendly “Everything”: This is one of the easiest tips to remember: make every part of your business user-friendly! Whether it’s developing a website, creating a series of articles or asking for feedback on social media sites, your readers should be able to understand and follow everything they see. You don’t want to stand out in a negative way by turning away potential customers! Making things user-friendly for them should be a priority.

8. Embrace Change with Confidence: Oftentimes authors get so comfortable with their routine, they forget that things can change that may negatively affect their work. It’s important to embrace change, as it can come from any direction at any time. Show your readers you are on top of your game by quickly adapting to diversity, and that you already had a plan in place to move forward. Don’t let unexpected changes destroy your progress!

9. Praise Your Competition: There is definitely competition as an author, especially in today’s ever-changing, global marketplace. Have you ever thought about scoping out the competition and giving others in your field praise? This is a strategy that is useful on social media. When you take the time to give your competition respect, you will only receive positive feedback from your audience. You might even hear from your competition and end up working together on a project!

10. Thank Your Readers: If you truly want to stand out in your niche, every now and then you should offer something to your readers for free and thank them for being a part of your journey. Provide an easy-to-package product that they can use, or a special promotion to your loyal followers. If you need some ideas with this, here are 7 Ways to Give Thanks as an Article Writer that can be used right away.

So there you have it! Our list above can be summed up in one phrase: Keep it simple.

When you over-complicate your efforts to stand out among the jam-packed crowd of writers, it will only lead to frustration and backtracking. Refer back to these tips when you’re feeling like nobody is noticing your hard work.

You Asked and We Have Answers!

Two weeks ago we asked for your questions regarding the article writing process, content marketing, grammar, or anything else on your mind.

Why?

… Because we believe it’s important to keep an open line of communication. We want to ensure you have the BEST user experience and make the MOST of your article writing efforts.

In addition, your questions give us ideas for future blog posts. After all, we want to write about topics our readers will find helpful and informative!

With that said, here are the questions asked by you and the answers from the EzineArticles staff.

Question 1 – Asked by Mike Lish:

Now that Google has revised its method of page ranking and SEO, of what practical relevance and effectiveness are linking of my Ezine articles to my website? Will Google recognize this link with enhanced page ranking, and to what degree?

EzineArticles Answers:

As times have changed, search engines no longer weigh the links the same as they did in the past. Instead of ranking links based on how many were placed around the Internet, they judge (or rank) links based on other factors, such as quality content, navigation, relevancy, etc.

Essentially, you will want to focus on building a quality user experience from the beginning to end. It’s no longer about publishing a high quantity of content, but rather building quality content and a transparent web presence. In this era, we believe it’s important to use your articles as a means to display your knowledge and credibility on a certain topic. From there, you may share your articles on relevant social media in order to attract readers’ interest and desire to share the article. In turn, these increased shares and views will result in clicks to your link at the end of the article. Bottom line: People don’t only find your articles from search engines; create content that generates share-ability across the web and you’ll find higher click-through success.

Question 2 – Asked by Cindy S.:

I’m very excited to have earned my manager badge for having my business article accepted! My question is, do clients actually look at these badges or is it just for us to see? How much of our profile do clients actually check out?

EzineArticles Answers:

The EzineArticles badges are bonus tools that you can use to build your credibility as an Expert Author in your niche. You’re welcome to share these achievements and awards on social media as a way to “show off” your efforts to your clients or niche audience. It shows you’re dedicated to your writing and sharing of information. You can learn more about the badges by reading: Share Your Expert Author Awards and Achievements. In addition, you can utilize the link to your EzineArticles Expert Author Profile in order to share a comprehensive listing of all of your articles. Bottom line: Don’t be shy, share your achievements!

Question 3 – Asked by Hafiz Akram:

English is not my native language, so I feel hard to write good English. What you advise me to write in good English?

EzineArticles Answers:

Fear not! We have many writers who are non-native English speakers. In order to improve your English, we recommend you take advantage of the Grammar Tips section of our blog and theEzineArticles Training on our website. In addition, we suggest enlisting the help of a qualified English proofreader. In terms of grammar-checking software, we don’t suggest you rely on this type of software as it’s unable to effectively detect grammar errors that only a human can detect. Ultimately, practice makes perfect! Keep reading and writing and it will come easier over time.

Question 4 – Asked by Jeff Harling:

I have run out of ideas on explaining my business.

EzineArticles Answers:

You’re not alone. It’s normal to feel burnt out from time-to-time, which is why we have many blog posts that help authors generate new content ideas. Here are two of our favorites:

In addition, our Article Template Packages are a GREAT way to help you generate content ideas. I highly recommend the EzineArticles 260 Ultimate Article Template Package. This package provides the best value and comes with two great bonuses as well.

Question 5 – Asked by Manish B.:

Can we post our own article published in EzineArticles to our own blog?

EzineArticles Answers:

Essentially, quality content is the most important factor to consider in this situation. If you submit many duplicate, low quality articles to multiple article directories and multiple blogs, the content won’t perform well regardless of where it’s published. This is considered to be deceptive and spammy.

If the content is genuine, high-quality content and it is re-published on your blog, you will have a higher chance of success. When duplicate content appears naturally, we believe it won’t be penalized as if it was intentionally submitted to an excessive amount of websites purely for the purpose of gaining traffic.

If you do choose to re-purpose your content, it’s important you update the wording and other details so that it makes sense for the platform where it’s published. For more information on how to repurpose your content, review the blog post, ‘Repurpose Your Content the Right Way’ [here].

Question 6 – Asked by Jamee Light:

1. How can you have sub-headings emphasized or made bolder?
2. Can you change a title once it is printed?

EzineArticles Answers:

1. Articles with a clean format are more likely to be read. In order to improve the format of your articles, you’re welcome to add bold or italics to your headings. For more information on what HTML can be used in your articles, we suggest this blog post, ‘Frustrated by HTML? Use This Basic Guide for Writers’ [here].

2. We typically don’t encourage authors to change their title once the article is live because the title makes up the URL of the article. It can also create confusion if the article was already re-published somewhere else. If there’s an error in the title or you feel strongly about changing the title, you’ll need to contact us in Member Support and we’ll be able to update it for you.

For tips on how to write an effective title from the beginning, we recommend these blog posts:

Question 7 – Asked by Claude Nougat:

In our increasingly digitized and visual world, where people seek entertainment on television and video, is there still a place for written fiction? Or should authors prepare themselves to abandon novel writing in order to write film scripts and otherwise participate with their story-telling talents in the world of films, videos and video games?

EzineArticles Answers:

While it may seem the written word is overshadowed with readily-available digitized video, we believe there will always be a place for written content.

Take a moment and think of times when it wouldn’t be appropriate to watch a video: outside in the sun, in a busy waiting room, or driving in your car. These are all reasons the written word will not be abandoned.

We know what you’re thinking, “you can’t read while driving in your car either!” … And this brings us to our next point. In order to meet the changing needs of the audience in today’s busy lifestyle, we suggest making your material available in a secondary format, such as a YouTube video or re-purposed into an audiobook or podcast. With the huge popularity of new podcasts, such as Serial, it’s without a doubt more interest has been sparked for audiobooks and podcasts in general. Bottom line: Everything begins with the written word, where you choose to take it next is the easy part.

THANK YOU to all of those who took time to submit a question!

Are You Being Fast AND Productive or Just Fast?

When someone asks if you’re being as productive as you can as an Expert Author, you may be quick to answer, “of course!” However, if you really analyze your situation and think about your daily routine, it’s likely you’ll find areas that can be tweaked to increase your productivity level.

Many times we don’t realize how much time we waste because of distractions, disorganization, or lack of direction. Though we may feel as if we’re working at a fast pace, it’s possible we’re holding ourselves back by losing our focus along the way.

In order to ensure you’re making the most of your time, we challenge you to re-visit the areas that may hinder your level of production.

Have a look at our tips below on how authors can boost productivity to keep up with those who make it look easy.

1. Set Clear Goals & Stick to Them.
Our number one tip to boost productivity should come as no surprise. Diving right into a project without proper planning and clear objectives will end in mediocre results. First, you need to set goals that are achievable; you need to envision your final product right away, not when it’s near completion. The tips in this blog will help you stay productive and stick to your goals.

2. Delegate Unnecessary Chores.
Most parents give daily chores and responsibilities to their children. In the same light, many authors take advantage of outsourcing tasks in their business. Think about your work; are you doing everything on your own? Similar to setting goals, try writing down all of the daily or weekly tasks involved in your business. Organize them by importance, and when you’re done, you should see a nice list of tasks you can either do away with or delegate to others.

3. Stop Multitasking All Day.
There are days when we feel like we can do everything at once without consequences. Even if you manage to accomplish your goals for the day, if you’re constantly going back and forth between tasks, you’re losing time in the transition. You can also lose ideas in the process! The more focused you are on a single task, the less time it will take to finish.

4. Save it for Later.
You finally have time to work on an urgent project, but come across an interesting article or social media thread that grabs your attention. Instead of saving it for later, you read or investigate it immediately. This is wrong! In order to stay focused, you need to save these distractions for later. They will only lead to more reading, commenting, sharing and lost productivity. There are many great tools to save content to read at a later time. For example, you can use the bookmark tool in your Internet browser; or if you’re on Facebook, there’s an option to save posts for later by clicking the down arrow to the right side of the post.

5. Improve Your Environment.
When you’re working on an important writing piece, you need to prioritize comfort and make the best use of your surroundings. A clean workspace and proper lighting is key! Keep windows to your back to avoid outside distraction. Take a moment to read Creating a Healthy Article Writing Environment for more information to improve your workspace.

6. Set Time Limits on Meetings.
Casual group meetings can be a calming change of pace, but they can also dramatically hinder progress. If you’re in charge of the meeting, set a time limit; better yet, show a visible stopwatch for all to see. You need to be ruthless in managing this gut-wrenching productivity drain so it doesn’t get out of hand. Instead of having weekly meetings, have them twice a month and cover more ground at a faster pace. Any content not meant for the entire team should be discussed within each department separately.

7. Embrace New Technology.
If you think about a problem you’re having with any type of your business, there’s probably an app that will help! There are amazing tools that improve daily office operations such as Evernote that can store and organize your thoughts, information and media. New gadgets, apps and software are popping up everywhere to assist authors with their writing and idea generation. Try out something new once a month, you’ll never know what you’re missing if you don’t actively embrace change and let technology in the door!

8. Set Up Email Rules to Stay Sane.
If you’re familiar with the typical office life, then you’re aware of the burden with emails. It doesn’t matter what software you’re using for your email, you need to be an alert master and set up the appropriate rules to automatically filter your emails. Your eyes shouldn’t have to glance over at every piece of junk mail or question addressed to a different department. Again, let technology ease some of your frustration by blocking out irrelevant content that will break your rhythm.

9. Learn How to Say “No.”
Being a team player is a valuable trait in any business. However, saying “yes” to everything to help out a friend or co-worker is not a long-term strategy. Learn to say “no” when the task could put more stress on your own progress. Make the other person(s) aware of your deadlines and they will respect your boundaries and let you continue being productive. Be nice about it! Smile and suggest an alternative route for them to pursue.

10. BONUS Tip! Turn Off the TV and Your Gadgets.
We saved this bonus tip for last because if it were at the beginning, the majority of our audience would be turned off entirely! Television, smartphones, and other distractions sure have us by the ankles, don’t they? They can completely change our mood from productive to unmotivated and neglectful. Believe it or not, TV and other gadgets are truly a productivity killer. Remember this quote from a successful entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, “Successful people have libraries. The rest have big screen TVs” — Jim Rohn

For a humorous slant on eliminating distractions, check out 10 Distractions that Destroy Productivity: The WRONG Advice.

We challenge you to figure out your own writing tempo and the goals you want to create. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the planning stages of your next writing series or are finalizing the end product. Think about where you can improve your productivity and what tasks you can leave behind you in your path to success.

Follow These Guidelines to Deliver Brand-Specific Content!

Do you write product reviews or discuss brands in your articles? If you do, it’s key the content is EXCLUSIVE to the brand that’s mentioned.

Why?

If a person searches for information about a certain brand and they come across generic content that could apply to multiple brands, the reader is left with a poor experience. For the author, it means they won’t find value in your content or click through to your link.

For that reason, it’s crucial your content is high quality, informative and specific to all brands that are discussed.

First, keep these facts in mind before naming a brand in your article.

DON’T: Write anything negative toward any brand or company.

DON’T: Mention brands in articles on EzineArticles.com in which you have an affiliation or vested interest. This is considered promotional. Refer to our Editorial Guidelines on promotional content here.

DO: Maintain proper brand spelling and capitalization.

DO: Use generic terms when you’re not specifically referring to the brand. In other words, don’t use trademarked terms in place of a generic term unless it’s important to the meaning of your writing. For example:

In the instances when you DO want to intentionally refer to a brand name (for the sake of a product review or other reasons), take a moment to look over your content and ensure it provides enough value that’s specifically related to the product you’re discussing.

What are Ways to Ensure Your Content is Brand-Specific?

Are you still not sure if your article has enough brand-specific content?

Ask Yourself These 3 Questions:

If you answered “yes” or “maybe” to any of these questions, it’s in your best interest to either remove the brand mention(s) or add more exclusive information to the brand that’s discussed.

Keep in mind, your article needs to be legitimately specific and shouldn’t read as if the details were stuffed in for the article to pass review. For more information on how to deliver genuine value that isn’t thin in nature, we suggest this blog post.

Bottom Line:

Ensure your articles are exclusive to any products named in your content and you’ll develop more trust with your readers. In all regards, quality content is crucial to success in article writing. We can’t say it enough!