10 Ways to Use Articles to Attract Clients
(And Make a Name for Yourself in the Process)
While it may be true that a picture speaks a thousand words, the written word has a power all its own. Seeing something in print gives it a credence that we don’t give to most oral language. Especially if it’s speaking to an issue that is present in the reader’s life or mind. It also helps to establish the person associated with the article as an expert.
For these reasons, articles can be very valuable marketing tools when building and maintaining a therapy or coaching practice.
How specifically can you use them? Here are 10 ideas. If you like the ideas but don’t have time to write articles, see the end of the article for a great solution.
- Submit them to your local newspaper or other local publication (parenting magazine, community journal, etc.).
- Layout articles in a tri-fold brochure style or on a flat 8.5 x 11 sheet. Use colored paper for better eye-catching qualities. Be sure to include your name, contact info and maybe even a photo and/or logo.
- Stack copies of these in acrylic holders in the offices of other professionals.
- Create themed “sets” of articles: relationships, career transition, communication, personal/professional growth, etc., and use as above.
- Place them on an “Articles” or “Resources” page on your website. It gives excellent content depth to your site and lets people know where you’re coming from.
- Send them to online article submission sites, where they will be distributed and placed on websites throughout the Internet to help drive traffic to your website. It’s a mini-industry all its own, and will require at least a little bit of learning. Just google “article submission.” A few sites I know of are: www.submityourarticle.com and www.articleannouncer.com.
- Use them in your own newsletter or ezine.
- Keep topical files and give or mail them to clients as needed.
- Hand them out to your groups and/or workshop participants. Relevant articles (with your info on them) serve as solid, gentle “touch points” with people who might be considering using your services.
- Create catchy headlines and then tack the article to community event bulletin boards.
This is just a start. Perhaps it will get your creative juices flowing. But if you get stuck at “I don’t have the time” or “I’m just not a writer,” we can help. We’ve been writing articles for our coaching and therapy newsletters for years, and have quite a stock of articles appropriate for business and life coaches, as well as mental health professionals.
These articles are now for sale individually at www.ArticlesForSale.net. And we just added 60 more, so you have an excellent selection. The articles are organized into topical categories, as well as Top 10s and Quizzes, and you can read a small excerpt of each article before purchasing.
Buy them and use them however you like; your only prohibition is you can’t sell them. We have some recommendations on the site for how to tweak the articles to “dress them up in your own skin.”
Enjoy!
©2006 Claire Communications.
You may reprint this, but it must be complete and include the copyright and the following information: Linda Puig is the president of Claire Communications, a company specializing in newsletters and articles for therapists and coaches.