Informational articles are just that. They provide information. They are the “quality content” we hear so much about. Filled with facts and figures they give your visitor food for their brains and subtly lead them to your call to action. I use them to populate the bulk of my websites. They give visitors valuable content.

On the other hand, promotional articles emphasize selling, more like sales copy. They are more like copy writing. Although these articles have “quality content” their intent is to satisfy or quell an emotion like fear, lack, or love. The bulk of their words are intended to convince the visitor that no other option exists than to sign on the bottom line. I use these as the index or landing page for my sites.

I was reminded that all that matters is the bottom line. Whether you construct informational articles or promotional copy, at the end of the day only the number of conversions is what counts. Let’s face it, we are article marketers and selling is what we do.

Nevertheless, I still have reservations about populating my blog sites with strictly promotional material. If someone is searching for, say, “tractors on farms” and I have a website with that for a domain name, I would think the searcher most likely wants hard information about tractors on farms and not a sales pitch for the latest John Deere model.

That is not to say that in the course of that article I wouldn’t allude to or link to my John Deere sales page. I would. After all, I am trying to earn a living from my article writing.

If I had a website “TractorsonFarms-dot-com”, and filled it with nothing but articles on how much more fun you could have buying and using my tractor for the summer hayride, or how you could win the annual state-fair tractor race with my tractor, or how much better it is than driving a mule, I guess I would have a very entertaining website and come to think of it I might get some sales from it.

As opposed to a “TractorsonFarms-dot-com” that has lots of info about tractors, specs, how to best use them, maintain them, etc. I can see that those visitors looking for free information would flock to the site and maybe buy or maybe not.

I can see that the verdict may be up in the air. But in the end, it’s the bottom line. I’m beginning to think I might buy from the entertaining site. Hmmmmm.

What’s your opinion?

Click on the links to learn more about the art and science of article writing and copy writing.

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Copywriting

In its simplest form, copywriting is nothing more than using your words to convince a reader to buy your product.  It is consumer psychology 101. Unconsciously we use it verbally everyday. It comes naturally to us.  We use it with our friends, our enemies, and our families. It is a simple technique.

Have you ever asked anyone to choose between two items? You probably have. What you have done is create a picture in the person’s mind of the two choices. Most often that person’s brain has focused on those two things and on no others.  You have controlled the outcome of his decision by limiting his choice to one of the two items.

That is just one of the many techniques that you can use to motivate readers to take action. Other examples include offering pleasure vs. pain, gain over loss,… As you can see, copywriting stirs emotion.  You use words to paint a picture in the brain that evokes an emotion.  The emotion then converts into action.  You, the copywriter, direct that emotion to buy your product.

Can you be a copywriter? Of course, you can.  It is a writing skill. It is a learned skill. With practice, you can accomplish anything. Remember, you use it naturally in your everyday speech.

Article Writing

I am sure you are familiar with this form of writing. In its purest form, it provides nothing but information to a reader. It solves a problem, gives instructions, or it may just spout an opinion. Article writing is much less a form of advertising than its brother, copywriting.  The author is selling his information to the reader, not necessarily selling a product.  Readers of this form of writing, for the most part, do not expect buy something after reading the article.

Article writing is also a learned skill. You are not required to have the imagination of Jules Verne or F. Scott Fitzgerald. Have you ever written yourself a “to do” list? Have you jotted down a reminder note to yourself?  Sure, you have.  Well, then, you can write an article. If you can read, you can write an article.

The Difference

Perhaps, now you see the difference. Copywriting sells. Article writing informs. When we combine the two skills we have a very powerful tool, article marketing.

Do you lack copywriting skills? Now you can learn how to use copywriting and create articles that are more profitable. Are your article marketing sales suffering? Learn how to write, submit, and market your articles.

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