Article Samples

Sample #1:

5 Ways to Use Social Media to Boost Your Business

Did you know that even if you don’t have an online presence, the internet can have a profound affect on the way you run your business? Because the truth is that even if your company is offline, people can find out about it and contact you by phone.

Picture this: A person on a social media site like the popular Twitter reads a complimentary message about a local gym. The individual then uses a phone directory website to locate your number, and a few minutes later they contact you and ask about a membership.

What you just read is not fiction. In fact, it happens every day. Businesses that do not currently have an online presence receive endorsements and leads from people who are communicating on social media sites. And because consumers are increasingly turning to the internet to help them with their offline buying decisions, it has an affect on companies that don’t sell goods online. In fact, in one recent study, one out of every four internet users said they consult online reviews on sites like Amazon before they order any product or service.

Probably the biggest beneficiary of social media sites are small offline restaurants. Why? Well, many social media sites, like Yelp, allow users to post restaurant reviews. So, when an internet user wants to try out a new restaurant in their area, more often than not she will consult sites like Yelp. And if the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, there is a good chance she will eat there. As you might imagine, most small restaurants do not maintain their own website and they do not advertise online.
So, what does this mean for offline businesses?

Well, for starters, it lets them know that social media sites can be used to boost sales even if their business is presently offline. It also means that they should pay attention to what customers are saying about their company, because it won’t always be positive. These comments can appear on a number of different social media or consumer review sites.

5 Ways you can Use Social Media Sites for your Benefit

1. Get your Feet Wet

The first step to taking advantage of social media sites is to actually recognize that they have an impact on the way consumers view almost everything these days. That means that you should search for each and every comment about your business you can locate. Find out what consumers are saying about you! Whether it is positive or negative, you can use this information to improve your business and grow your sales.

2. The Ratings Game

If you believe in your product or service, you should encourage your customers to rate your company online. Remember, the more positive reviews you receive the better. You might also consider printing a reminder on the check or bill that encourages customers to visit their favorite social media site. As a sot, you can also reward customers who provide positive review with coupons or special discounts.

3. Accentuate the Positive, but don’t Ignore the Negative

While it may be human nature to shrug off serious criticism, when you own a business it is best to pay them some mind. Of course that doesn’t mean you should rearrange your business after each negative review. But when you truly believe that the comment is valid, you should take heed. How you go about addressing these problems is of course up to you, but you should always keep in mind that your customers are using the internet to discuss your business, and if there is a glaring problem then you must deal with it.

4. Network, Network, Network

In the end, social media sites are used for socialization, which make them the perfect communication tool for businessmen who are trying get a little free advertising for their companies. And because sites like Twitter and Facebook are some of the fastest growing sites on the internet, it probably won’t be hard to meet people. Once you get to know them a bit you can tell them about what to do, about your business, you might even send them a few free coupons or special discounts via email.

5. Join a Message Board

If you own a home or small business, it’s easy as pie to join a message board that focuses on your industry. On the board you can share your knowledge and experience and quickly establish yourself as a trusted member of the community. After that, you should feel free to exchange business information with anyone who is interested.

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Sample #2:

The Lowdown On Viral Traffic

Viral traffic is defined as website traffic that has been obtained through referrals or word of mouth. In offline marketing, viral marketing is popular through the use of leaflets and brochures, as well as car stickers. This is similar in online marketing, but the Internet makes the entire process more challenging and creative. Here are some examples of viral traffic. 

Viral marketing is very efficient because most of the methods are free yet effective. Article submission is a favorite method. This works by writing an article of rich and informative content and submitting it to different article databases to get it published. Using keywords and inserting links is good practice because search engines are most likely to pick up on these. 

After publishing the article, you can also use it for email marketing. However, for this viral traffic technique to work, you need to compile a database of email addresses to send the newsletter to. Having a “Subscribe” button to the website is helpful especially if your site has good content. One of the main advantages of email marketing is the broad audience that the email can reach, and if you are lucky, the email might even get forwarded to other people. This means increased traffic for your website. 

Viral traffic may be mistaken as spamming. There is a huge difference between the two. Spamming is a technique used to spread unwanted information to the Internet and most of them are only for the sake of having a backlink (links that point to a website that is being promoted). Viral traffic, however, uses good content for the targeted visitors and search engines. Basically, it’s like recommending a product that you have been using to another person because you like its benefits. 

Search engine submission is also part of getting viral traffic. What most webmasters or website owners do is to submit the website URL to the top search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing for their website to appear on the search engines. This is helpful for keyword searches and queries especially for people who still aren’t familiar with your website. 

Freebies can also help with viral marketing. This means offering free e-books or tutorials available for download on your website. You can use the freebies and request for a link exchange or a badge that points to your website. This way, your website visitors can make use of the e-book and post your website’s link to their own website. When doing link exchanges, a good tip is to only link to websites related to your niche and to do it discreetly.

As long as viral traffic is used responsibly, there is no limit as to how broad the coverage of the process is. 

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Sample #3:

How to Get Rid of Acne at Home – Advantages and Disadvantages

Almost everyone, except those who are extremely lucky or have access to dermatologists all the time, suffers from acne once in a while. There are also unfortunate people who suffer
from severe acne and their condition sometimes causes side effects on their psychological well being. 

The irritating feeling of having a growth on one's face is something that anyone can relate with. That is why people are constantly looking for cures for acne, whether they
have just one pimple or a terrible outbreak. True, there are many products available on the market that promises relief from acne in just a matter of days or weeks. However, some of
these products contain harsh chemicals that often leave one's face looking dry and oily.

Most of these products are also very expensive and not everyone can have access to them. For those who want a cheaper, safer alternative, below are some tips on how to get rid of
acne at home.

There are many ways to get rid of acne just by using things that one can find in the comfort of one's own home. For those who want to know how to get rid of acne at home, all they
need is to have an open and adventurous mind. For those who have just one or two pimples, they can apply toothpaste on them and keep the paste overnight to reduce swelling. Fresh
lemon juice can also be applied on the affected area with the same effect.

People with severe acne problems who want to know how to get rid of acne at home can use strawberry leaves to fight their skin condition. All they need to do is place the leaves on
the affected skin area so that the alkalinity of the leaves will fight the acne. 

Other ways on how to get rid of acne at home do not involve the use of any materials but are more about actions. 

For example, one should try not to touch one's face as much as possible. The hands are always in contact with things and bacteria clings on them. Touching one's face
allows the transfer of bacteria to the skin, thus making acne worse. People with acne should also stay out of the sun and make sure that their hair is kept away from their skin.

Those who want to know how to get rid of acne at home should also learn that acne can be caused by a bad lifestyle or an unhealthy diet. Smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating oily or
fatty foods can contribute to make one's skin condition even worse. One would be surprised what a healthy lifestyle and diet can do to help cure or prevent acne.