One way that a marketer by attraction can get started with no cost is by submitting ezine articles to sites like EzineArticles.com  and content sharing sites like Squidoo and Hubpages. There a  number of others as well, each with its own style and requirements.

Some sites such as Ezine Articles are intended more for editorial and technical type content and have a higher standard for submission.  It’s thrust is less tolerant of “marketing” type of content but if the material is good it may get picked up by Editors looking for content for their ezines, and you gain the exposure with your “resource box”, that is the spot reserved for you to share about yourself and your website.

Some of the content sharing such as Squidoo, for example, you can do more of a “marketing pitch” with embeded links etc., however you still want to provide content of value.

The (3) Keys to Article Marketing:

 1.  Create great, original content to
     position you as an expert in your niche.

 2.  Create great, original content that
     does not “sell” or promote in your
     article body content, but provides
     useful information for your reader.

 3.  Submit your best original content
     frequently to build a steady stream of traffic
     back to your website.

Each article you submit contains different components and sections. While some sections carry more weight than others; each section must be crafted with care and foresight. A truly great article can increase traffic to your website. 

 1.  Proof your Work: Credibility and expertise in
     your article subject matter can be diminished by
     typos or grammatical errors in any part of your
     article. Here’s a proof-reading tip: Read your
     work out loud. Often times this will help you
     catch mistakes you missed while reading the
     article to yourself silently.

 2.  Keep Your Audience in Mind: If you are writing
     an article on a technical topic, it’s fine to
     use technical terms, but be wary of alienating
     a wider target of readers with information they
     may not be ready to understand or digest.

 3.  Keep An Ace Up Your Sleeve: Always keep a tidbit
     of important information in reserve to make your
     readers want more. Remember, your article can
     generate traffic, so use the Resource Box to
     entice your readers to click on your website
     link.

 4.  Be Clear and Concise in Your Writing: A 500 word
     article will always out-perform a 1000 word
     article. You are writing for a medium that
     embraces instant gratification: the Internet.
     Keep your articles clear and concise, so the
     reader can quickly comprehend the quality
     content you are sharing.

Each of the sites have good training and tips as well as blogs written by those with experinec on writing articles that can really help.  As well, Renegade University provides excellent step by step video tutorials on how to register and submit articles at some of these sites.  The video tutorials are great because you can see exactly where to click and what to enter as well as numerous tips for improving your results in attracting a large list of customers or prospects.

Evaluation of History

In the early 1950’s, there were no network marketing companies worth talking about. It was not until the late 1950’s that companies like, Shaklee, Neolife, and Amway were developed The unemployment rate was low in the first half (in fact in 1953 it was an all time low of 2.9%). In the last half of the 1950’s, the unemployment rate was highest since the Great Depression in 1958 it was at 6.8%.

The early 1960’s saw all networking continuing to flourish with advent of Mary Kay in 1963, and Avon, Tupperware, and Fuller Brush all achieving momentum. Again the late ‘60’s saw a great softening in the industry with no new companies coming on of any significance. Here we see the same scenario: unemployment high in the first half of the decade; over 2½ million workers were back to work in the second half.

1980’s: again we saw the network marketing industry really flourish in the first half; while in the second half of the decade, it softened and many network marketing “fiascos” occurred. When networking is soft, people and companies take more risks. There were twice as many lawsuits in the second half of the 1980’s as were in the first half. In the first half the unemployment rate reached its highest level in 40 years at 9.7%. While at the end of the ‘80s there were almost ½ the number out of work as there were in the early ‘80’s.

In the1990’s the trend continued. In the early 1990’s (1990- 1994) huge momentum in the industry, in fact “there was more wealth created in by way of MLM from 1990 to 1994 than any other time in history.” (Network Marketing Lifestyles May 2000). From 1996-1999, we had a network marketing recession. In the early 1990’s, the unemployment rate was very high and then in the later years in the 1990’s it hit a 30 year low of 4.2%.

Why were the 1970’s an exception? They really were not but they played out differently. It was an exceptional decade…the first half of the ‘70’s saw unemployment rates jump. The attention to network marketing took off. However, with all the heightened attention, five times as many lawsuits were filed from 1970-1974 than all of those filed in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, and the big one, Amway, which challenged the very existence of network marketing, lasted until finally beomg settled in 1979. This legal dispute of course dampened what otherwise would have been a greater boom in network marketing in the second half of the decade. In the first half, recession of ‘73-’75, many MLM companies’ growth took off.

Where are we headed in 2008? All major indicators suggest recession: stock market, credit card debt, mortgage foreclosures, fall of the dollar against foreign currencies, company earnings reports across all sectors, manufacturing sector, employment figures, etc.

How do we take advantage of this opportunity?

Do we market products? This does not solve the average person’s perceived need/want. Health and many other items can not be a major priority in this time. During times of recession peoples attention turns to a “just trying to get by” mentality. What we should be doing is making a shift to support people in building residual streams of income to empower them to withstand any kind of economic downturn. “Recession causes people to open their minds to gaining alternative sources of income.” Lou Clements, Marketwave Inc.

What are the selling points of a network marketing business?

(a) Security (not found in a recession)

(b) Financial freedom

 (c) Time freedom

(d) Self-development

(e) Self-employed; no boss so no sacrifice of your own values; Creating your own standard for the ethics in your business

(f) Time freedom

(g) Purpose driven: helping others with focus on them

(h) Unlimited income: no one telling you what you are worth

(i) Residual income

(j) Dream again

(k) Great relationships

(l) Reduce stress

(m) Great incentives to get opportunities to travel the world

(n) No employees

(o) Tax benefits are terrific.

I am finding that The Renegade System and University fit within this model perfectly as an approach to support people in gaining streams of residual income.

Use this as an answer to the upcoming recession.

Need…fulfillment; we must learn how to promote the business and do it well. Those who do will surely be overwhelmingly successful in the next year.

SO, STRAP YOURSELF IN AND GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!!