Did you ever wonder why article marketing is such a different and effective way to market your own business? When I started working my business, I did not even know about article marketing – as a marketing ploy – but I knew that in order to get my name out there in the big wide world, I would have to find ways to establish my expertise and be recognized over a broader area than my hometown coffee shop. My clients could not ALL come from the hometown area.

1. A place for Entrepreneurs to hang out – the Coffee Shop was the hip spot for hanging out, in my hometown and in the big cities that surrounded my working community. I could meet anyone and do business, without them realizing that I may or may not work from home, if I said, "Hey, meet me at the coffee shop." Many found me, and connected with me based on articles shared online.
2. Strategies of Interest to Entrepreneurs – building a growing list of connections who would meet me meant that my name had to be 'on the tip of their tongue' and I did that by writing for magazines and trade journals for free . My by-line and signature link at the bottom of the article were my only benefits from writing those articles, and the pay off was awful.
3. Managing Intense Growth Curves – the largest growth in my business would happen right after a publication hit the market, especially if I dubbed my way onto the cover slot. Everyone would call, asking for my work, including more magazines. I started writing articles in mass, so I had some ready to go for the next request. The payoff was a working business relationship with magazine editors and more business coming in, so I could actually HIRE people to do the work, while I wrote articles. YAY. My favorite part of the business!
4. How to Establish Your First Management Team – the first management team gathered at the coffee shop for donuts and coffee one morning in early summer. The most difficult part of the plan that day was filling them up with donuts. And the best recommendation came from a Jr. Executive who is now my Business Partner, "You should spend more time writing articles and let the techs do their stuff. You're good at that."
5. Entrepreneurial Leadership Skill Development – developing leadership in team members often means preventing different members of your team to lead where their skills are stronger. Who says you need only one leader? If you have one person who excels in writing marketing copy and another who excels at reading it, allow each of them to fulfill their own leadership goals, in the different areas of expertise. Bring on associate entrepreneurs to share the load of leadership on your teams. Each team leader should be providing their own article list and providing their expertise through publication.
6. Coping Skills for Lonely Entrepreneurs – Coffee Shop. Seriously, I have a standing order for coffee at the local coffee shop on Thursday morning – 9 AM – and all the local entrepreneurs know 'it's a date'. If one of us needs a quick copy review, article edit, or motivation, encouragement, or even just a stiff upper lip to get through the week, Thursday morning at the Coffee Shop is enough to bring on the cheer section. I do not think I've ever sat at the table alone. Although, we've sat at the table silently working on our own projects. It works. Set a date and leave a poster with the coffee shop. Some will let you put it in the front window. Entrepreneurs Invited!
7. Traits & Case Studies of Successful Entrepreneurs – whether you work from home, from the coffee shop, or hang out at your Main Street centric office, having access to visits and case studies relevant to your industry are important. A quick search online will reveal many articles relevant to your industry, but you'll want to do some investigation of your own to make determinations of how valuable or non-valuable any case studies may be.

Article marketing whether writing them, or reading them, are relevant to what you do. If there are no articles available in your industry, be an industry expert and write them.