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10 Ways—Offline & Online—to Use Articles to Attract Clients

by Linda Claire Puig, president, Claire Communications

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.

What are some ways to use articles to your advantage? Here are 10 ideas.

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.

You may reprint this, but it must be complete and include the copyright and the following information: Linda Claire Puig is the president of Claire Communications, a company specializing in newsletters and articles for therapists and coaches.