Article Body

The rest of your article should follow through on the promises made in the introduction. Follow exactly the structure you laid out in the intro and focus on providing helping information. I’m not going to go into too much detail here since article writing is already discussed at great lengths elsewhere in WA.

Dropping Links

When it comes to dropping a link in your article, think about it strategically. Since you can’t use a Call To Action, you have to set the link up as a helpful resource. Take note of how I do it in my Asus Eee Pad Transformer case article:

"Be sure that the case you buy has adequate slots and that they are aligned correctly (some online Asus Eee Pad Transformer case reviews have already indicated which cases are aligned improperly)."

Notice how the bracketed section with the link in it indicates to the reader that the link provides further information on finding cases with adequate slots. It does not tell them to click the link. It merely mentions (almost in an off-hand manner) that there are other reviews out there (e.g. other resources outside this article) that will help you pick the right case. It is providing a resolution to a common problem people had with finding cases for the Asus Transformer.

Problem Resolution Approach

In fact, problem resolution is an effective strategy to get someone to click your link. It is also the strategy I most commonly use in all my articles.

In the sentences prior to the link, you might be describing some minor problem that users have had with the product. When it comes to the sentence with the link it, make an almost off-hand statement like:

"Mind you, several recent (Product Name)reviews have already highlighted some effective ways around this minor problem."

In this case, (Product Name) reviews is your anchor text.

Notice how it is implied here that by clicking on the link the user will gain valuable information on solving a common problem with the product they are interested in. If someone is truly interested in a product, they would be eager to find out this information, and thus click your link.

"Other Resources" Approach

Another strategy I use, is simply indicating that there are other helpful resources out there. Often times I set up these resources as seemingly outside the scope of the article, but something that the curious reader can click on for more information.

For instance:

"Before you buy an Asus Eee Pad Transformer case, take a look at its features and read what other have to say about it - don't go by the production description alone! There are many sites out there that offer comparisons of the top Asus Eee Pad Transformer cases."

Again, I am not telling them to click on the link. I am merely saying that there other product comparison sites out there that they might find helpful.

People are always interested comparing products, so providing a link to a comparison site would have a high probability of getting clicked on (especially if you outline the benefits of reading these comparisons in your article).

The Personal Story Approach

Another strategy you can use is the “personal story” strategy. Now don’t get the wrong impression. I’m not suggesting you write some big long story with characters, a conflict, and a conclusion. You just need one sentence that relates YOUR experiences as you were putting together your article. But frame it as something that the reader can get a benefit out of too.

For instance, you might be mentioning how you came across a number of helpful resources as you were writing your article.

Of all the (Product Name) reviews I've come across, not one of them has mentioned poor customer service on the part of the (company name).

(Product Name) reviews is the anchor text.

The subtly of this approach, is that you are indicating to the reader that you found other helpful information when doing research for this article.

Dropping Links Effectively: Closing Points

In the end, the most effective way to get readers to click on your links is to set these links up as additional resources. You are not explicitly telling them to click the links. You are merely suggesting to them that there are other resources out there that can be helpful.

However, none of these strategies should take away from the overall quality of your article. The most important thing, first and foremost, is providing valuable content for your readers. Make sure your article is an information resource FIRST, and then think about how you will provide them with other resources via your links.

This is a very subtle approach and one which you will get better at over time.