Do You Make These 3 “Resource Box” Mistakes?
I see many people get into article marketing, write some good articles, and then blow the whole thing in the resource box.
So let’s take a look at three of the deadliest prospect and profit killing mistakes people make, and then what to do instead.
Mistake #1 – Making the Resource Box All About You – This one is really easy to do, especially since the resource box is also called the bio box. Many people tell the reader all about themselves.
I’ve actually seen a resource box that was almost as long as the article, filled with just about every award the author had won going back to grade school.
Sorry, but the reader is not interested in you. If they are, then they can read your author profile. The reader is interested in what is in it for them.
What to do instead: Focus on your reader. They came to your article looking for solutions. Be sure to invite them to get more information from you.
Mistake #2 – No Links to You - Some people get so into talking about themselves that they forget to even include any links back to their own website or blog. The reader has gotten a small sample of how you approach and solve problems and they are ready to get more information and get it from you.
What to do instead: Make certain that you include at least one active link back to your web site or blog so the reader can opt-in to get more information from you. Make sure the page you send them to is working and represents you well. This is your new prospect’s first impression of you outside of your article.
Mistake #3 – Failure to Guide the Reader - This is the biggest thing most experienced internet marketers forget. Many people are new to the internet and don’t know what to do.
Some are even a little afraid of it. When you assume they know what to do at the end of your article, you are leaving prospects on the table.
What to do instead: It is your job to take your prospect by the hand and guide them into and through your resource box. Invite them to get more information from you, let them know what is in it for them, and show them how to get it.
And now I’d like to invite you to get your Free Instant Access to a 30 Minute TeleSeminar Audio on Resource Box Strategies when you visit http://www.TheArticleGuyTeleSeminars.com/rbs
You’ll receive 30 minutes of leading edge strategies for bringing in prospects and profits with your articles.
Tags: alex mandossian, article marketing, ezinearticles, jeff herring, repurposing
Hi Jeff, Alex,
Thanks for the resource box reminders. Sometimes I know I forget these simple things like you said and reminders are always good.
I completely agree that a prospect or readers first impression of you is crucial and that a link back with a guide for the reader is a MUST.
You surely do not want to leave prospects on the table, instead take them and guide them and give them your best!
Ja’son Manwill
The Transformational Trainer’s Coach™
http://www.jasonmanwill.com
Hi Jeff and Alex,
Learning about the value of article marketing from you Alex in your Teleseminar Secrets was a real eye opener. It is without a doubt one of the very best no cost ways to connect with your target market.
Jeff I appreciate everything I have learned about article marketing from you and am using your article templates to produce highly effective articles such as the one above, quickly, easily and as Alex would say, with the least amount of human effort. Some time ago when I first got your information on the resource box I started to notice the impact of a good resource box on me as a reader. A good resource box does draw me to the author’s offer and a boring bio does makes me want to move on.
Jeff I love using your materials and am excited to be a charter member of your Article Marketing Teleseminar Club. I have really learned a lot from the marvelous experts you have interviewed and shared with us and the signing bonus alone was equal to the cost of 6 months of AMT Club dues.
Thanks to both of you for all that I have learned and will keep on learning.
Columbia
Hi Alex,
Thank you for that the step by step article by Jeff. I guess you could look at the Resource Box as the online version of the elevator pitch. I’m going back and fine tuning mine.
best……………
I just started testing different resource boxes on my articles to determine which one brings the greatest results.
Thank you for the tips.
Live Your Dreams,
Jill Koenig
Jeff – Great info as always.
I had no clue about leading into the resource box and the call to action before hearing you teach about this.
Great summary of frequent mishaps and how to correct them.
Here’s to your success!
Karen Estes
Hi Jeff,
This is so important! It can be used to continue the learning provided in the article. Referring the prospect back to a blog, opt-in page or book. Using a hook or an action statement in the resource box is another great tip you gave me:)
I really appreciate your guidance!
Hey Jeff! I thoroughly enjoyed the call today with @Chris Knight. I got my time zones confused so caught the last 20 minutes, but just was jam packed. I like the 60/40 on headline clue relative to keywords and natural filler.
Also the point about stupid dumb sentences I believe. How to loose weight (Eat less, like we all don’t know that :)!
Or how to build a successful business (market yourself, well yeah duh, but how?)
Nice article here on the resource box. I am glad to see I am getting something correct, there is also always room for improvement.
Thanks Alex for allowing this post here. I like the content you provide. Definitely no dumb sentences here :)!
I like tip #3 Guiding the Reader. Inviting them to get more info from you rather than talking all about yourself. Good Stuff.
Hi Jeff,
I always struggle with the bio box…..it’s worth taking the time with it and treating it as an important part of article marketing.
Thanks
Kirsty
Specialist Copywriting for a Healthy Business
Really related to number three about telling them what to do. Folks in my niche market–elementary school teachers and parents–are often not very computer savvy. It’s so easy to forget that your list doesn’t necessarily know how to do things that we do on automatic pilot.
Thanks for the info.
I’ve changed our Twitter and Facebook acounts to receive my new Ezine Articles. WOW what a time saver tip.
Thanks,
Bill Carey
The College Rental Investment Guy
http://www.CollegeTowneProperties.com
Thank you Alex and Jeff.
Jeff, the tips for writing a resource box or bio box are truly helpful! Hopefully, I am doing it right. I appreciate your sound knowledge and also appreciate the teleseminars. Shirley
This is a great reminder, Jeff! I’ve added this to my to-do list to make sure all of my resource boxes and info follows these rules. You’re right – it’s about the reader (prospect/client) and not about the author! Keep up the great work!
- Suzanne Foley
http://www.SurfsideGroup.com
Jeff/Alex,
(I’m not sure who I’m writing to).
I’ve seen Jeff Herring in person and listened to numerous of his teleseminars. So, I know all the do’s.
Recently heard someone who says the most powerful words in “telling them what to do” is “click here”.
so, the hotlink should be “here” or “click here”.
I always thought it was more powerful to make the report title or keywords or the actual site the hotlink. That’s the way you did it in your example. So, I think I’ll stick to that.
Sandra Noble
Thanks Jeff/Alex
I’ve used your resource box tips and sure enough, people are visiting the site and signing in.
i’ve made all of these mistakes. and you know what’s great? as i learn them (ok and relearn them from you & chris knight) i can go back and change them. all along the way as i’m building content and not building conversion, i’ve gone back when i hear you say one of those three things that leads me to a new level and started adjusting. and it works. more work for me? sure, but i’m getting results! i’m sure you’ll have some other great insight as i’m building more articles, so i’ll grumble and start again. if my articles are my employees, why wouldn’t i want to increase their efficiency? thanks always!
Thank-you, Jeff. I have learned and continue to learn so much from you. I I love your teaching style and your willingness to share. I’ll put these resource box tips to good use.
Kim Wilborn
http://www.Authentic-Network-Marketing-Success.com
Jeff and Alex,
So true on the resource box. This is THE critical part of the article when using articles online as an internet marketing vehicle.
This little box contains your quick sales speech . . . follow me here.
Since this will be used many times and is so important, time and careful consideration should be given to what you say here.
Thanks for the great ongoing coaching and training here,
John
Jeff and Alex,
Great information as always! I decided to begin doing my articles myself instead of outsourcing to my VA (got a bunch of articles rejected this way) and I couldn’t believe the depth of information Jeff gives. I didn’t know there was so much to Article Marketing and just how effective it can be… I followed the resource box templates, you make it really easy!
Thanks,
Maritza
I find your information here and elswhere very practical, direct and free of the waffle other gurus tend to give.
Hilton
Thanks Alex for hosting Jeff on your blog and thanks Jeff for more great tips. It really is worth getting this resource box right. Now that I know to invite my readers and also have a freebie to offer I am getting more sign ups to my How To Change Careers community.
To quote Jeff – Go Use This Stuff – it works!
Cherry
Hi Jeff and Alex
Thank you for the great blog and Jeff’s wonderful guest post.
I recently signed up for Jeff’s Article Marketing Club and I am amazed at the value we are receiving. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to “play bigger” in the online world.
The way Jeff instructs us to create our resource boxes is “pure magic”.
Thank you Jeff, not only for your wealth of information, but for your support and encouragement. It feels like someone is there with us, cheering us on.
Veronica Hay
Well now I have to go check my resource box and make sure I am not doing these things.
Just getting started on mining my wealth of already-published articles to repurpose them. Thank you for the insight on resources boxes.
I made Mistake 1 when I started article writing until I started to listen to tips and advice from Jeff Herring.
Duncan Brodie
Hi Alex,
Thank you for the good article. It’s step by step format really works. I need help in this area
Thank you for this helpful article. I think the biggest mistake all Web sites make is forgetting the reader. This helps remind me to remember the reader! Thank you! Rochelle
Jeff,
Amazing timing on the resource box issue as I was just finishing an article for ezinearticles.com. I guess I was about to make a mistake by writing a mini-bio in the box before hearing your teleseminar.
Thank you.
Thanks for the info. I am new to article marketing and found this very helpfull
Thomas James
http://www.qualityprotectionproducts.com
Alex, I found your site through Joel Comm mentioning, in a video, the time when he met you.
I am glad I came over to your blog.
I just started writing articles and publishing a few at Ezine Articles. Your tip that suggests we should focus on the reader and offering them a solution is a great one.
Next time I create the info for the resource box, I’m going to get the focus more on offering a solution than talking about me.