Article Writing and Marketing Tips: Using Pen-Names To Avoid Author Brand Erosion

Do You Write About More Than one Topic?

You may have a main area of expertise, and then multiple sub-topic or different topics that you write articles about (some to pay the bills and others to feed their creative spirit).  To avoid personal author brand erosion and solidify your expertise in front of the target niche that you write about, you must come up with a strategy to separate your various article topics.

A solution is to create multiple versions of your name or pen-names that you write under so that each one is locked in on a particular area of expertise.

Here's a fictitious name I picked out of the air to illustrate an example as to how many separate author names could be created out of a single persons name:

 * Suzanne Jo Parker
 * Suzanne J. Parker
 * Suzanne J.P.
 * Suzanne Jo P.
 * Suzanne P.
 * Suzi P.
 * SJ Parker
 * S. Parker

You get the idea. Each of these author names is STILL the same person, yet you can choose to lock each variation of the name to a separate topic to write your articles about. When using this strategy, a person reading your article may attempt to read others that you've written, but they will only see your other articles about the same topic.  There will be no author brand erosion.

 Example: "Suzanne J. Parker" would write articles
 about Financial investing, and "Suzi Jo Parker"
 would write articles about basketball.

In the offline world, this multiple author brands issue is also a factor, but it is even more important for the online world where a reader can quickly identify other articles you've written when they are hungry for more. Give them more of the same quality original articles that they are already reading, but isolate their attention by only writing about one topic of expertise under one single author name or variation of your author name. This will strengthen your message and your author brand at the same time.

As a bonus to this "authors with multiple brands" strategy, it will be easier to track your articles by each unique variation of your author name that you used,  instead of finding all of your articles of every topic under one author name.

Quick Guide To Article Writing

Article writing is a valuable tool that businesses use to grow. You can publish these articles on your own website, which shows search engine bots that you have unique, compelling, freshly updated content that uses all the right keywords. You can also publish these articles on third party article submission sites, which provide you with inbound links and shows that there is distinctive value on your page. The content of your articles should show readers that you're knowledgeable within your field and should get readers excited about the products or services you specialize in. Then, when it's time to buy, readers will click on a link to your page and find instant gratification!

Most article publishing sites offer their own writing and submitting guidelines. Generally speaking, the best article submissions are 400-500 words and contain one or two well-researched keyword phrases. The best keyword phrases are location-specific for small business contractors, realtors, retail stores and other companies. For instance, "Atlanta carpet cleaners" is a better term than just "carpet cleaners." Additionally, the density of your keywords is relevant too. In the past, web users would occasionally find sites with a hodgepodge of nonsensical words strung together. Today's search engines are much smarter and demand that relevant content be published, not just strings of useless keywords. Your tone should be engaging, written in second or third person, and informative. Try to tie industry news, recent studies and current events to your articles.

In this business, knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Article writing rookies often make the following errors. First, some authors feel that using big words will make them sound smart, when in reality this tactic alienates readers and sends them elsewhere. Second, many authors write as they would for a school essay or magazine, but readers want short, concise paragraphs. Third, many writers keep repeating the same bullet points to drive their message home, but repetition is not needed in a short 500-word composition. Fourth of all, you don't want to write marketing articles in third person, when second person is so much more engaging. Fifth, you cannot steal other people's writing just because you found it online, nor can you simply re-publish the same exact article on every article directory site; search engines penalize websites that duplicate content.

Often people begin doing their own article writing and submitting to sites like www.ezinearticles.com or www.goarticles.com. You can read over the author guidelines and try to mold your work to these standards if you're up for the challenge. You can also do a little bit of your own web research. Try tools like Google AdWords (www.adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal) or the Google Search-based Keyword Tool (www.google.com/sktool/#). Choose the top four keywords and write four different articles based on one of the keywords. Aim for including the keyword about once per short paragraph for the appropriate density. Over time, you may decide to switch to more aggressive website marketing and partner up with a search engine optimization expert/copywriter team to take your business up a notch.