A case study on the traffic-building power of article writing (update).
November 15, 2006
Two weeks ago I started a case study to see how much traffic I could get sent to a web site only by writing and distributing articles.
I created a brand new site on dog training that wasn't indexed in the search engines and didn't have any links to it from any other sites anywhere. I created a 5 day mini-course with the home page of the site being an opt-in form. I wrote 5 articles and submitted them to EzineArticles.com, GoArticles.com and ArticleCity.com.
On November 8th, one week after submitting the first article, the results were:
| Page Views | Signups | Sales |
| 68 | 25 | 0 |
| In Google? | In Yahoo? | In MSN? |
| Yes | No | No |
| Google Backlinks | Yahoo Backlinks | MSN Backlinks |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
Now it's the 15th, and my how the traffic has grown! While the statistics aren't phenominal, keep in mind that it's only been just over two weeks and I haven't done any promotion at all outside of writing those first five articles.
Here are the updated stats as of November 15th:
| Page Views | Signups | Sales |
| 224 | 74 | 0 |
| In Google? | In Yahoo? | In MSN? |
| Yes | No | No |
| Google Backlinks | Yahoo Backlinks | MSN Backlinks |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
One week later, I have 3 times as many signups and more than 3 times as many page views.
So it certainly seems that article writing can generate some traffic and sign-ups pretty quick. The only thing that I'm a bit disappointed with is that I haven't sold any of the back-end product yet. But honestly the email sales pitch I send the sign-ups after the mini course isn't any good. I just threw it together for the sake of having something to pitch to people in the end.
I'm changing things up a bit to see if I can generate some sales directly through writing articles. So here's what I'm going to do now. Now, instead of sending people to an opt-in form, I'll send them directly to the sales letter for the back-end product and see if I can generate sales without having people sign-up. Who knows, it might be a lousy mini-course that's preventing people from buying!
If I can generate sales from sending people straight to the product sales letter, I might rethink my approach and just write articles that direct people to my affiliate sites.
I'll post the updated numbers next week.
Comments
40 Responses to “A case study on the traffic-building power of article writing (update).”
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Jonathan Leger has been earning his living online full-time since the fall of 2004. He regularly posts advice about search engine optimization (his current passion), AdSense and Internet Marketing. 
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Actually, I thought the course was quite good. Although I signed up bc I wanted to see what you were doing, I actually used two lessons with my dog.
I found the lessons down to earth and quite easy to understand. Basically, they were so much simpler than other dog sites I have tried to use.
As for going directly now to the sales page, I guess the numbers will be the proof but I myself never buy that way. I am inclined to see what the seller has and whether he says anything useful first. Then I buy.
But again, I think it is a great experiment and I am watching it closely. Thx so much for sharing ALL your valuable information. I am using your site as a tutorial so any results, positive or negative certainly help.
Thanks for the comments about the course, Brenda. Fortunately the product sales letter also offers free lessons via email to show the author's skill and convince the visitor to buy. Otherwise I would not have done the switch at all.
Thanks again!
Hey Johnathan good read so far. Do you think your subscription rate would have been as high if you didnt have audio and or a pic? I know testing but i dont know in your previous experience. And when you say site indexed in google is that your actual link or the link form your articles?
Thanks,
Desmond
Hi Jonathan,
Firstly thanks for doing the research and posting it for all to see, very helpful indeed. I have been involved with the online business scene since 2000 with varying results due to being very part time. I also find that a lot has developed in online sales during that time - most of the 'Gurus' have been going from 2 years up to 6 or 7 years max.
I have been experimenting with all sorts of things over the last 6 months & now intend to maintain the momentum until it works full time for me.
Finally a thought, I was having people opt-in 'before' the sale but I saw an idea, have them go right through the payment and opt-in to get to the download page. The wording including a reference to needing it to offer 'support' or 'upgrades' etc.
If you already knew this forgive me!
Best wishes,
Carl Henry
At the moment, I'm just submitting articles to EzineArticles.com - is it a good idea to submit them to GoArticles.com and ArticleCity.com. as well? I've also got the same articles on blogs. Does it matter, if the same article appears all over the web?!
Frances
While not on a massive scale, your experiment is quite revealing.
It's always nice to see concrete measureable results of case studies.
I'd say the results are very positive. Sales are of no importance to me because that only points out a possible flaw in the follow up rather than the original purpose, which is generating traffic to your web property.
Very useful.
I will be following this closely.
Hi Jonathan
as always, good and interesting articles and work from you, me like…
There is allways talk about the list and what to do, opt-in and get fewer sign-ups but maybe in teh long run more sales or going the fast short lane, selling directly maybe getting in faster cash but then the buyer is gon, gone…
So maybe doing a split-testing for the best most valuable method could work? that is having a A/B splittestURL from the article one going to opt-in and the other going directly to the merchants salespage would work best?
whats your opinion here Jonathan
Regards
Very interesting case study Jonathan - I'm interested to see how it pans out.
Or should I say - God bless you for chronicling what I should be doing - testing something simple to see what the results are and how it might be monetized!
Any idea why MSN isn't biting yet? I've always found the reverse in that MSN snaps things up fast and G drags along behind much later.
Looking forward to the next update.
This is a great case study. It will be interesting to see the results after you make those changes. Keep 'em coming Jon…
How are you planning to put the affiliate links into the articles? I thought that if you did that the article would not be accepted by the various article sites? One of the rules I read stated that if the link for your website went to an obvious jump page the article would not be accepted.
Thanks
Hey Jonathan,
I like this case study! It'd be interesting to see exactly how well articles work.
This case study is interesting Jon. I'm just puzzled by something.
In your original entry for the case study, you mentioned "On October 31st, I put up a dog training mini-course site, whose domain name I won't point you to so as not to skew my page view figures".
What puzzles me is the comment above by 'brenda'. It would appear she knows the URL of the dog site, no?
I am very interested and encouraged by these results. Out of desperation, I have realized that I have got to start writing articles like crazy to continue and increase affiliate commissions because Adwords has declared war on affiliates and I can not rely on it for my future. So I bought your article writing software and I think it is a great. Thanks Jonathan. Keep me updated on the progress.
Thanks for sharing your results. Part of the problem may also be the nature of the info product. I did affiliate sales on some dog training products a few years back and found their conversion rates to be quite low compared to other products. It seems most people who are looking for this type of info on the web are looking for free info. Otherwise they'd just go to the local dog trainer and not have to worry about doing it themselves. Other products - like your adsense tracker and seo stuff - now that's something that people wll buy more on impulse just because you can't get that anywhere else, and most people don' have the expertixe or time to learn ohow to do it themselves.
But I'm glad you picked a more generic, niche type product, because the other areas are so saturated. I will be watching closely your results on this study. Please keep us informed. (BTW, since it is a test, I would tend to leave it as is for a longer period and see if it generates any sales as is. From my experience you will get 1-3 conversions per month at your present exposure)
Thanks for taking the time to do this kind of research that the whole community can benefit from. I find these numbers encouraging.
Desmond:
Since it's my first run of the site, I'm not sure if the subscrition rate would be higher without the photo or audio, though with 35% of visitors opting in, I'm not sure how much further I could improve it.
And the site is actually indexed in Google.
Frances Lynn:
For this test I submitted to EzineArticles, ArticleCity and GoArticles. The most direct traffic by far is coming from EzineArticles.
Rufus:
I'm not sure why MSN hasn't indexed the site yet. As you said, MSN is usually first in line.
E:
I don't put affiliate links directly into the articles because EzineArticles.com doesn't allow affiliate links.
Ken:
I think Brenda probably saw one of the articles at EzineArticles and followed the link.
Hi Jonathan
Great case study … I'm experiencing similar results with my article writing including the lack of interest by MSN …
There are a couple of simple ways to get MSN spidering, but they might be classed as "cheating" … :o)
Heck, I'll say 'em anyway …
1. Go here and enter your URL:
http://search.msn.co.uk/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=SUNO
2. Create 2 or 3 Blogger blogs and post your articles to them. MSN *loves* Blogger blogs …
Enjoy!
Cheers
Nick
Oops …
I forgot to mention - don't forget to add the link back to your site in your blog post in a bio box, like you would submitting an article to a directory …
Cheers
Nick
Hello,
May I know how many article directories did you submit and what are they?
PieceAbout:
Only 3: EzineArticles.com, ArticleCity.com and GoArticles.com
Hi John, I just subscribed to your blog, I was wondering what is the name of your site that you are promoting in your articles? I'm interested to check it out.
Dean:
I'm not giving out the domain name so as not to skew the figures before I'm done with the case study.
Greetings Jonathan,
It would be interesting to see how it grows with the SE in the near future.
Do you outsource the artical writing?, if so I would like to know the source as I'm looking for some people to write articals for my project.
Keep up the good work.
Cynthia
Hey Johnathan I also want to thank you for replying back to readers posts. Thats going that extra mile that will make you stand out. Is this blog a custom blog you made or was it open source?
Desmond
Dear Jonathan Leger,
I just started a "probationary"(that just means that it's not guaranteed!)90 day period working for a Security Guard company. They have situated me in an enormous clothing store on 42nd Street and Lexington
Ave. in New York City, where I have dwelled for 38 years of my 40 year old LIFE! I'm doing this because I desperately need the money in order to not lose my apartment, where I dwell with my devoted wife. she also works for a "living", if it can be called that! I'm also leary yet fanatically intrigued with the prospect
of becoming a successful entrepreneur. There is
much I have not said here, but suffice it to say, that I've also grown tired of being scammed time and time again by ENTITIES( I call them this because
their behavior does not warrant that they be considered a part of the Humane Race of Beings!)who have only shown to me how completely
they disregard struggling souls! These SOUL-LESS
MONSTERS all speak with a "SILVER TONGUE" but
their tongues seem to be laced with the Venom of
Deception. And yet, I continue trying to find REAL PEOPLE, with noble values, who truly desire to help others, who have potential, to rise from their Pit of Despair and also assist them in elevating themselves towards FINANCIAL SECURITY! Okay,
I'm tired….write me back if you're a True Soul….otherwise forget I even exist!
Narayan
Cynthia:
I didn't outsource it for this project, no. I'm taking my first wild venture into outsourcing now, though, having some elance.com guys write some articles for me. If that goes well I might do it again.
Desmond:
This blog is a Semiologic Pro blog.
Hi Jonathan,
I really like your stats. Articles are the next step for me for getting backlinks (right after blog comment posts :)) Seriously though, I would be very interested in seeing more stats as they are recorded.
Scientific proof is fascinating, and sets you apart from all the "how to" mob.
Regards
James
Narayan:
I hope you'll find from the information on this blog, and other people's comments about it, that I am not a con artist or "entity", but a real live human being with something good to share.
Mr. Leger,
Thank you for sharing,
Please keep us updated on how sales go by sending people directly to the affiliate sites.
Thank you,
Len
Since you've gone to the trouble to write a mini-course, and thereby establish credibility, I wouldn't ditch that to just link to a sales page. Why not link to a nice "review" style pre-sell page which then drives people to the actual sales page? Or, to test, write three or four emotionally charged paragraphs as a pre-sell.
Thanks Jonathon!
I'm curious to see what next week brings for your test study. I personally am hoping that you can wirte aricles and send people to your affiliate programs and you actually get sales because that is what I would want to do, it just seems easier to me. If it is successful then that gives me even more reasons to buy into your article building products….. I really want article builder, but I keep blowing my money on other products, sorwy :o) - I'll catch up though someday. …
Thanks again,
Lori
Cynthia,
We do this for clients all the time. See our case study of results for SkinMD Natural at http://www.press-feed.com/conference.
Sally
PRESSfeed
Good question Rufus,
We've noticed a difference in how MSN repsonds since they launched live search. Something has definitely changed there.
Sal
PRESSfeed
Good case study Jonathan,
Now if you want to put this test on steroids add RSS and social media elements like tagging and bookmarking to the mix. We created PRESSfeed. specifically for doing article marketing - or knowlege marketing as I'm now hearing it called.
Click on my name above to go to the page that has the case study and other useful info on how to use RSS and content syndication.
The short version is that the site traffic increased 600% in 6 months and the site went from nowhere in the search engines to being placed in the first three pages in MSN, Yahoo and Google for competitive keywords and phrases.
No problem, I wanted to see how you set up your landing page and list building. I'm interested in learning how to do that what would you say is the best resource for learning list building techniques?
Hi, Jonanthan
Great case study there. You really make something clear to me, articles marketing really works! I have been curious on this for quite sometime, but now I would like to give it a try.
However, firstly I would like to make something clear from you. You said you submit your articles to 3 article directory right? All of them are same? Because I afraid if the articles are same, you will involved in the issue "Duplicate Content" in Google.
Harrison
Harrison:
Remember that this case study was done to see if I could drive traffic from the articles themselves. Since it works, just create seperate content to generate traffic from Google and articles to generate their own traffic.
I don't put affiliate links directly into the articles because EzineArticles.com doesn't allow affiliate links.
I dont know but why i don find such informative and profitable blogs so often,I suspect blogging world is becoming so small that we cant find such lucrative blogs like this one.
Article writing gives an online marketer amazing flexibility. You set the agenda to be able to find the people you want on the topic of your choosing.
I only hope that the article website software being so cheaply available doesn't see article sites going the same way as traffic exchanges did 2 years ago.