There are many reasons to write articles to promote your business and/or your expertise. But writing articles can seem time-consuming and difficult, especially if you’re not a natural writer.

So, it would be a shame for you to use the article for one purpose.

I teach my clients to leverage their time and effort by repurposing written articles in multiple places for maximum promotion. This is a strategy I use myself and has gained me new sales, e-newsletter subscribers, and credibility.

Here are a few examples of how to repurpose your articles for maximum time-leverage:

Publish in your e-mail newsletter, as a Featured Article

Publish it on your blog

Submit it to other blogs (if you’ve done your homework, you will know which blogs are the best to reach your intended target market)

Submit it to online article directories such as eZineArticles.com

Submit it as a keyword-focused PR Web press release

Submit it as a press release on f*ree press release sites such as express-press-release.net

Submit it as a press release to local media – newspapers, magazines, TV

Send the info to a colleague who can use it in her newsletter

Submit it to your professional organization to print in their newsletter or journal

Find relevant journals and magazines (I use Writer’s Market for this) and submit for publication

I have also been asked by other bloggers and newsletter writers if they can reprint the article, which is great extra exposure. Repurposing your articles makes so much sense for your business. It’s one of the best ways you can leverage your time and effort to reap huge benefits in visibility, credibility and lead generation

3.  THE WEB:  To show people why you are an expert, give a little knowledge.  Create a twitter account / facebook business page and blog and then share some of that expertise.  Many people think that keeping their knowledge to themselves is power, when in fact sharing the knowledge makes you and the recipient more powerful.

4.  NETWORKING:  Find events and networking groups where you have opportunities to share your expertise but remember a few very important things.  Go to these networking events not to gain business (it isn’t about you) but to find out about the other business in your area.  Offer to speak or share information with members.  If there is a opportunity to have a booth or a table, take it.  These tips will ultimately serve you as the expert and the go to person.

5.  SPEAKING:  If you aren’t comfortable speaking, find some coaches or speaking groups.  Being a speaker at an event automatically makes you the expert BUT if you are not good in front of a crowd, don’t have anything compelling to say or can’t connect with the audience, this can be very detrimental.

6.  PR:  PR is so important to expertise.  Do some research on local PR agencies and make a list about local news stations, newspapers, magazines, popular groups with newsletters, online web sites and blogs.   Meet with a few agencies to find out what they can offer you on what kind of budget.  Brainstorm what your expertise does for the community and what could be newsworthy.   There is a great book on PR that I can’t think of at the moment.  When I remember it, I will add it to this blog.