Author’s Tip: Readers want concise, digestible information, especially on internet.

5. Illustrate a need or benefits. Whatever your article’s topic, show your readers why they need your information. If you have written a book on listening for couples, in your short article, discuss how much is at stake for not listening, such as divorce.

6. Give a brief background of problem or situation you will solve. One book-coaching client wrote a book, The Cure for Multiple Sclerosis. In it she shares that over 2 million people worldwide with Multiple Sclerosis are diagnosed incurable, that doctors are pressured to use pharmaceuticals, and that health industry is not about getting people well, but about making money. One of her article’s openings included this background.

7. Share problems that result. In The Cure for Multiple Sclerosis, problem is that most people rely on western medicine, which does not have answers. Big money is not spent on alternative or complementary ways to prevent and cure chronic diseases, so people with problems get drugs that deplete immune system.

8. Give solutions. Your book offers solutions to problems, just as your article must. Show your readers how to get excellent health, how they can write a book, make more money, or have better relationships. You may write a tips article with numbered short tips.

9. Show them where to get solution and how. The article, "How to Listen at Work to Raise Career Success," needs to suggest where to go or what to do next to learn skills. You may name a quality book to read (maybe your book!), mention a seminar or training, or recommend a coach. You may even mention a Web site address or 800- number.

10. Place your article on as many high traffic Internet sites and opt-in ezines as you can. People are looking for free information. That's major reason they visit Web sites and subscribe to online ezines.

So, now that you know major points on how to write a short article, put it to work for you to promote your book.

5. Ask owner of web site if they would want to trade advertising. If you don't get as much traffic as they do, you could throw in some extra incentives.

6. Propose a cross promotion deal with web site. You both could promote each others products or services together in one package deal. This means a mention and link back to your web site.

7. Give web site a testimonial for their product or service. Include a little text link for your web site with testimonial. You never know; it could end up on their ad copy.

8. Post your advertisement on their free classified ad section on their web site. You want to be sure you have an attractive headline so they will read your ad.

9. Post your text link on their free-for-all links page. You want to go back and post your link regularly so it stays towards top.

10. Sign their guest books. You could leave a short compliment about their web site on their guest book. Just include your signature file and link at end of your message.