Sell More Work by Grabbing Eye-Catching Quotes

Sell More Work What do the following names have in common? Jeffrey Archer, David Baldacci, Bernard Cornwell, Janet Evanovich, Jasper Fforde, Ken Follett, Jonathan Kellerman, Rebecca Tope. Answer: My articles! These famous bestselling authors have all granted direct personal exclusive quotes to me. A writer instills his own voice, personality, perceptions, knowledge, experiences, even moods into his work. It is one point of view and can sound opinionated. Adding commentary from external sources changes the tone of the article from opinion to analysis. Quotes liven up the content, humanizing and dramatizing it. They add gravitas and credibility to an article. They show the writer has done their homework and produced work that can be taken seriously. They influence readers and build trust. Experts specialize and excel in their fields. Seek the correct kind for your article. For example, when writing on child care, a quote from an educator working in a day care organization will carry more weight than a comment from a therapist working for anti-bullying services, even though both may be parenting experts. Dont demonstrate your ignorance or laziness Experts may be found from a variety of sources: 1. When you come across any expert cited in an article, a quick Internet search like Contact + John Smith, MSc in Child Psychology will bring up some contact information email address, website, Facebook page, LinkedIn profile. 2. Published experts are often on Amazons list of bestsellers or have an authors page on Goodreads.com. 3. Faculty at schools, universities, and training organizations may be accessible.   4. Reach out to people responding in the Comments sections of blog posts. 5. Dedicated online services like HelpAReporter.com can be a good place to network. However, quotes from experts registered on these services are often in exchange for advertising/marketing space or a plug, which may not be allowed for your publication. 6. Key executives of top-selling products can be contacted via websites like BuzzSumo.com. 7. Experts themselves refer or recommend other experts. 8. Your humble daily newspaper is an easy resource. 9. Go crazy signing up for company press releases (e.g. PRWeb.com) and newsletters. Like them on Facebook, stalk them around their Twitter-sphere, follow their blogs and participate in related discussion forums. 10. Get into experts inner circles 11. Writers are experts too! The freelancer who writes on new age therapy may be a licensed naturalist healer who could give input on your article about a newly-discovered herbs medicinal qualities. The literary writer may have a day job as a psychologist or police officer and could grant you a meaty quote about crime at school. Once youve found your experts, dont hesitate to approach them with a polite, clear, concise and non-judgmental enquiry. Introduce yourself honestly, and end with a note of thanks. Ask the right questions to avoid getting dull and pointless answers. Dont act too funny, provocative or familiar. When youve got your quotes, present them appropriately in your article making sure it flows well and doesnt appear disconnected. Take care to attribute the correct quote to the correct expert! While you may need to edit, clarify, highlight, sanitize, or paraphrase the quote, dont go overboard, modify the meaning, take it out of context or introduce your own voice into it. Expert quotes lend authenticity, authority and validity to your work and make it look professional. They can add value, remove discrepancies, reveal new slants, and change the perception of your article. Use others words to sell your own!