Build trust and get free advertising for your business by writing articles about yourself and your business.
Any business, whether store front, home based, online or a combination of these, can profit from articles about the business.
Article writing is easier than most people think.
It is like having a conversation with a new acquaintance, telling them about yourself and what you do for a living.
Here's how to write a good article.
To begin, browse through one or two issues of publications your target customer would likely read.
You are looking for a newspaper, newsletter or magazine that has a "spotlight on business" or "about our readers" type section.
Settle on just one periodical to start.
Check their submission requirements section or website, and keep the requirements in mind as you work.
Now let's write! Make two columns on your paper.
The first column is for aspects that the publication writes about, the second is for how you fulfill them.
Here's how to fill in the columns.

1. Look for information about business owners and authors.
   In the publication column write down what they say about the owner: family, community work, why they are in this line of work, and so forth.
   In your column, write down your own traits in the areas mentioned.
   
2. Information about other businesses is your next checkpoint.
   Again, note what the editors say about a business -- previous work done, variety, quality or price of product, special process or focus, etc.
   Write down the corresponding attributes of your business.
   
3. Now scan the table of contents and the articles writing down problems that are mentioned or solved by the articles.
   If your business solves these or any other common problems your customers face, write that down in your column.
   Include your solution to one or two problems.
   
4. Note how the publication tells its readers how to do business with you.
   Some have contact information sprinkled throughout the article.
   Others have a box or a paragraph at the beginning or end of the article.
   Write down your information in the same way, noting where it will go in your article.
   

Your article is pretty much written.
Take the information from your column of notes, and cut and paste it into your document in the same order typically used by the target publication.
Read what you have out loud, pausing to edit as needed.
Editing can include making a fragment into a sentence, grouping related information in paragraphs, spelling, and just generally making sense.
It should be about the same length as similar articles you have just researched.
Have a friend read it over, too.
Conclude your article by inviting your audience to stop by with their questions or concerns.
Show genuine interest in helping them, rather than in selling something to them.
Submit the article following the guidelines you noted earlier.