Article Marketing and List Building

In a word: yes. Article marketing is one of the hottest Internet marketing strategies today. Apart from being cost-effective (as it really does help you save your expenses - usually it's FREE!), it really, totally works. Just ask anyone who has done it for their website.

The beauty of article marketing is that you are able to create your own content, based on what sales message you want to put out in the form of unique content. Once you have done this, you can publish them anywhere - on your website, in different publications, you name it, the Internet has it!

One of the better and easier ways to drive more traffic to your website is the renowned site directory. You can upload your articles to them and they'll store your article in its archives, allowing any user who has a query about your expertise to access your content, and in turn, visit your website!

This is, of course, assuming that you give yourself credit and identify yourself as the source - this is what the resource box is for. Also, your articles have to be strictly formatted to match the standards of the specific site directory you are submitting to.

In addition, make sure your content is targeted - that is, you have your key audience in mind and you are writing for them in a way that directly answers their questions and needs. It can be tedious, laborious, and sometimes time-consuming, but the effort and time investment is certainly worth it as it reaps loads of benefits for your website or business.

Here are a few tips to get you started!

- Write with a voice. Remember, your ideas have to be expressed in a distinct, uniform way that will identify you amongst the throng of websites that are also vying for the same amount of attention.

- Write relevant content. Assuming that you have identified your key target markets (and sub-markets, if any), write FOR them. Make sure the information you provide prompts them to ask more, or better, click on your website. Avoid unnecessary details that may put them off from reading the rest of your articles.

- Keep it short, simple, and sweet. There is really no need to go into so much detail. There IS such a thing as an overly lengthy article. Stick to the important facts and emphasize them. Ask yourself what important parts of your content you want your reader to remember.

- Think of an appropriate title. It's more than okay to get creative, but remember that you have to stick to a title that still contains your main keywords so that it is searchable on the Internet.

- In relation to that, be wise in picking out your keywords. Put yourselves in your customers' shoes and ask yourself what you would be typing on that search engine if you were one of them. Use keyword tools if you must.

- Always write with a particular style in mind. If you are writing tips-style, stick to it. Avoid using several styles in one article as this may confuse your reader. You want to write in a way that is easy to understand and grasp.

- Keep editing and proofreading! Just because you felt great while writing the article does not mean that it is already polished. Skim or go through your article several times, checking for grammatical or technical errors.

If you're unsure of how to get started, look at some of the already-published articles on site directories and study how they have written their article. From there you can identify which ones were written well. Good luck!