Archive for October, 2008

3 Must-Do Before Submitting to Article Directories

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Writing articles for the web is now very popular. So to all writers and non-writers out there, read on.

The advancement in modern technology in communication and the popularity of information-based marketing are two things that make online marketing the business trend these days. One of the oldest and most effective techniques is driving your targeted prospects to your sites. But remember that these prospects must be converted into buyers. This is the reason for the popularity of article writing, submissions and publications.

Many tools can be found on the web for website owners and writers to facilitate  the process of distributing their articles. Some people make mistakes of writing just because they want to get greater traffic. Before submitting their contents to article directories, be guided by the following:

1.  Write to inform your readers, and to promote. 
When writing articles, think of your purpose? Is your purpose to promote them? If yes, then you  write for branding, lead generation and promotion all geared to optimize search engines. Is your purpose to write in order to inform?

When you write an article, you write to inform your audience. This is the basic and most important purpose. If the article is not focused on this important purpose, all other purposes will not be met.
But how do you write to inform and to promote? Figure out first how to get people to read your article, then what will make them click on your resource box. This is achievable if you come up with better contents.

2. Maximize the promotional opportunities of article marketing.
Your articles can help you generate additional backlinks to your site. But did you also know that you can get more visitors and better search engine results from the same articles? Do this by mentioning keywords at strategic places. But do not try to overdo them.  Some are even using anchor texts ; this is also an effective method. Although, it is important to know that majority of the directories are not able to support this.

It is not only about the links back to your site. When you write good articles it is picked up by publishers with a large number of audiences and you gain leveraging over other brands because of the quality of your work. Better search engine results to greater benefits. But increasing the visitors to your website doesn’t put money into your pockets. To get better traffic, always start out with a plan and make sure your article will serve the intended purpose.

3. Publish contents that help your readers.
While writing articles, maybe you are thinking of the links back to your site and how many visitors it can generate.

But not all article banks and directories will immediately accept your content. Some guidelines and specifications on the articles are being followed before your articles are accepted. You have chances of doubling the number of sites where you can submit your articles and which the directories will want to share with other people. It takes only one publisher with a hundred thousand readers to increase your potential audience overnight.

Write articles that publishers want in their publications if you want an effective article marketing. When doing so, obey the standard guidelines, spell checks, research on a good topic and even hire a writer to produce a good web content.

Basically, it is all really a matter of choice on your part. You can either get a little exposure from increased links back or enjoy massive exposure from a little extra time making quality contents.
It will be your choice.

6 Red Hot Tips to Writing Articles

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

hen you write articles for your site, you must be knowledgeable about a particular theme or topic. When you know what your products or services are, you won’t surely have a difficult time writing. You’ve got to remember to make your articles creative and interesting.

Here are six red hot tips to get your articles read. Follow these tips and your articles will be readable and interesting!

1) Use short paragraphs. Paragraph that are very long leave an impression of confusion. The words are jumbled in the mind of the reader who simply look at them and won’t even bother to read further. It becomes a hard work for them to read. The reader of course will immediately disregard the paragraph and move on to much easier reading articles. Paragraphs can be a single sentence or sometimes just a word!

2) Make use of numbers or bullets. To emphasize a point, use numbers and bullets for readers to quickly make the points easy to remember and digest. When every point, tip, guide or method is marked with a bullet or point, readers know that this is an important tip being stressed. Your bullets must be formatted and numbers are indented so that your  article won’t look like a single block of square paragraphs. (Notice that’s how tips are written in this website).

3) Use Sub-headings. To subdivide your paragraphs in the page, use subheadings.  Doing this will break each point into sections but integrate all into one whole article. It is so much easier for the readers to move on from one point to another. Switching from one to the other would be smooth and easy. You’ve nothing to worry about losing your readers’ attention and direction to where the article is pointing.

4) Provide an attention-grabbing title or header. If you want your articles read, entice your readers  curiosity. If you can do this with the title of your articles, you’re already halfway to having your articles read. Statements and questions using keywords must be the format of your title. These are what readers are  looking for. Your titles or headers must describe your articles content in a short and concise way.

5) Keep them interested from the start to the finish. If you can keep your readers to read the first paragraph, then you’re in for a sales. Your opening paragraph can include real life situations adapted to the reader’s own realm. Good descriptions and metaphors can be used to drive in your point. Remember  not to over do it. Your examples must be stated with graphic metaphors and similes making it easy for them to imagine what you are talking about. Always remember to make the experience pleasurable and enjoyable for your readers.

6) Use figures. If necessary , use figures or facts. Use specific facts and figures to make it authoritative. However, do not make it too formal. It should be light and easy for them to follow.

Free Methods to Generate Traffic

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Establishing a business requires a lot of things most specially, capitalization. Making money requires money as well. But with the Internet, you could find many ways to help maximize the potential of your site or company in generating the desired traffic.

Many methods to start your traffic flow may be available. Oftentimes, though many sites do not have the financial resources that others have to generate more traffic to their sites. Actually, there are also costless methods that you can use. You only need the right spirit and will. You must also have the drive and patience to do the research and generate more traffic to your site.

Join online forums and online communities. The great thing about forums and online communities is that you can target a certain group of the same demography that you want. You can discuss a lot about the niche that you represent or offer. Most importantly, you know what you’re running into and you will be prepared.

Online communities and forums can help you build a reputation for your business. Show them what you do and impress them with your range of expertise on the subject. Doing this will build a reputation for your site and build trust with people of your expertise and knowledge.

You can also use newsletters. Provide people with a catalog of your products as well as interesting and fun articles. If you make it really interesting and fun, more people will subscribe to your newsletter and recommend it to others. The more people who signs up for your newsletter, the more people will be accessing your site thus increase your traffic.

Another great idea is to trade links with other sites. You do not spend a single cent doing this. All you have to do is reach an agreement with another webmaster. With the exchange of links, the efforts of both webmasters will benefit both sites. All traffic that goes to the site may click on the link to your site and visit your site. This works well sites with similar niche.

When you write articles, attract the attention of people who have an interest in your product. Articles that provide tips and guides to other newbies will definitely be worth reading. Writing articles that provide quality service and knowledge to others will provide the necessary mileage for the traffic flow needs.

Some sites offer free submission and posting of your articles. When people are interested in your articles, they’re sure to follow the path to the origin of the article. To do this, simply Insert a link or a brief description of your company in your article. There is a high probability of reaching your site.

Don’t just write but write good contents for your site. Search engines like Google. Yahoo and MSN track keywords and keyword phrases your site uses and how they are used. It is not a requirement that a content should be done by a professional content writer. You yourself can, but you have to do content for your site that is entertaining and information. It should provide certain requirements and it must be good.
In short, users of Internet search engines looking for what they seek. In return, they use keyword searching to help their search results. You can reach the top rankings of search engine results without the costs.

All these methods and more will lead more traffic to your site for free. All you need is a little effort and more hours of work. Learn everything you can about these methods and soon you’ll have a site with a great traffic flow without the costs .

Free Website Promotion

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Can you avail of a free website promotion? Yes, it is already feasible nowadays. Your existing website can accumulate huge traffic in no time, for free.

To enter into a free website promotion, these are the potential things to be done:

1. Website enlisting
This is the easiest and most effective tactic in a free website promotion. Search for the hottest and new internet directories and enlist your site there. Just don’t forget to prep up your website for a higher chance to get accepted in your directory of choice. Start with this step and the rest will follow.

2. Distinguish your forum

In free website promotion, make your website distinct and reader-friendly. Join in a forum to let everyone know your site. Your every post instantly attracts visitors right there. Just don’t forget to log in and post actively.

3. Press Release

Write a concise paragraph or two and send it to your friends, colleagues, newspapers, internet E – Zines and other media. This free website promotion tactic is very essential and you can do it anytime. It will promote or advertise your site resulting to a massive traffic in the nets.

4. Article writing

If you are writing an article and your website promotes tourism, write an article about the new hot zones in the country. On the article per se, mention your website in passing. This approach works as an advertorial (advertisement + editorial) and will certainly promote your site!

5. Principle of Friendship in online
Establishing contacts in a free website promotion is just like establishing rapport, entrusting yourself with confidence with other webmasters. It is the best link to exchange ideas and requests.

6. Banner Advertisement
The importance of having a banner ad in your site in a free website promotion is you have a specific identification of who and what are you. By promoting this in your site, you can ask or request other webmasters to do the same for their site, then make swapping.

7. Online Course
There are many online tutorials, but, actually you can take free website promotion course that can enhance you further. Signing up for newsletter is part of website promotion program.

8. Let the whole world know about your site
Promote your site using the word of mouth. You can insert your website, its URL and features in daily conversations and let the good word spread from one mouth to another.

Website Monitoring Tools

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

How will your website rank high? You cannot simply place your website on the net with all the right keywords and the right button, and then sit, relax and wait for your traffic to come. If you do this, your ranking may remain constant. As the web is an ever-changing landscape, keep track of your own site results as there is competition among sites for ranking. Every web owner competes to belong among the best and highest ranked sites. But this is no longer a problem; there are many tools to help you know exactly what happens.

  1. To test your own website or links to other Web sites for broken links:
    http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html
  2. To check search engines for the number of links back to your URL (that is, other Web pages linking to your site), use RankChecker.com.
  3. To know where your servers hosting company are physically located and to search the country location of a particular competitor’s website:
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/website-country/
  4. To monitor the location of the visitor or a customer of your website
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/geovisitors/
  5. To check the Google web ranking of your competitors’ websites:
    http://www.rankchecker.com/serp-keyword-position-tool/

  6. To verify the classification of a Web site using a Mac or an Apple computer:
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/pagerank-mac/
  7. To provide maps and reports that will help you analyze traffic, clicks, and the results of your AdSense advertising
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/adsense-charts/
  8. To analyze your website address or another website address to see what Google ads will be displayed when the customer selects some website names or keywords:
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/adsense-sandbox/
    http://www.rankchecker.com/all_in_a_one/
  9. To navigate you to a network of cooperative advertising where you can join the display and share your ads with other website owners:
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/ad-network/
  10. To add search functionality to your website using Google. This only works if your site is listed in Google’s index:
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/search/
  11. Some free website counters that you can use on your Web site to track your visits and traffic:
    http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/counter/
    http://www.amazingcounters.com/?ref=gad033
    http://www.cyber-counter.com/signup.php
    http://www.statcounter.com/free_hit_counter.html
    http://www.free-counters.net/