Article marketing refers to the practice of using short, keyword focused articles as a way of promoting internet traffic. Small businesses can use article marketing to drive traffic to their website while establishing themselves as a leader in their industry. Knowing how to use this web promotion technique is a solid first step to improve your company’s online presence.

Understanding Keywords

Effective article marketing starts with an understanding of keywords. Keywords are the words people use to search for information online. When you search for a particular word, the search engine looks through its database and returns with a list of websites that match your query. The websites that top the list most closely match your search, while those further down are less and less relevant.

Article marketing depends upon keyword rich content that centers on your product or company. By having articles relevant to your business on websites all over the web, you improve your visibility online. And, when your company or product shows up a lot, people come to see you as a trusted source of information or services.

Here is how it works – People start an online search for a subject using words that you’ve included in articles. The search engine will bring up a list of results, including articles that you’ve placed online. They click on those results and can read the content you’ve provided. Within that article, or at the end of it, they can follow a link back to your official website.

Understanding Article Directories

Now that you understand key words, and have some articles written, you need to get your content up on the web. There are several ways to do this, and one of the most common is to list your articles in a directory. Article marketing relies upon giving searchers access to content, which in turns directs them to your product or business. Articles directories give you a place to park articles and make it easier for people to find them through searches.

There are many article directories to choose from, all with different requirements and benefits. Basically, though, an article directory will take your content and place it in the appropriate category. The content needs to be well written and unique, and can included either imbedded links or a resource box that links back to your website.

One of the benefits of using article directories is that they provide a high level of visibility. Top directories get thousands of hits monthly and consistently have a high page rank. This means that your content, along with links to your site, will be more accessible. Using an article directory can also help you establish credibility since many are seen as reliable sources of information.

Article marketing for small businesses is a worthwhile venture for companies looking to increase web traffic and sales. Understanding keywords and how article directories work will give you a solid start towards improved online visibility. If you develop good content and are persistent, article marketing can truly be the key to a successful online business!

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Category: Marketing
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