One of the most popular uses of article directories is to create inbound links and improve PageRank by association with popular directory sites. However, there are many other benefits to be gained by using article directories, and learning about these benefits can provide you with a number of advantages.

Use Article Directories for Research

Whether researching a topic of personal interest, or looking for information within your market niche, article directories are a valuable resource. Most posted articles are free to reprint in your ezine or on your website. You can learn who the “experts” are on the chosen topic, and see what competitors are doing.

You can find potential link partners, advertisers, or communities by following the links in article resource boxes.

Have you ever read an article and said to yourself: “I could write a better article on that topic”? You can learn interesting new facts or be inspired to create your own original articles by reading other people’s articles.

Use Article Directories to Establish Your Credentials

Many internet marketers have established themselves as “experts” within their chosen niche by writing and submitting articles to directories. Article directories provide an indirect means of connecting with publishers who reprint your article in ezines and on websites.

One of the most effective means’ of self-promotion is to regularly submit articles to directories. Follow up by doing a Google search to see where your article has been reprinted. Then contact webmasters of the most popular sites to thank them for using your material and offer them exclusive or first rights to future articles.

For example, say five webmasters reprint “Benefits of Using Article Directories.” One called “ArticlesRUs.Com” has a PageRank of 9 and is on the first page of Google results for “Article Directories.” The other four have lower page ranks and search results. If you then write “How to Choose the Best Article Directories”, you can submit it directly to “ArticlesRUs.com” for even higher quality, more tightly focused inbound links and even better search rank improvement than submitting to article directories alone.

You can also submit to article directories to improve your credentials in the offline world. As job searches become more competitive, many employers are Googling potential employees. Writing articles in your chosen field can give you a competitive edge over other applicants.

Use Article Directories to Obtain Content

While original quality content is the hallmark of an outstanding website, resource links add value as well. If you have a resource page that lists multiple topical links to quality content, your visitors will bookmark that page in order to come back to the resources.

And adding “guest articles” to your ezine is a simple way to add value for your readers and establish valuable contacts among other writers and webmasters. These contacts can open the door to paid advertising, ad swaps, joint ventures or even the chance for you to write guest articles for others.

Finally, you can use article directories to compile your own e-books for sale or to use as promotional giveaways.

Author Bio: The author of this article, Dinu Vlad, founded e-articles.info which is a good marketing tool for website owners.

Category: Marketing
Keywords: advertising, business, internet, marketing, writing, SEO