This marketing tool is most important for work at home and small internet businesses that have limited funds for advertising. This strategy is not the only one that works, but this one does work, and it does provide inbound links.



The most important is understanding how each link is valued. There are some links which can get a website banned, like those that appear on too many 'made for AdSense' websites, classifieds, and link farms.

The second type of link has almost no value. These appear at the bottom of blog posts, or in signature lines in forums. Yahoo and MSN count these links, but Google ignores these links. That is why a website may have 3000 links on yahoo but only 200 on Google. Unfortunately, SEO analysts agree that Google wants to see a minimum of 500 inbound links before they start to consider the website seriously.

The top level links are imbedded in articles and appear on web pages that share keywords with the webpage linked too. This can make it tricky to obtain what Google calls 'executive' level links. In fact, Google is the only one that almost totally ignores the content in blogs.

This leaves article writing, and submitting to free content directories. This step-by-step guide will help small businesses create a marketing campaign that has, in the past, build as many as 100 000 inbound links within a single year.

1. Content

The content in the article is vitally important. The more unique, and less opinionated the content is, the more publishers will want it. This is especially true of content that explains current news events, public concerns, and social issues.

Webmasters use articles to build their keyword base, so the keywords used in the article should match those used in websites that focus on the topic. However, never use more than 5% keywords. Too many keywords and search engines may see it as a 'doorway page' and cut it from their search engine.

The article should be between 400 – 800 words. Too many words and it will make web pages look unbalanced. Too short and it will look like a blog post.

3. Resource Box

This is a tricky item. This is where the link goes, but remember that the keywords on the article page and the inbound link page should match. That is why the links must never go to the home or index page. It should always to go an article on the webpage with the same keywords as the 'free' version, but a second (better) level of information. This is called a 'landing page' in SEO circles.

The resource box often offers something free, but make sure that it doesn't conflict with the publisher's products. Many resource boxes offer free ebooks, which will cause the article to be rejected if the publisher is trying to 'sell' books or courses form their site.

Try and include two links, but also try to include links inside the articles, as Google values these more than it values the links at the bottom of a page.

3. Directories

There are websites like www.isnare.com that have 40 000 publishers and guarantee publication, and links, for a price. Sites like www.ezinearticles.com are free, and vast, but it is harder to predict results. The key to success is to post the article in as many article directories as possible. Think of it this way, each directory is an inbound link itself.

Each directory has its own loyal publishers. Very few publishers frequent more than one or two directories, that is why it is necessary to post the article on as many directories as time allows.

Millions of people read article directories every day.

4. Bypassing Search Engines

Every time a website published the article the link to the writer's website is exposed, increasing the likelihood of attracting visitors for their web site.

The philosophy behind article marketing is designed to attract visitors and create back links. Since being indexed in the search engines is difficult, and often, takes months before they increase traffic to the website, most Internet marketers use back links. This in effect creates their own mini-search engine network. View it this way. People search for information. Search engines bring them to a certain web page. Instead, you now find people who want to know more, and lead them to your website.

5. Branding

By writing informative pieces, you'll brand yourself as an expert in the eyes of your readers. They'll learn to trust you with their needs. This is pre-selling at its finest! There are no questions as to why article marketing is heralded as the most potent Internet marketing strategy available.