Webmasters all over the Internet want to increase and even explode their web site traffic. It's a never-ending quest.

And while it is sometimes hard to keep up with all the latest marketing techniques, there is one secret to traffic growth which consistently ranks among the hottest techniques.

Content is king. Are you still not sure about that? Consider for a moment:

• Getting a site ranked higher in search engines usually requires good, original content.

• Great content attracts more advertisers.

• Good content will improve earnings from Google AdSense.

• A site will have more incoming links as web sites, newsletters and blogs link to good content.

Good, original articles are in constant demand. And quite simply, that is why writing articles for web sites remains one of the best marketing techniques around. By writing articles which webmasters and newsletter editors are hungry for, you are able to drive traffic to your own web site through an author's resource box beneath the article.

In fact, writing articles has many benefits:

• As an author, your name will become widely known.

• You will establish yourself as an authority on the topic.

• You will increase traffic to your site when people click on your link in the author's Resource Box.

• When your article is published on multiple web sites it increases the number of incoming links to your web site and helps you to achieve a higher Page Rank.

• You may be asked to give interviews, which will give you additional exposure.

• If you sell a product or service, you will increase your sales due to having more traffic.

Of course, if you can get paid for your articles and include a byline with a hyperlink that's great. Another option is to let the articles be published for free, knowing that you are going to get some valuable traffic coming your way.

Here are some sites where you can submit your free articles for so that webmasters and editors will find them:

• ArticleStop.com

• EzineArticles.com

• IdeaMarketers.com

• ISnare.com

• GoArticles.com

• NetterWeb.com

Getting clicks and impressions is always a challenge. By harnessing the marketing power of articles, you can make a very rewarding impression.