Is your website dying? Is it just sitting there in an internet desert, shriveling up because of a lack of traffic? Can you hear the wind whistling over the emptiness? Yikes! Don't jump off a bridge just yet. Find out how writing short articles and submitting them to directories can save you from ruin.

This is the way article writing works. You have a website devoted to, well, let's say rabbits. You write a short article of about 400 to 500 words that explains how to treat a sick rabbit. You submit your article to free article directories.

Next, somebody comes along looking for information about their sick pet rabbit. Presto! Your article shows up in the search results, and the information it contains saves the rabbit's life. You now have a grateful customer willing to buy whatever it is that you are offering.

Okay, so it doesn't work quite like that. But, if done properly, article writing and marketing will bring a flood of free, targeted traffic to your website. Follow these simple steps to get started:

1. Write a title with keywords related to your website. The first three to four words in your title are the best place to have your keywords.

2. Write an interest grabbing introductory paragraph that gives a general idea of the information being covered by the article. If you can make it seem natural, use your keywords in the introduction.

3. Use the next 300 or so words in the article body to give the information promised by the title and the introduction. Use your keywords once or twice, but try to use them without breaking up the flow of the article. Keep your paragraphs short and to the point.

4. Use your last paragraph as the article conclusion. Explain how using the information you've just written about will benefit the reader in some way. Try to find a way to include your keywords one more time.

5. Put a link back to your website in the resource box. Try to add a little zip. Rather than writing "for more information, visit my website," try offering a more urgent reason for the reader to click on your website link. Something like, "My site can save your rabbit's life!" You get the idea.

There you have it. Have I done what I set out to do? Have I shown you how writing short articles can save your website? If you think so, then I've just given you an article template to follow. I hope it helps.