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Increase Website Traffic: Consider Using Article Directories to Funnel Traffic
By SherryD | February 5, 2010
Topics: increase website traffic | 6 Comments »
Informational content rules the Internet and is one of the primary reasons people login and search day after day. If you are one of the people who use article content creation to provide what they are searching for, it will lead them back to you over and over again. If you develop your writing skills, you may use that skill to promote your website or blog through article directories and increase website traffic.
What is an article directory you ask? An article directory is a place used by website owners to locate content that is useful and pertinent to their niche. Direction to article content from article directories is made available by organic search results when someone online searches for a particular topic.
You will gain valuable traffic if your article or content is picked up by the search engines from an article directory and shown in search results. If you have several articles in the same niche, you may also build a readership following.
Submitting articles to article directories is a fairly easy process, although it is important that you thoroughly read and understand the submission guidelines of each article directory used. While most directories have rules that are similar, there are variations and it is important to follow these to the letter if you want your articles to be published.
Article content creation is one of the steps that many people get stuck on. The easiest way to create content for your article is to write on something that you already know something about – your niche would be a primary example. If you are an expert on your topic, so much the better. Within the parameters of your niche are many topics that you are able to develop into articles that others will find interesting.
If you are in a energy niche, write on ways to save or even generate energy. If you are into reflexology, write on various techniques or products that you have found helpful. Possibly you are in the gardening niche. Titles such as “How to protect your rose bushes in colder climates” or “When is the best time to fertilize your tomatoes” would make excellent topics to write on.
Your reputation as an expert in your niche will grow as people find and read your articles. If they like what they are reading, the chances of them joining and following your blog or website dramatically increase. Their attraction to your material will also be enhanced if they are finding unique information that has been written enthusiastically.
Some Key Points When Using Article Directories To Funnel Traffic:
- The average article should be between 400-500 words in length. Check the requirements of the article directory you have chosen. Many allow a few as 250 words, while others require 600 or more. Some, such as Ezine Articles will accept shorter articles, but encourage you to produce longer articles with incentives such as promotion to expert status.
- Always use an engaging headline that includes keywords related to your website. This helps in the SEO of your website as search engines are able to make the connection between the article content and the site.
- Keywords play a “key” role when using article directories to funnel traffic and should also be used throughout the article. As a rule of thumb, your primary keyword or keyword phrase should appear in the title of the article, as well as at least once at the beginning, midpoint and end of the article.
- A keyword can be mentioned a few times (1% – 5% density) and not be considered to be “keyword stuffing” if included in a natural manner.
- Keywords inserted in an unnatural manner detract from the article and turn the reader off. Do not sacrifice the quality of your article just to stuff a keyword in where it does not fit naturally.
- Use your bio box effectively. This is where you are able to tell your reader more about yourself and your website to help them get to know you better. Be sure to include links to where you would like people to go in the form of a call to action.
- Where ever possible, join in on conversations related to your niche. One way of doing this is to join related groups on social networks. When you join or even just follow these related conversations, you will gain insight into the type of informational content people are searching for. You are then able to write your articles with that insight in mind. As well, you will learn where the people in your niche tend to look for answers.
- People tend to be creatures of habit and will most likely visit the same information sources, such as article directories, they have found helpful in the past. By listening to where they are finding this information, you are able to submit your articles to those directories.
- While you want to submit to article directories you know are popular in your niche, also submit to the ones that are popular in general. These directories often have high rankings with search engines such as Google and are more likely to be crawled and indexed frequently. Once your article is indexed, it is available in organic search results.
Even though video and audio content have become very popular on the Internet, articles still hold tremendous value with the search engines and those searching for information. Article content creation will play a significant role in your marketing efforts. No matter how you look at it, using article directories to funnel traffic to your website is still one of the easiest ways to increase website traffic.
To Your Success,
SherryD
http://www.wbobr.com
6 Responses to “Increase Website Traffic: Consider Using Article Directories to Funnel Traffic”
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February 8th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Great article Sherry. I’ve just started getting into article writing, its hard work but im hoping it will pay up.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:13 am
Thank you Chris, I am not a natural writer myself, but it does get easier with practice.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Great resource, you can also try looking around at some forum like http://yourtraffictalk.com or you can also use google webmaster tools at http://google.com/webmaster
February 11th, 2010 at 12:49 am
Thank you John, those are great additions I’m sure many will find very helpful.
February 12th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Hi,
This is a good idea. Posting good content is always a nice idea for marketing.
thx for sharing.
February 14th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Articles are a great way to be some good, high value links to your website. But like Chris and SherryD, I find it a struggle to sit down and write articles.
It’s interesting though, that I don’t have much of a problem writing a blog post
Wonder why that is?
Mike
Mike@Website Rotator´s last blog ..URL Rotator Version 2.0