Submit articles to free article directories
Placement in the directory alone will give you a free link from the directory, plus other webmasters can use your article on their websites, giving you more links.
This technique used to be all the rage years ago, especially as the link building was of vital importance. In 2012 in one of the updates Google penalized excessive links of poor quality. Article directories are still relevant but it is best to have a mixture of links: article directories, guess posting, blog commenting and press releases. The moral is simple: spread your marketing efforts for link building.
Article writing technique is similar to writing blog posts or guest posts.
Articles must be:
- Original: not merely a copy of another.
- Professional: good spelling and grammar (my husband helps me here as I have a terrible problem with my “ons” and “ins”.
- Readable: like the news.
- Entertaining: I used to write lectures, if you read the beginning of this blog 🙂 Last year’s articles were merely a lecture. Now I try to be conversational and wherever possible I do apply these 365 tips to what I use now.
- Informative: it must teach the audience something new or give them new resources.
You have to be careful to which article directory you post your articles. I found very good advice in this article:
http://creativegenius.hubpages.com/hub/Top-Article-Directories-with-High-PageRank (it is a sortable table and very useful.)
An article by Matt Cutts:
Top Ten Types of Articles
These also apply to blog posts:
1. Top 10 Articles
This is just what it sounds like – a “top 10” list
Example:
• The 10 best ways to save for retirement.
2. Tips Articles
As the name implies, this is where you share one or more tips.
Example:
• 7 weight-loss tips that will melt 10 pounds of fat.
3. How To Articles
A “how to” articles is used to teach the reader how to do something.
Example:
• How to use Google AdWords.
4. Case Study Articles and Motivational Articles
A case study article is where you take a scientific approach to testing something – such as a new product – and then reporting your results. These articles are motivational as they show the reader than results can be achieved. You are reporting results and facts and motivating at the same time.
Example:
• Putting [product name] to the test
5. Research Articles
This is another “facts and figures” type article. Instead of doing any studies or experiments yourself, you turn to academic and scientific literature to come up with an article.
Example:
• What is the smartest breed of dog?
6. Response Articles
A response article is also called a “trackback article,” because you use trackbacks to reply to another blogger’s or article writer’s article.
Examples:
• A blogger rants about a particular problem. You respond with a solution.
7. Rant Articles
A rant is just what it sounds like – an emotional article, often one where you “complain” about a problem and although this sounds pretty simple, these are often the most popular articles on your blog.
Examples:
• Why the gurus got it all wrong.
8. Presell Articles
A presell article is basically an advertisement. This is where you tell your readers, “I recommend this product and here’s why…” (followed by a list of reasons and benefits why it’s a good product). You can even copy and paste bullet points directly from the sales letter, if you have permission.
Tip: For best results, write from the heart rather than hyping it up. If your readers know, like and trust you, then they’ll buy the product just based on your honest recommendation.
9. Review and Comparison Articles
Another rather direct way to sell a product is by writing a product review (or a comparison, if you review and compare two or more products).
Example:
• Warning: Don’t buy [product name] until you read this…
10. Multi-Part Articles
This article format can be used with just about any other format. Basically, the idea isn’t just to make one post – it’s to make a series of articles (at least two articles, but preferably more).
The reason is because you want your readers to get “hooked” on the initial articles… and then eagerly return to your blog again and again for the next article in the series.
Examples:
• Ten part series showing people how to write a sales letter.
• 52 part series (once per week) showing people how to lose weight.
Great and really useful information! I especially like your Top Ten list! I think I will try one of my own. Thanks so much!
Thank you, that’s my aim to help online businesses.
Great resource. Thank you!
Very good advice i really like it thanks for share it.
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