Three Things You Must Do Before You Submit To Article Directories

To all writers and non-writers out there, now is the time to start digging up those creative writing skills.With modern communication technology comes the popularity of information-based marketing, which is one of the oldest and most effective techniques in getting targeted prospects to sites and converting them into buyers. This is

Is your company listed in online directories? If not, it should be.

Directory listings are vital to your online visibility, and it should be a top priority for your online marketing strategy. Directory submissions provide inbound links to your site, which help your search engine rankings. The more inbound links you have, the better your placement in the search engines. Isn't that where we all want to be?

Submitting your link to relevant directories is a great way to maximize your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Some sites offer free listings while others charge a fee. There are general, specific, and regional directories. When you submit your site under a particular category, such as hospitality or travel, the search engine will categorize your site under a relevant topic. Do not ignore the niche directories, as they are an excellent way to link to relevant sites and increase rankings.

While submitting to directories is something you can do now, it is important to note that it may take days or months for directories to approve your links.

Listing your link proves that marketing doesn't have to cost you a fortune. In fact, many sites are free. The process can be time consuming, but the payoff is worth it.

How to list your website:

Research all the possible relevant directories and submit your link to them. Googling "Free Directory Listings" will pull up numerous sites to explore.

If you don't have hours to spend surfing for relevant directories, there are online directory submission services available. An excellent resource is Best Web Directories, which offers a listing of the top directories, both free and fee based.

Tip: If you have an ezine, make sure you list it on those directories as well.

Dare to double your sales in 2008. Sign up for my monthly newsletter Your Business Marketing Solution at http://www.mlsalater.com and receive my FREE report, "5 Secrets for Creating Web Copy That Will Increase Your Sales and Double Your Profits."

Michelle Salater is the owner of Michelle Salater Writing & Editorial Inc., a copywriting company specializing in writing marketing materials for small to midsized businesses.