Writing and distributing articles is one of the most effective ways to get traffic to your site. It is also a fantastic way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. The best part about writing and distributing articles, is that it is free advertising for you.

When other website owners and ezine publishers use your articles on their websites and in their ezines, it also increases your link popularity. You are not required to give them a link back. This increases your link popularity, which the search engines love.

Most website and ezine publishers do not pay for the use of your article. However, you benefit in so many other ways. Your article can be used to promote your website, or any products or services that you may be selling. At the end of the article, you can add a resource box. This is “about the author” information. You use the resource box to list your website address, or any other webpage that you want the readers to visit.

The tricky thing about writing an article is to give just enough information. Not too little, and definitely not too much. The purpose of the article should be to inform the reader, but to make them want to visit your website, or buy your product, to learn more. “How To…” and “Ten Ways..” articles seem to be the most effective types.

Do not make the mistake of writing a sales letter and trying to pass it off as an article. Publishers do not like this, and they can recognize a sales letter when they see one. You want to establish a relationship with these publishers. The better your relationship with the publishers, the more likely they are to use your articles, which in return, increases traffic to your site, and sales.

Distributing the articles can be time consuming. The best way is to keep a list of the article banks that you wish to use. It is also a good idea to start building your own database of publishers who will accept your articles. Publishers can easily be found through the ezine directories. You should contact them, and ask them if you have their permission to send them your articles. Do not send the articles without gaining permission first.

Don’t forget your own website! Post your articles on your own website, and make it clear that others are free to use the articles on their websites, or in their ezines, as long as the article remains in tact, and the resource box is added at the end of the article. Be very clear about this.

Another idea is to keep your articles. Everytime you have a fixed number of articles, or enough articles on a given topic, turn them into an ebook. This ebook can be given away as a freebie to your site visitors