ARTICLE    DIRECTORIES

You can use directories for two purposes: 

a)  To get links back to your website from the directory.  In doing this, the link can be to any page of your choosing.

b)  To persuade readers who like your article to click to your website. In this case the page they are sent to must relate to the topic of the article, and preferably offer them more information, not just a rehash of the article they have just read. Also offer a product that they can purchase, and also an opt-in form that will enable you top keep in touch with them – make sure you offer them something in return for their first name and email address.

Since the second purpose above is a very strong one for writing articles, and frequently the primary reason for doing so, it makes sense to lead all readers to a page on your site that relates to the article, and not to your home page, as you might be if back-links were your prime motivator.

The Resource

So back to the resource:  this is where you persuade readers to visit your website for more information. Either choose or design a page just for article readers, and offer more information on it that relates to your article. As your article progresses, begin to suggest that you can only provide a small amount of information in the article, and towards the end indicate that a lot more is available on your website.

Keep in mind, however, that a few might want to purchase a product, so make sure that the page you select also offers a product they can buy if they wish to do so.  That, after all, is the entire purpose of your site.  Also make sure you offer an opt-in dorm, and offer them a free newsletter, course, report, ebook or whatever in return for their contact details.

Finally write the resource.  Use the one below as a template, and my landing page (this one) as a prime example of what you should be using as the URL in your resource.  You are generally allowed at least one URL, and many allow up to three. Some directories allow anchor text (text that is clickable) while others do not, and your readers have to click on the URL itself.

You can alternatively do as I did with the article that led you here:  write the article in two parts, and offer the second part online on your landing page. Sometimes this works, and sometimes not, and you can even try it both ways:  submit the full article to some directories, and the first part to others.  Design different landing pages for each:

a) The first with more information on article marketing, and writing articles, and
b) The second with the continuation of the article.

Make each page identical apart from the content, and then test the results with regard to

1.  The relative clicks through to your link from each type of article, and
2.  The number of those that do click through that either make a purchase, or fill in your opt-in form.

You can then apply the approach that gives best results to you next article. 

There is a lot more to writing articles and article marketing than just the above, but more information is available on this website if you need it.  Most people do!

Here is an example of a resource I would use for the entire article.

To learn more about writing articles and article marketing, check out Pete’s site <a href=”http://www.article-services.com”>Article services</a> and find out how important articles are to your online success.