Every year, millions of people start up a website in hopes of striking it rich on the Internet. Unfortunately many of these website never get a chance to make any money simply because of a lack of quality traffic. If you want to avoid the “no traffic” blues than article distribution is the #1 Internet marketing tactic that can bring you in a consistent volume of high quality traffic. The best part is, this strategy is easy, efficient and doesn’t cost much money.

So what is article distribution?

Article distribution is an Internet marketing technique that is used by many online entrepreneurs simply because of the incredible SEO, branding and linking benefits. Article distribution involves the use of websites that are known as article directories. Article directories are websites that host a large collection of articles. To make finding and reading those articles easier, most article directories place each of their articles into categories. Popular categories include education, business, automobiles, and travel.

In each article, the writer is able to create a link to one of their websites in what is known as the “About the Author” box. That link is often accompanied by background information on the website in question or the entrepreneur who wrote the article. Each time one of your links is clicked, internet users will be directed to your website. This connection will increase the amount of traffic your website sees and it may also help to increase the amount of profit it generates.

Although article distribution is a nice and easy way to generate website traffic, it is one that needs to be done correctly. Otherwise you may essentially end up wasting time.

The first step in using article directories to your advantage is to focus on a topic that you would like to write about. For the best success, you will want to write on a topic or an issue that is, in one way or another, related to the website readers will be directed to. Any article may increase the traffic that your website sees, but if you rely on internet sales, you will need to go a step further. For instance, if you are selling a service, such as a bookkeeping service, you may want your article to focus on the benefits of having a quality bookkeeper.

Once you have determine what the main topic or focus of your articles will be, you will then need to examine how you will write them. If you find yourself having a difficult time figuring out what to write, you may want to think about creating yourself an outline. An outline will act as a guide for you. An
outline will not only help you know what to write, but it will also help to ensure that you do not leave out any important information.

Once you have created an outline, you can start writing. When doing so, it is important that you keep your content interesting and easy to read. Be cautious of using technical words that many internet users will not understand. Although your first thought may be to create informational articles, you want to be cautious of providing too much information. You need your readers to click on your links, to get to your website. If your article is too informative, they may already have found what they needed, thus the needed for visiting your website may have been eliminated. You will want to leave your readers wanting more information.

After your article has been compiled and thoroughly proofread, you will want to submit it to the article directories of your choice. Although you might assume that your job is done after this point, it isn’t or at least it shouldn’t be. Article distribution is a great way to generate traffic, but it needs to be done on consistently if you want to see real results. In fact, you may want to set a goal for yourself, like submitting at least five articles a month or even more. This will help to ensure that your readers are always given new, updated information to read and absorb. Plus, the more articles you distribute the more links you will create.

Need help writing articles? Check out Instant Article Wizard and discover how to pop out content rich profitable articles in less than 15 minutes a day!

* The Internet Marketer:

First I’ll buy 10,000 leads and load them in my autoresponder.

Then who ever comes out the bottom, I’ll teach to load 20,000 names in to their autoresponder and who comes out the bottom of them, we’ll teach to load 30,000 names in to their autoresponder…hopefully someone on the 10th level down will get around to actually changing the dang bulb.

* The Professional Course Buyer:

Sure, I’d love to change the bulb. I can do it! But first, I’ll need to buy the latest book from my favorite guru on how to do it, then purchase 32 e-books of worthless value, just to have them laying on my Hard Drive (someday I may actually read them…), then I’ve got to search the Internet for the best free information on changing light bulbs and buy a 16 CD ROM course on the subject, and I’ve got to get subscriptions to all the light bulb changing magazines…

After I study for a couple of years, I can then go out with confidence and get the job done.

* The Cold Caller

Hey, I can change that bulb, no problem. But first I’d better do a search and find the best leads out there. Then I’m going to buy a couple of “guaranteed opt in lists” that have people on them that have specifically answered an ad for my light bulb changing opportunity.

Then I’ll sort through the lists and delete the ones I don’t think will make it, and then well, next week I’ll actually have 10 minutes to get around to really calling those leads…and for sure, I’m going to find that one right person who is going to make me $10,000 a week changing the light bulbs for me!

* The Conference Call Junkie

Hey, no problem, I’ll get that bulb changed. But I’d better wait until after next Tuesday’s conference call that will show me how to hold that bulb in just the right way to get the most out of the experience.

* The “I’m Getting Ready” to Change The Bulb Guy

It’s on my “to do” list. Right up there at the top. It will get done. But first, let’s see, I’d better re-arrange my desk so I won’t be distracted, and next I’d better take out the trash, and next I’d better sharpen my pencil, and next I’d better get ready to get ready to get ready to change that bulb…

But hey, it’s on my list…

* The Loser

You want me to do what?

Me???

You’ve got to be kidding, and you actually mean I have to spend a dollar to buy the bulb first, man you’re nuts if you think I’m going to really change a light bulb.

I got into this cause “they said” I wouldn’t have to do anything or spend anything…they’d do all the work for me!

* The I Need To Make Money Now Guy

Hey, this sounds great! They told me I could make $20,000 changing light bulbs. Where do I start.

Hey, what do you mean I’ve got to send out a thousand post cards a month and call all these responses and pay for ads in newspapers and call all the responses and …what? You mean I actually have to spend the money for those ads myself?

Doesn’t the company pay for all these ads?

And what? You mean it might take 4 to 5 years of doing that every month?

What are you Nuts? I can’t do that. I need to make money NOW. Hmmmmm, where’s that lottery card I had laying around here?

* The Reason Why Not Guy

Hey this sounds exciting, making money changing light bulbs. But, what would my spouse say?
But, that would actually take an hour of my time…
But, I’ve got to go bowling with the guys tonight…
But, my favorite TV show is on!
But, well, sure I want to make money, but I don’t have the extra $25 bucks to join.
But, the guy down where I work, his best friend’s great uncle tried that and he didn’t have any success so it probably wouldn’t work for me either.
But, this isn’t like Amway isn’t it?
But, this is a pyramid thingy…
But, I couldn’t talk to my friends and relatives about this…
But, I don’t have the time
But, I don’t know enough people
But, …ad-nauseam

* The Triple, Double Diamond Pearl

Done! Give me 144 cases more to change, I’ve got the time and energy and ambition to do it now. I’ll also get a couple hundred more cases for all the active distributors in my downline and have them changed by the end of the week.

(I’m not sure who the author of this is, but I saw it online the other day and got a good laugh out of it

A marketing plan is essential for any type of business and opening a new website on the Internet is no different. By putting together a marketing plan you will have the road map in place that can guide your website from obscurity to a hot destination in the least amount of time.

Below are several key things to remember while you develop your marketing plan to bring traffic to your website.

#1 - Establish your objectives and targets.

After you have built a website for your on line business, you need to establish goals in terms of how much you want to earn from that business. This will help you figure out the volume of traffic needed to make the necessary sales you desire. Your objectives and goals will guide you in deciding the level of promotion and the right type of advertising you need to bring in the desired traffic.

#2 - Establish your advertising budget

This is a very important step simply because there are so many techniques and strategies for driving traffic to your website. Some techniques are affordable while others are expensive and by establishing an advertising budget you can outline what tools and services will give you the most bang for your advertising dollar.

#3 - Invest in the necessary tools.

One tool that every website needs is an auto-responder. An auto-responder will allow you to capture information from people visiting your website and follow up with them via email in a consistent manner. If your website doesn’t have the lead capture function that an auto-responder provides than you are not maximizing your existing traffic and missing out on potential sales. (The best auto-responder available is Aweber. CLICK HERE to learn more about this vital service.)

#4 – Develop short term and long term advertising strategies.

The quickest and easiest way to generate traffic and leads for any business is pay per click (Otherwise known as PPC) advertising because it can bring you immediate results. While pay per click is a “short term” strategy to get your website listed in the search engines you also want to optimize your website for the organic search engines as well. Since pay per click costs you money and the organic searches are free, obviously you want to make the gradual switch from pay per click to organic as your website grows and becomes more developed on line.

Besides getting listed in the organic search engines, you will also want to write and publish articles on line, create a blog that you make daily posts on, and participate in forums that relate to your industry.

By following these simple steps you can develop a marketing plan for your website. With your new marketing plan you can minimize wasteful spending and give your new website the best chance at success.

One of the biggest myths about starting a business is that you’re destined for failure unless you have natural skills for business. In other words, if you weren’t born to be an entrepreneur then you are going to be sunk before you ever get started. Needless to say, this is an untrue notion. While there are a number of skills that you absolutely must have to be a successful business person, if you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses there are ways for you to develop those skills along the way.

Here is a list of 3 important skills that all entrepreneurs must harness in order to be successful.

#1 - Perseverance

Starting a business is like the exponential version of working on a project for school. When you are learning a new concept for that project, you are going to have to go slow and steady. If you just start, do it for a bit and then leave it alone you are going to fail the project. But if you start it and then keep at it little by little, you are going to end up with a successful final product. This is what you need to do in business; you need to keep at it until you get to the point of being successful regardless of the road bumps along the way.

#2 - Thick skin

In the business world, you are going to meet a number of cut-throat individuals that would like nothing better than to see you fail so that they can succeed. While it is good to have business relationships with other individuals, what is not so good is hearing anything negative they say as the gospel and letting it take you out of your game. If you do that, then it won’t take very many negative comments before you throw in the towel on your business for good. Consider taking people’s advice if it is constructive, but don’t listen to anyone that is completely negative.

#3 - Ability to deal with failure

Many people don’t posses this ability and easily give up on something after having one unsuccessful try at it. This must avoid this mindset in business because you’re going to fail at things again and again. The most successful business people of today were failures at some point yesterday and what makes them successful is that they did not give up.

As you can see, these skills can be learned over time. The important thing is to be aware of what skill sets you need and then grade yourself on where you’re at today and what you need to do to improve tomorrow.

Advertising is the key to success for any home business, as people can’t turn into customers if they don’t know you exist and don’t know how you can meet their needs. Traditional advertising, such as print media has been around since the invention of the printing press and broadcast media soon came after the birth of radio. But despite all the years of using these types of advertising, the internet has cast a new light on how to successfully market a business without spending a fortune.

While the cost of Internet advertising may seem cheap considering the number of potential customers it can reach for businesses that only offer a local product or service advertising globally just may not make sense. If your business is located in Iowa and your advertising appears in England or in Africa, chances are the return on your advertising investment will not be what you expected.

While internet businesses can gain tremendously from internet marketing, it can get expensive over time depending on the type of advertising venue you choose. The best advertising you can hope for is to have others send your message to their friends, free, without being asked and without complaining. This is known as viral marketing.

The use of viral marketing has been growing and simply involves having internet users distributing your advertising message of their own free will. One of first and most successful uses of viral marketing was when companies such as Yahoo began offering free email accounts. A brief advertising message appears at the bottom of every Yahoo email sent, usually including a link for the advertiser. Then whenever people signed up for the free email service, every email they sent out contained an advertisement.

Talk about viral marketing! Unfortunately your business probably doesn’t have the capability to give out free email accounts but you can come up with other great ideas to virally get your message to the masses. Try giving away an eBook you write that shares useful information about your product, service or industry and of course has your advertisement tagged throughout the copy. Another idea is to create an online ezine that people could subscribe to and share with others.

Whatever idea you come up with just remember that people love free stuff and if what you give away has value then your prospects don’t mind recommending others to your business or website. This means massive exposure for your business and you don’t have to spend a dime.

What type of business you operate from the home is totally up to you, but there are certain things that you will need to do to help insure its success. While visions of making it big comes immediately to mind for many who choose to run their own home-based business, they often forget that it is a business. Running a home business often gives people the misunderstanding that they can dictate every part of their operation and while there are many aspects of a home business in which they are completely in charge, customers and clients will also have input on many functions.

Tip #1 – Set a work schedule.

The first thing needed to run a successful home business is a set schedule. It may be easy to stay up late to watch a movie and repeatedly hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, but when dealing with clients over the phone you really do not want them to think their early morning phone call rousted you from a sound sleep. While having a lot of free time may be appealing and taking naps in the middle of the day may be attractive, keeping regular hours is important to any business.

Tip #2 – Have a separate office.

Make sure your office is only used as an office. In addition to the tax benefits of carving out a space used strictly for work, you will also have the feeling when you walk into the room in the morning that it is time to go to work. Similarly, when the day is over and you leave the office you need to feel as though you have gone home for the day. Just as you want to keep family distractions out of the office, you need to keep work distractions out of the rest of the house.

Tip #3 – Keep it professional.

Being professional in all business dealings when in your home office will help preserve your image as a business owner. If you cannot afford a separate telephone line for the business, during your normal business hours answer the phone in a professional manner.

Tip #4 – Marketing is key.

Unless your business is the field of dreams, simply building it will not guarantee customers will show up. Advertising ad marketing is essential to any business, even those run exclusively online. Chances are there is no sign in front of your home that indicates you are open for business, inviting passers-by to stop in and see what you have to offer. The only way anyone knows you are there is through advertising.

Tip #5 - Build a website.

Even if you will not be conducting any business online a website can serve as your web-based sales pamphlet and include information about you, your experience and your business. Including prominent contact information on the first page of your website is a key to obtaining more business, but you should also have a contact form available for people to simply send in a request for information or for answering questions.

So you decided to start an online business. The website is up and you’re ready to rock but seem to be missing just one thing… Traffic! While there are many ways to drive traffic to a website, some of the best techniques don’t require a deep pocketbook and can bring your website some incredible results.

Discover 5 easy to implement strategies for increasing your website traffic on a small budget:

1. Offer free reports, eBooks or videos.

Giving away some freebies and including your website URL in those freebies is an effective and low cost way of building traffic to your website. All you do is write some useful short reports that someone coming to your website would be interested in reading (of course the reports will link back to your website). Then you offer your freebies on your website where your visitors must leave their email address and name before they are able to access your materials. This strategy not only builds credibility with potential customers but also helps you build a targeted opt-in mailing list that you can market to in the future. I suggest using an auto-responder service like Aweber to easily ad opt-in forms on your website and capture your prospects information.

2. Blog.

Blogging is an awesome way to bring traffic to your website. On your blog, you can discuss your products and services as well as answer any questions your potential customers may have. Of course, since it’s your blog you can also add banner advertisements and text links back to your website too. By blogging regularly, you will have fresh content that will get your website indexed by search engines which is a free source of incredible traffic. The best part is that blogs are free and anyone can easily set one up using applications like Blogger or WordPress.

3. Publish your own newsletter.

Having your own newsletter where you offer free tips and content on a regular basis can help to not only bring in new visitors but also keep people coming back for more. Your newsletter will contain quality content and news about your industry as well as links to your website. If your content is good enough your newsletters can easily spread all over the Internet. (Again, I suggest using an auto-responder service like Aweber to publish and manage your newsletter.

4. Join forums and message boards related to your niche or website.

Forum marketing is quite possibly the best free way to drive massive amounts of targeted traffic to your website. All you need to do is find online forums that relate to your product or service and then join in the conversation. While you don’t blatantly make posts advertising your website, you are allowed to create what’s known as a signature file that will go at the bottom of every post you make. It’s this signature file that you can put a link back to your website, along with a catchy ad about what you offer. The more posts you make the more exposure and back links your website gets.

5. Exchange links with other websites in your niche.

To execute this strategy all you need to do is go to your favorite search engine and conduct some searches for keywords related to your website. If you can find some top rated websites that compliment instead of compete with your product or service, send them an email or give them a call and ask to do a link exchange. If the services compliment each other and don’t compete you should be able to form some quality partnerships and links back to your website.

In closing, there are literally hundreds of free and low cost ways to start driving traffic to your website. The most important thing is to start executing one of these strategies today and not put it off until tomorrow. With a little bit of work, anyone can turn their website into a high traffic selling machine if they are consistent about executing new traffic strategies on a daily basis.