I've tried everything I can think of to promote websites such as Qatar Visitor, and article writing has become one of my main strategies. At the same time, one area in which I was intially disapointed in was in submitting articles to article directories. Since then I have learned to optimise my article marketing strategy. I don't claim to be the world's best expert on the subject, but I do have some experience. I do hope that what I have learned will be of some use, and also to show why I don't buy a lot of the hype surrounding (mass) article marketing.

This article is answering a request for belief 713 - 10 things (more or less) not to do when article marketing. I hope that a few positive tips will not go astray, belief 713!

Google doesn't rate duplicated content. If you use an article submission service to submit your article to hundreds of articles services, you are unlikely to get credit for many of the links contained within the articles. Even worse, you might get some penalty for having too many spammy links for you. Google looks at the quantity of quality and spammy links directed towards your website, and if you get the percentage wrong you could be in trouble.

Quantity no longer counts as much as quality. That's why many article directory sitesno longer carry high page ranks. You can be sure that google does not give great weight to their links, either. You should avoid the poorer article directories and look for quality directories. One directory that has escaped Google's downrating is Ezine articles. As a result of the site's more stringent editorial procedures, links from articles on this website carry greater weight. Of course, you have to write better articles, but that is par for the course.

They're rubbish. Leave them for the spammers.

Okay, this can apply to anything, but it is relevant to articles too. And surprisingly, in their attempt to sound authorative, a huge number of online writers do sound arrogant. To me, arrogance is a turn off and would make me less likely to: link to an article, accept an article for my website or click through to the website that provided the article.

I think the blog that made me realise this was Problogger. I keep going back to problogger, even though I am more interested in general SEO. I finally pinned down what it was. In contrast to many of the other blogs I have come across, Darren Rowse, the blogger who run problogger, just sounds so nice!

This isn't overly important, for reasons I will explain in the next module, but you can use google alerts to track your article. You can also look for articles you have published by putting a phrase between inverted commas in the search engine. The reason to do this is because people will use and abuse your articles. They will make changes, add no-follow tags to your links, remove your links and so on.

I used to worry about people who misused my articles. Then, after seeing my articles get published hundreds of times, I realised the sites who misused my articles are the types of sites that will not get indexed, and will never become very popular. You see the type of person that relies purely on other people's work, and who uses and abuses that work, is the type of person who is too lazy to create a quality site. And if a quality site does pick up your work, chances are they will acknowledge your article. But usually, quality sites want an original article.

Personally, I do still occassionally use article directories, but only for the link from the article directory.

From my previous capsule, it might seem that I am not so hot on article marketing. However, I actually think it is a brilliant way of marketing your site.

However, instead of relying on mass marketing of your article, I think it is necesary to pick out quality, relevant websites who will accept your (original) article in return for their (quality) links.

As these websites are relevant, not only will search engines give a higher rating to the links, you should also get real traffic relevant to your site, as well as building up a reputation in your field.

Just because you shouldn't mass market your article doesn't mean you shouldn't rewrite it and exploit the material. Once you have put the hard work into researching and gathering the material for your article, you should get as much use out of it as possible. However, this doesn't mean re-ordering your paragraphs, it means completely rewriting the article, preferably with a different angle.

What I did recently was to conduct an interview as the basis for an article promoting the site WheelchairsDirectUK.com. The interview, by skype, was with a superb disabled lady who plans to cross the length of the UK by power chair. I wrote an article for a website specialising in resources for disabled people but I also wanted something for myself. With Mary's permission, I made the interview into a podcast which I put on the website, along with the transcript of the interview so there was plenty for the search engine's to pick up.

Incidentally, I am rubbish at conducting interviews, but Mary turned out to be really good at giving interviews, and she totally made it. If you want to support Mary and her charity check out blog.

If article directories have hundreds of low value and untrusted sites, newspaper's websites have very few links going out of them and are highly trusted by Google, Needless to say, they are not easy to get onto, which is of course why you want to get onto them.

I was lucky enough to get onto a trip to a private preserve in Qatar belonging to a local sheikh. I contacted the editor of one of the two main English language newspapers and, after eventually getting permission from the preserve to use the photographs (they wanted to vet them first), had Qatar Sheikh saving world's rarest species published.

I should mention that I have only had one article published in a newspaper for SEO purposes, and I think the newspaper got a better deal out of it (a free front page article for the cost of a link). However, I will be persuaing this line again in the future.

You are writing the article to promote your site, so you want to get your links write. I wouldn't stuff your article full of links - Ezine articles links you to three, and most quality sites won't want an article stuffed full of links. However, do get the key words you use in the link text right. Avoid general terms like click here, and go for key words that you want your site to rank for. (Must go back and check I have done that with this hub page now! (Ah yes - see I have broken my own rule at least twice!!)) Also, consider going for some deep linking - links that go to pages deeper in your site rather than just your front page. Chances are most people will directly link to your front page, so this will help you with long tail search terms.

This is an example of how articles submitted can be mangled by sunscrupulous website owners. I have posted sections of two articles below, one which I ghost-wrote for a power chairs site, one which was taken and published without any links or acknowledgement, obviously after being taken through some article rewriting software. The original is in bold, the mangled article in italics.

Power wheelchairs and scooters need batteries. However, improper use of the batteries can lead to a short life - and to the warranty being invalid.

Endowment wheelchairs and scooters need batteries. However, injurious use of the batteries can bob to a short being - and to the warranty being invalid.

In this article we explain how to properly and safely charge your battery, and avoid the expense and frustration of having to find a new battery.

In this article we explicate how to properly and safely charge your battery, and avoid the rate and frustration of having to find a novel battery.

There are essentially two types of battery used for wheelchairs and scooters, both of which are deep traction batteries.

The first, and the one you are most likely to have, is the Sealed Lead Acid battery (SLA).

Sharp are essentially two types of battery used for wheelchairs and scooters, both of which are fathomless traction batteries.

The first initial charge of this battery must be at least 16 hours. However, the battery will still not be fully charged after this. The battery must be used and recharged a minimum of ten times before it reaches full capacity.

These batteries must not be fully discharged - and by preventing the battery from falling below 50% of its capacity you can extend the battery life.

The aboriginal initial charge of this battery longing be at numero uno 16 hours. However, the battery will still not be fully upset ensuing this. The battery charge be used and recharged a minimum of ten times before it reaches full capacity.

Full use of the battery will not only decrease the life of the SLA, it will also invalidate your insurance.

The second type of battery, the GEL mobility scooter battery, is a different matter.

Full use of the battery will not solitary decrease the brio of the SLA, it will besides disprove your insurance.

This battery can be regularly discharged to 80% of it's capacity without reducing battery life. However, they need to be charged at a lower voltage than the SLA.

You also need to be careful to use the correct type of battery charger.

This battery can be recurrently discharged to 80 % of it ' s capacity obscured reducing battery vigor. However, they need to be fired up at a lower voltage than the SLA.

Date most current models of motion chargers will charge both SLA and GEL batteries, using an SLA battery charger to charge a GEL battery could not sole damage the GEL battery - it could vanguard to an peal!

Chargers should also be of the correct capacity - i.e. the amp of the charger should be between 10 and 20%. So a 40 amp battery would require a charger with a capacity of between 4 and 8 amps.

In addition to following the advice here, make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions carefully. If you are still in any doubt as to the proper maintenance of your battery, consult a registered dealer.

Chargers should also be of the correct capacity - i. e. the amp of the charger should be between 10 and 20 %. Accordingly a 40 amp battery would hurting for a charger with a capacity of between 4 and 8 amps.

Jean Rasbridge is the owner of Wheelchairs Direct UK, which supplies a large range of power wheelchairs to the UK. Models provided include portable, indoor, outdoor and custom electric wheelchairs. Wheelchairs Direct UK is registered with the Motability charity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Rasbridge

Don ' t Destroy Your Wheelchair Battery...

I hope this answers your request, belief 713. I don't think there are any easy answers - if you want quality links you have to work for them. Good luck with your article marketing!