You have just created a product and website. But you do not have traffic yet. So to make that happen, you intend to reach out to as many people as possible out there online through promoting. Yet you want to come across as someone providing what they need and not as a typical salesman. Neither are you willing to spend on pay per click advertising which will cost you more than you earn. You decided to start off with marketing your articles.

Here are 6 critical steps you need to take if you want to do so successfully.

1. Quality Content

You need to know what the market wants first before providing quality content to fill its needs. At the same time, make sure your article is to the point and does not give everything away. Not but least, your readers need to understand and yet feel curious after going through.

2. Compose At Least A 500 Word Article

In order to gain maximum exposure, you need to submit to as many article directories as possible.

Some directories accept 300 word articles and less while others accept at least 400-500 word articles. To play safe and make sure that your article gets accepted by most directories, it is best to compose at least a 500 word article.

If you do not know how to or run out of ideas, you can do a research on other articles by typing keywords related to your niche in search engines. For instance if you intend to write about bowling, read as many articles as you can on bowling and jot down the key points before coming up with your own.

3. Share And Not Sell

It is good to share with people what you know based on their needs. But it is bad if you end up with an impression of just another typical salesman on them.

That is another common mistake with most internet marketers. Just because they desperately need money, they start pitching all their products at one go to earn quick commissions. Based on my experiences, most of the time it begins with a positive introduction.

Harsh as I may sound. The fact is people do not like to be sold. Not unless you create value in your offer and let them see it. When people have problems, they not only want immediate solutions. They want solutions that are most relevant to their problems. You need to know and give them these. Only then they will buy and you get to earn.

4. Placing Affiliate Links In Your Content

Let me put it this way. Everyday there are thousands of internet marketers promoting different products. Because they all want to make money fast, they usually put affiliate links in their article content.

If you want to stand out from the rest by earning maximum commissions, my advice to you is not to place any affiliate links. Because the minute readers see your affiliate links, they will know you are selling something and probably not click at all let alone buy.

Instead of your content, put your link in the resource box at the end of it. Better still, do not place any affiliate link. Go and buy a domain name and web hosting account. You can do so at Mattie Blaze Hosting which serves as both domain registration and web hosting account. Then use your domain name to replace your affiliate link.

5. Direct Your Readers To Your Landing Page First

Though making money Is important, it is more important to give people value first. Instead of sending them to your or other merchants’ sales page, direct them to your landing or squeeze page.

A landing page is where you give them a free gift in exchange for their names and email addresses. If your readers do not feel comfortable with revealing their names, just ask them for their email addresses will do. As for the gift, it can be a free report, ebook preview or the first two videos of your home study video course.

By doing these, you are also branding yourself as someone who sincerely wants to help them instead of coming across as any typical marketer.

6. Creating Backlinks Through Keywords

Creating backlinks through keywords to your landing page is another factor into driving traffic.

Not everyone likes reading your article from start to finish. They may just browse through. If you can create backlinks through your words apart from giving a link in your resource box, that will certainly help. But do not give too many backlinks. Just 2 to 4 will do.