Create And Manage An Article Directory As A Marketing Funnel

Written by Alyssa Mayer Tuesday, 07 December 2010 05:32

Most online marketers totally ignore the possibilities inherent with creating and managing an article directory. Perhaps one reason is they automatically think about competing with the giants such as Ezinearticles or Articlesbase. Yet there are other uses and purposes that an article directory can serve. What can be done? Well, you can use it for marketing and promotion of just about anything. There are no rules about what you can use an article directory for, so you can make it for any topic you want. There really is a wide variety of applications for an article directory.

Most online marketers totally ignore the possibilities inherent with creating and managing an article directory. Perhaps one reason is they automatically think about competing with the giants such as Ezinearticles or Articlesbase. Yet there are other uses and purposes that an article directory can serve. What can be done? Well, you can use it for marketing and promotion of just about anything. There are no rules about what you can use an article directory for, so you can make it for any topic you want. There really is a wide variety of applications for an article directory.

One important decision you will have to make is what the domain name will be, and it needs to be memorable and relevant. But do not think it is impossible to find a good .com domain name. But it is not as terribly difficult if you take your time with it. It is not as bad as you think if you look for domains with "articles" in them. If you are building a niche article directory, then you should choose a niche keyword that has a good monthly search volume. But do be sure that the keywords you choose will not be impossible to achieve rankings for in the serps.

You might think that you have to be a technical wizard or have a large bank account to start an article directory -not true. Recently, all kinds of user friendly software has been developed. Whether you want to use Wordpress or a regular website, you can now find several scripts that allow you to easily create article directories. Some of these are extremely cheap and easy to use, and in some cases you can build an article directory in mere minutes. To name just one, look for Article Dashboard. This software can be downloaded for free, the last we checked. As long as you have a web hosting account you can install this software, and you can build your article directory. No more excuses about "I can't."

But no matter what you are doing, be very sure to include some tastefully positioned "call to action" copy that is clearly visible. You can place ads, but just do not be overbearing about how you do it. If you are somewhat new to all of this, then just know that you are in business to make money - so you do it in the ways that have been proven to work. But do not forget one important thing which is tracking and testing all over your site. You will be missing many opportunities if you ignore the power of testing and tracking. You need to optimize your article directory just like any other site.

Since you are the owner, you will need to lay out a plan for marketing it by yourself, usually. If you have the experience and knowledge, then that will be a good thing for promoting your article directory. If you are knowledgeable, then that part should not present much of a problem for you. There really is no reason why you cannot use most available marketing and advertising options. You do not have to spend a lot of money for promotional efforts if you have the knowledge for that. You will market this just like any other site, more or less, and so approach it from that angle. You can truly benefit in many ways if you create and manage an article directory that supports your other main business. There are tons of good things that come with it, so we suggest you give it a serious consideration. If you are leaning toward it, then take your time and learn as much as possible. Nothing replaces a solid business plan and good investigation.