Article marketing is simply writing short, 350 to 700 word, essays and placing them in online article directories.  The essay ends with an author resource box which includes a live link or two to the author’s website or blog.

The author receives free exposure and a link back to their site and the directory gets good content.  Often times other sites, blogs, and ezines will pick up the article and use it on their site.  Since the author resource box has to be included it’s a win-win situation.

The biggest mistake people make when using articles to market their website is not using relevant keywords in the title of the article and in the body.  For example “Blast the Fat Off” is a great title for a weight loss article but nobody, well almost nobody, uses that phrase “blast the fat off” when searching for weight loss and that’s how most articles are found.  If no one finds your article, no one will read it, and no one will click on your link. A better title would be “Tips to Lose Weight Fast and Blast the Fat Off.”  People do use “lose weight fast’  or “tips to lose weight fast” when they search.

The point of using articles is to get a high ranking in the search engines for the article based on the keywords being searched.  People click on the article, read it, and then click on the website in the author resource box to find out more.

The second biggest mistake made when using articles for marketing is a boring author resource box.  Every article directory allows a short bio, credit box, or author resource box.  Don’t put Jane Doe is the author of “Making Money Online”  Her website is http://www.JaneDoeMakesMoneyOnline.com  Use something like  “If you’d like more tips on how you can earn money online visit Jane Doe at http://www. JaneDoeMakesMoneyOnline.com

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The third mistake is boring articles.  You have about seven seconds to snag a reader’s attention.  That’s about how long it takes to read the title of the article and the first few sentences.  Use that time wisely.

Articles can be a powerful weapon in your Internet marketing business.

Establish an office in your home even if you have a laptop, a wireless connection, and cell phone.   Designating a space where you work focuses your attention and your family’s attention that you are at work.  It would be great to have an off limits room for your office but not many homes have a spare bedroom.  Your home office doesn’t have to be huge, even a closet will do.

The basics you’ll need are a flat surface to use as your desk, a storage area for important work related papers, and office supplies.  It may seem silly to have duplicates such as stapler, scissors, paper, ink, etc., when those supplies are also in the family room, but you’ll save time knowing you have what you need close at hand. Don’t share these supplies with the family or you’ll defeat your purpose.

Your office area should be pleasant, well lighted, comfortable, and organized.

You spend time in your home based business, there’s no reason where you work can’t be pleasant.  Add accessories, your favorite colors, perhaps even a fresh flower or two to your desk.  Spray paint is the best friend of the budget decorator.  A couple of cans in your favorite color and that mismatched set of furniture can be like new again.

Don’t overlook lighting.  It’s best to have lighting from several sources to help eliminate glare and shadows.  Position the lights so they don’t reflect off the computer screen when you’re sitting in front of it.

An important piece of office equipment is your chair.  You might think that borrowing a chair from the dining room would be adequate, but if you spend any length of time at all in front of your computer you need a chair with back support.  A comfortable, adjustable, office chair can be found for under $100 and is money well spent.

An organized office leads to  higher productivity and less stress.  Organization is even more important if your office space is tiny.  Keep only what you use every day in your office.  For example if you have to shred documents for security purposes but only do it once a month or so, keep the paper shredder in the garage not taking up valuable space in your office.

Use these home office ideas for your home based business.

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