An article directory is simply a website where authors can publish their content with the understanding that other website owners can re-publish the article on their own websites.

The benefit to the author is increased exposure in that the other website owners are required to include the author’s information any time they publish someone else’s article.

One key aspect of article marketing using article directories is getting your readers to visit your website. You do this using the resource box.

If you read articles in the newspaper or in magazines, many times you’ll see a small paragraph at the end of the article titled “About the author.” In website article directories, this is sometimes referred to as the resource box.

Your resource box can contain any information about you, your product, your website, or anything else you want to highlight. Don’t make the mistake of only providing a general statement about yourself and your website.

Use these three tips to turn your resource box into a tool that compels the reader to take action.

1. Blend it in.

Word your resource box as though it were the final paragraph in your article. When your article is published online, the resource box isn’t actually in a box. It simply looks like the next paragraph. Take advantage of this. Continue on with your topic and draw your reader directly to an invitation to click on your link.

2. Use keywords.

Keywords are the words and phrases that people use to search for things on the internet. Your article content and title must include your keywords in order for them to be found. You should also use the keywords in your resource box as the link to your website. Be sure the page at the other end of that link relates to the keyword.

3. Tell them what to do.

Invite your reader to click on your link. Tell them where to go and what to do when they get there. If possible, have two links in your resource box: one that is a link from your keyword to your website and another that is the full url typed out. That way, if someone publishes your article without using active links, the reader can still get to your website.

The resource box is small, but it’s incredibly powerful if you use it correctly. Make it interesting, and be sure to let the reader know what they should do next to allow you to help them solve their problem.

Obviously, for your article marketing efforts to be successful, your articles need to get read. That means taking the time to prepare a well-written message, preparing it so that it gets found by those looking for your information, and formatting it so that it doesn’t seem like a long, drawn out, boring piece of nothing.

Getting your article ready doesn’t have to be a struggle. Write an article with good content, format it for the best results, and publish it on your website and in article directories.
Just follow a few simple guidelines to get your message out there.

1) Keywords.

Keywords are words and phrases that people use in the internet search engines to find the information they’re looking for. To market with articles effectively, it’s essential that you find out what keywords the people in your intended audience search for the most, and select one to focus each article on. You can find this information by searching for your topic at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.

2) Title.

Use your title to capture the attention of your audience and arouse their curiosity. Your title should include the main keyword phrase that your article is focused on. If at all possible, arouse emotions with your title – get the reader engaged immediately. This can be challenging since your title can only be so long, but engage your creativity and see what you can come up with.

3) Content.

Write your article so that it has useful information, and incorporate your keywords with natural language. Use imagery and metaphors to engage even more of your reader’s mind. Examples of real life situations are also effective. You want the reading of your article to be a pleasant experience for your intended audience.

4) Statistics and quotations.

Quoting other experts and including statistics about your topic can increase your reader’s perception of your level of expertise. Don’t use these tools to mislead or to make your article a dry, boring dissertation. Referring to proven statistics and well-known authorities should only be used as an enhancement.

5) Paragraph length.

Keep your paragraphs short and on point. You can even have paragraphs that consist of just one word to really emphasize a point. The longer the paragraph, the more likely it will be to confuse the reader. And a confused reader…clicks the back button.

6) Bullets and Numbering.

Anytime you provide a list of or sequence of ideas, using bullets and numbers makes it easier to follow. Show your reader where one concept ends and the next begins so they can quickly grasp your point. Appropriate spacing and indentation make this even better.

7) Sub-headings.

Separating your article into separate sections and giving each section its own heading helps your reader follow your thought process from idea to idea. This gives your article a smooth flow that keeps the reader’s attention.

I'll bet you can.

The secret to writing articles fast is not thinking too much. Don't sit there and think about the article for 10 minutes before you start typing. Just start.

Here's a simple system you can follow:
1. Put together a list of keywords about your topic.
2. Go to Ezinearticles.com and find some articles on that topic.
3. Read the articles and put them into your own words.

It's pretty simple, when you think about it. You are doing your research in one place and providing amazing content for your readers by getting information from a variety of sources without spending hours and hours.

The important thing to remember is: write fast. Make yourself sit down and write until you are finishing 5 articles every hour. This is essential because the more good-quality articles you publish, the more traffic you'll be able to generate to your site.

One note of caution: be very careful of using article generators. A lot of times, you'll end up with duplicate content from other sites or, even worse, a poorly-written mess that will take hours to clean up.

You want your articles to be unique and informative. They only need to be 300-500 words, and you can certainly turn that many out in a matter of minutes.

Deliver great articles with no fluff, and your readers will flock to your site.