Mantofa Articles Directory

There are a few things that you can do in order to ensure that the article directories will approve your article.

Proofread - Even the most talented writers make mistakes. I find typos in just about every article I write but I proofread every one before submitting. Many article directories will deny your article if it contains misspelled words or improperly composed phrases. It is a good idea to write your article in a word processor such as Word and utilize the spell check feature.

Minimal Links - Some directories allow you to insert links into main keywords of the article body. This is ok as long as you do not insert too many. When publishers are searching for articles to post on their site or e-zine the number of outgoing links is one of the things they look for. They may find an article they really like but they will not publish it if there are a lot of links in the body. It is best to just utilize the signature block, authors area of the article to insert the link to your site.

Advertising - Most article directories will not approve your article if you blatantly advertise your site or service. If you think it could be perceived as personal advertising then do not do it. This includes placing your web site link in the body of the article.

Hard line breaks - These were acceptable in the past but not anymore. You may find a directory that accepts this but it is unlikely. A hard line break occurs when you have one or two line sentences. Authors want to do this because it is supposed to be more readable and the reader is more opt to read the entire article. The reason this is not acceptable anymore is because it just looks bad and unprofessional. To play it safe, write your paragraphs with at least three lines per paragraph.

Indenting - We are not in school anymore so do not indent. Although indenting paragraphs is known to be the standard for most magazine articles etcetera, it is not the standard for article directories. Just start your articles at the far left just like this article.

Above are just a few tips you can use in order to get your articles approved so publishers can post your article and links on their site. If you follow these guidelines you cannot go wrong with most article directories. You may run into some directories that allow some things I frown on but for the most part article directories go by these guidelines.

Joshua Spaulding is an author and webmaster of http://ez-onlinemoney.com where he gives free training on how to Make Money Online. Joshua also owns a Quality Article Directory at http://www.articlesarea.com

But is the article writing job really for you? Just because you are a good writer does not mean that it is. Read on to see if you should pursue it, or find another niche.

Of course, you can always use article writing to create e-books, which can be given away or sold.

You can also spin short stories into worthy articles. You can use your creative impulse to weave some magic and entertainment into your articles. You will find that you can also appeal to a wider audience by using a story telling technique, children especially love a good story. As a writer, you can imagine that I love the fact that my children are interested in the arts and literature.

Here are a few tips for good article writing:

Keep your paragraphs short and to the point. Your article needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end. Most articles will be between four hundred and six hundred words long.

NO errors. Spelling mistakes are simply not accepted.

If you’re a freelance writer looking for work, many times you’ll see job ads that ask for writing samples. Well what better way to get in some practice and good exposure than write a few articles on writing?

To Start Writing is also a great tip. It is so easy to come up with an excuse to NOT write. But once you are seated, you will find it is easier than you thought. Don’t worry too much about the quality initially, the important thing is get something down on paper. You can always tidy up things later.

People don’t necessarily write about something because they understand it already. They often start writing about something because they want to understand it, and the process of writing is what brings about their understanding. Why not start article writing today and improve your thinking skills by writing?

Save photos or clip pictures from magazines. One way to start writing is to view something that gives you a scene or some action that will lead to a story.

Make a list of the stories that you most like. Start with any story you really like, and think about how you could weave that into an article.

Then start writing and see if the article “grabs” you. Bible stories have been successfully retold a hundred ways in books and movies, under many titles. Why not find a formula you like, which has been proven to work, and write your own updated version?

Oh yes, by now you may be asking, what is The Secret To Good Article Writing? Well, it is simple really, sit down and write them.

Allen Jesson writes for several sites including http://www.internet-marketing-sense.com and http://www.m1in365.com and then of course, http://www.allenjesson.com

Writing an article doesn’t just mean putting down thoughts into words then typing and writing it. A successful article will be interesting, well organized and well written. To make sure your message gets across, you have to get the attention of the reader, pique their curiosity, and keep a firm grasp on their interest.

The main element in crafting an original article is always creativity. While this may come naturally and effortlessly to some people, who have a massive fund of ideas, when faced with a blank sheet of paper or screeen, a great many feel their mind going instantly blank too! This seeming inability to get ideas down can drive someone crazy. Many writers have literally torn their hair out when they get writers block and just can’t seem to get their creative juices flowing.

Putting words into images in the reader’s mind is an art. A clear and crisp depiction requires a certain flair that only creativity can provide. The use of similes and metaphors can help a lot, but the way an article gets built up word by word, sentence by sentence then paragraph by paragraph into a whole article can influence its flow and meaning.

So just what can you do when nothing comes to mind? There is no surefire way to get that perfect idea, but there are easy ways to get your creative juices flowing. No one can guarantee having the perfect mindset to fill that piece of paper as even professional writers know only too well, but there are lots of things you can do to help you get into that fertile state of mind. Here are just five suggestions to get you going:

1) Keep a diary or a journal with you always - some writers even keep a notebook, pencil and small torch or light by the side of the bed in case they have an idea in the middle of the night! Ideas can be triggered by anything you may hear, see, or smell. In fact, all your senses can suddenly bring you a great idea - so you need to be able to capture them immediately before you forget!

Write all of them into a journal and keep it with you for future reference. You may also write down anything that you have read or heard, someone’s ideas could be used to develop your own ideas and this is not cheating or stealing. Remember that ideas and creativity can come from anywhere; it’s your development and improvement of the ideas you write down that makes it unique.

2) Relax and take time to sort things out. A jumbled mind cannot create any space for new ideas - it’s just too crowded trying to remember everything that needs to be done. Everyone must have a clear mind if one wishes to have their creativity in full speed. Get rid of all obstacles that can be a hindrance to your creativity. If you are bothered by something, you cannot force your mind to stay focused. If you’ve not got time to do every chore in your head, write them down and promise yourself that you’ll give them your full attention later. If you feel this means that you’re not coping, bear in mind that Einstein didn’t even bother to remember his phone number - he wanted all his thinking capacity freed up to focus on his theories!

Try to relax and just spend time thinking about your experiences and interactions with others. Your life experience is unique, and that is what shapes your mindset and your opinions - all of which could be reflected on your writings. Try to get to know yourself, find out what triggers your emotions. Discover what inspires you and what annoys you. You can use these emotions to help you in expressing yourself and your ideas, and to create the right environment in which you can grow creatively.

3) Create a working place that can inspire your creativeness. Your working place can be quite a hindrance if it doesn’t make you feel happy or relaxed - you’ll be sat there for hours at a time, and if you spend all your time there annoyed and distracted by tasks you can see that need doing, you won’t be able to write anything except about the things that are filling your mind. Creativity comes from being in a good state of mind and an untidy and cluttered workplace that causes distraction won’t be conducive in firing up your creative flow.

Surround your working place with objects that makes you happy and relaxed - the principle is that everything you see around you should be beautiful or useful, or both! You may put up pictures, or spray scents, display objects that inspire, or anything that can get your creativeness cranking. A clean and well organized workplace also rids of distractions and unwanted hindrances. With a good working place, you can work in peace and never notice the time pass by.

4) Set your mood into creative mode. Setting the mood requires you to just go with the moment or to induce your self to feeling what makes your mind works best. Finding out what makes you tick could help you find ways to get your creative juices flowing. Set the pace and tempo for your mood and everything else will follow.

There are many ways to set the mood. Some writers have been known to use music, lighting or even the odd sip of wine to stir up the imagination - others are known to have tried all sorts of reality changing drugs but I won’t recommend them here! Just remember that unhappiness can be creative as well as happiness - it depends on the effect you seek - so do not be discouraged if you feel down as your muse may be there as well. Others find their creativity outside in the natural world or inspired in galleries and museums by the creativity of others. You need to know whether evidence of other peoples creativity inspires or depresses you though.

5) Go on a getaway and just do something totally different or crazy - leave your comfort zone! Letting yourself go and having fun produces adrenaline that can make your imagination go wild. Go on an adventure holiday or a long hike in the woods or mountains (obviously, be safe!) - just make it different from your usual daily routine can get your schadule and your mind out of a rut. In no time at all, your imagination will make use of that experience and boost your flagging creativity.

Nick Summers runs Content Country Article Directory, a directory dedicated to offering the best of the web’s articles formatted the way you want them. Visit http://www.contentcountry.com today for all your content requirements.

Writing articles on the web is one of the best ways for solo-professionals to attract more clients and attention for their business. Strategically placing articles can literally explode your business. It’s a great way to generate interest in your services and products and to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Your articles can serve as a commercial to sell your services to new prospects. They are like road signs on the information highway directing traffic to your website.

Articles posted online give you essentially free publicity for your business and many other benefits. As a result of writing and distributing articles, you can gain lots more clients and help many more people with the information you provide. You can become a recognized authority in your area of expertise. You can attract thousands of qualified prospects who you know are interested in your ideas and your products and services. Your ezine list can grow every day, without spending money paying for targeted leads.

Your articles don’t have to be very long. Three hundred and fifty to five hundred words are enough. In fact nowadays, shorter is better. People want their information in quick sound bytes.

Here are four great ways you can use your articles to drive traffic to your website and people to your business:

1) Publish articles at your website

Have a resources page with all of your articles. Create your own article directory. List the title of each article, and also include a few sentences to describe the content based on your site’s keywords. This will raise your rankings with the search engines.

2) Post articles in other people’s ezines or websites

You can reach a new audience by publishing your articles in other people’s ezines or posting at their websites. You benefit from being exposed to their readers, and gain instant credibility as the published expert.

3) Submit your articles to online article directories

Look for online article directories in your favorite search engine. Search on article directories + the name of your area of specialty to find directories that cater to your niche market.

Go to the major list groups like Yahoo and Topica and type “article announce lists” in the search box. Look for large lists and also smaller lists in your niche to submit articles to.

4) Promote your articles to specialty sites in your target marketplace

To bring more targeted visitors to your website, post articles written for your niche market at specialty sites that cater to their needs. Offer specific information that demonstrates your knowledge in your area of expertise.

Writing and publishing articles on a regular basis is one of the most effective ways to grow your professional service business, attract new clients, and become a recognized authority in your area of expertise. Do these four things on a regular basis, and watch calls and emails from prospects and visitors to your website soar!

Jan Marie Dore teaches women business owners secrets to success. Sign up for her savvy and smart FREE e-zine and receive a 30 page Bonus Workbook ‘The 7 Critical Small Business Marketing Mistakes Women Make. . . and Solutions to Easily Fix Them’ by visiting http://www.femalepreneurs.com

The journey is the template upon which a number of successful stories are based upon. A beginning, a middle and an end, all with purpose and hopefully meaning. Your articles should be no different.

If you tap into the unconscious expectations your audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told, then you will be streets ahead of the rest.

Time is money for freelance writers, so the more you can streamline your writing processes the more time you save, and the more money you’ll make.

Full-time freelance writers will spend the equivalent of a working week on writing.

Most novice freelance writers in the US would be safe charging between $15 and $25 per hour for large project work. That situation obviously changes depending on your experience, command of the language and your location in the world.

The short story, or an article, is the ideal vehicle to begin a writing career. Personal events can provide the fodder for your first article, even if they aren’t particularly memorable or exciting. Concentrate on mastering a style and communication.

Try not to be too fancy with words or thoughts. You can flip open the dictionary or thesaurus when you need it. Just have fun and enjoy the exercise. You don’t have to please anyone but yourself at this level. When you feel more confident, tackle the novel, win that Pullitzer Prize, but for now, just write your article..

If you’re in the first five years of your writing career, enjoy your writing. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

Here are some tips for getting focused on developing your freelance writing career and staying that way:

At the least, if you feel you cannot write it yourself, engage the services of a freelance professional, who will work with you to produce a worthwhile summary of your experiences in your chosen area of interest or competence. Ultimately however, developing your writing skills is not a bad idea, as it would enable you do more writing than you could if someone was taking notes from you.

The importance of verbal and writing skills in this information age cannot be stressed enough. The reward of disciplined writing is the most valuable job attribute of all: a mind equipped to think.

One of the best ways to get ideas is to write anything right now. Graham Green forced himself to write at least 500 words daily, whether he felt like it or not. Creative inspiration can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when there is work instead of waiting. Just start writing and you’ll have more creative writing ideas for your articles.

Allen Jesson writes for several sites including http://www.internet-marketing-sense.com and http://www.m1in365.com and then of course, http://www.allenjesson.com

Before we can discuss the benefits of an article directory submission, we must know what an article directory is. An article directory is a clearinghouse for writers to submit original articles that will provide them with a by-line and exposure. It also provides a one-stop shop for publishers to find material to publish on their website to promote their product or service.

One of the first benefits of an article directory, is that it will give you exposure. If they are looking in an resource directory and find that you have written several articles on a given subject, you have become an expert on that subject. They publish your articles on their websites and you become their resident expert on that subject.

The article directory has the benefit of promoting your knowledge, experience, website and product to more people than you could otherwise reach. The next benefit of an article directory is that you are in fact targeting your audience because of the nature of the websites that will publish your articles and the people that will be reading your articles. The people that click the link in your article and go to your website will be more likely to review your product or service.

This is because the people that have been reading your articles now trust what you have to say and look at you as someone they can trust. This will also increase their willingness to try your product or service, which will mean an increase in exposure for you. Article directories can also benefit you by helping you get a higher ranking on many of the search engines. The establishment of backlinks achieves this. A backlink is when someone links back to you and your website.

One of the main points looked at in deciding search engine ranking is how many people have linked to your website. The idea behind any online business is the same as any other type of business - to make money. Article directory submissions and resource sites such as talkinmince are great places to promote your business. You benefit from the degree of exposure you can gain in a relatively short period of time. You benefit from their ability to market you to a wide variety of people that have an interest in what you have to say.

You gain all the benefits from any directory submission that you put out there. You will gain even more benefit by keeping in mind keyword density when you write your articles. This will make them more appealing to the publishers. They will be looking to article directories for articles that will rank high on the search engines and not sound spammy in the process. Your articles benefit them by increasing their ranking and they in turn benefit you by increasing your ranking.

Talkinmince article directory submissions, to find more articles and resources go to http://www.talkinmince.com and our blog http://www.talkinmince.com/tmblog/ for more information.

Article directories receive hundreds of articles daily - but why do some articles perform better than others? In this article we examine some of the reasons.

Article writing, for a competent writer, is a fairly easy discipline. The task is to write an informative and interesting piece of work in the range of some 400-1200 words. Yet many articles that I, as an article directory editor, have seen are just not up to the mark. Why is that? Let’s leave aside for the moment the ones that are grammatically poor or have been obviously assembled by cherry-picking several sources of information.

The function of an article written with the express intent of being reproduced throughout the internet on blogs, ezines and the like is to sell a product - indirectly. It should be written in such a fashion that the reader’s interest is piqued and then held until the article’s conclusion, resulting in a level of interest that stimulates the reader to click through to the author’s site, link or whatever.

Poor articles do not achieve this goal for a variety of reasons and most of these can be summarised by the following points:

1. The article is a blatant advertisment with little or no interesting content.
2. The article rambles on vaguely with no focus or simply has no point to make.
3. The article may have a theme but that theme does not relate very well to either the title or introductory paragraph.

An article, no matter how short, is a story - and all stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. In an article that is written for promotional purposes, these ‘anchors’ can also be called question, development and answering conclusion. So what are they and how do they work?

1. The ‘question’ should be in embedded in the title - ‘Green Cheese: Is The Moon Really Made From It?’ is humorous but effective. It defines the question that the article will answer.

2. The development discusses if indeed the moon is made out of green cheese and, if possible, offers some counter-arguments to this - ’so what then was Neil Armstrong stood upon back in 1969?’ This phase encourages the reader to think and consider what you, the author, are saying - and here you must write with authority, being sure of your facts as you can be. Any signs of insincerity at this point and the reader will realise this. Your authority has then been lost together with the credibility of the article.

3. Answering conclusion: this can either confirm or refute the theory of the moon’s status as green cheese - it depends on how the author wishes to answer his or her own title question. In this fun example we could wind up with something like ’so it appears the moon is not made of green cheese - but there are those who think it still is. Are you one of them?’ and go on in the authors box to promote telescopes, conspiracy theory books or a host of other things.

The last question is important. It performs the same function as the ‘if you want more information…’ endings but, I think, has a better ring to it as it asks the reader to consider their stance on the subject.

Articles written to the above formula - and article writing is formulaic - will usually perform well. Now let’s consider the badly written and the cut-and-paste sector.

Not everyone speaks English as their first language yet English is the language of choice for article writing. Right or wrong, it’s fact. So I would suggest to those people who write articles and whose first language is not English - get some help. Why? Simple. It doesn’t matter if you are intelligent, well-educated and successful - poorly-written English makes your article look amateurish. Get a copywriter or at least get a fluent (and I do mean fluent) English speaker to vet it for you. You might be surprised at the improvement in reception your articles receive.

For those who (and it really is so apparent) just cut and paste blocks of text from who knows where to make up an article, or for those who simply re-arrange their articles so as to make ten from one, my advice is - give it up. I see these every day. One may get posted to my directory, the rest will be binned. Realise that there is NOT a lot of really high quality content on the internet and write instead just one version of the article - but make it the best you can. That will get you noticed and you will gain the respect of your readers.

If you have got this far in this article then perhaps I’ve proved my point!

Steve Dempster writes fiction, copy and articles for the web. His directory site can be found at http://www.articlemetropolis.com or for more writing info see his site at http://www.iwanttowrite.co.uk