Article directories abound on the world-wide web. A few, ezinearticles.com is an example, are very popular. If you think such sites are owned by big companies, you would be mistaken. A majority of directories are owned by individuals like you, as they spell profits to their proprietors while assisting in the Search Engine Optimization of their internet businesses.

Why don't you own one too?

It could puzzle you what the advantages of being the owner of an article directory are.

Why would anyone not want to own a web-site with a very good PR ranking, is very informative and well-regarded by SEs, something which article directories usually are? An article directory is a viable business opportunity, on its own and can help push sales of your own, as well as affiliate products. In addition, it will get income from Amazon and adsense. An online directory that concentrates on your niche may turn out to be a hit with competition and they are likely to flock to your directory with their articles and possibly read other articles.

By hosting your directory in your business domain, and not separately, its PR rankings and the traffic it attracts could be used to endorse your company, something I have done. The three things you can do are: build a list, write a blog or create a forum in the space that has your directory on-line. To each of these, give a value, adding up to how much your site is worth, making sure that the components increase the value of the others.

Here are a list of things you need to check on when you create your own article directory:

1. Directories exist that can be accessed for a fee or which cost nothing.They can also be set up by professionals, like me. This service will be made available by me in the near future to my customers without charging them anything for the it.

2. Having an on-line directory in a specialized area is better than having one in a general area; the site could become the most sought after one.

3. Have one on-line directory only and pay attention to it instead of maintaining several article directories none of which is maintained properly.Aim for an individual directory for every specific area you are in.

4. Choose category names that are rich in keywords. Ezinearticles.com is a name that is worth copying. If your directory belongs to a very specialized area, you must ensure that you do keyword research before creating your own categories.

5.You should avoid owning directories with articles already present, since they are not likely to be new. On the other hand, open a new directory and decide what articles you will allow in.

6. If possible, build your article-directory by getting articles periodically from other people like you, putting in only a little effort yourself. I, personally, will submit regularly to directories that have been created by me for my clients - actually, my list of directories for article submission will necessarily include these. That way, they'll surely get free submissions to their directories by me.

7. Your directory will benefit from improved PR and search engine rankings only if at least a quarter of the articles are original ones. Even if this falls outside your purview, benefits will accrue to you by having a directory built for you by me, since a lot of my content will be unique; most others provide material that is not new.

8. In the event of your placing content in your own directory, ensure that the original articles are first submitted at your directory.

9. Should you opt for a niche directory of your own , borrow good articles in that area from different directories, ensuring that all rules of the directory are followed including those on the re-printing of the write-ups.

10.Create links to your blob or webpage first, and depend on text links rather than banners.

11. Validate write-ups submitted to your directory to sift out garbage, including spam. This should be done weekly, or alternatively, get someone to do this for you - by the way, I will be offering this service soon.

12.Engage in Search Engine Optimization as for any other webpage you own.

13. Convince well known writers in your specialized area to submit articles to your directory. Forums like the Warrior Forum are a source for writers like these to be used when you are trying to popularize your directory.

14. Take back-ups of the articles, periodically, even if the host of your web is doing it for you.

When you do choose to put your site up for sale, the directory of articles will definitely increase its worth, apart from already attracting more traffic and increasing its SE rankings.

Author Bio:

Richard J. Runion is the President of Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Rich loves net research & blogging. His new blog on Article Marketing is fast becoming popular, as it is comprehensive and well-researched.

For a free trial of Richard J. Runion's unique Article Writing article writing and directory submission service, click here: http://www.1clickarticlemarketing.com .

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