Writing articles for submission and distribution on the internet is one of the most effective ways of driving free traffic to your site, raising your profile and credibility with your potential customers and giving your website a boost in the search engine rankings. There really is no down side to this activity, some of the more obvious benefits are:

1. Free traffic.
   Readers who have enjoyed your article may decide to click on your website link in your signature box.
2. Free traffic.
   Even if your reader doesnt click on your link, the fact that the link is there will increase your link popularity and boost your search engine rankings. Many of the article submission websites have high search engine ranking so this type of link is very valuable.
3. Credibility.
   Your readers will see you as an expert in your field and you will gain credibility in their eyes.

There are many different websites known as article banks where you can submit your articles. These are normally free as they want your content its what theyre there for after all. Generally speaking, as long as your article isnt blatant advertising or self publicity, they will be very happy to publish it on their site.

Once its on the website, it can be read by any visitors and some of these may decide to use the article in their ezine, their blog or their website. They are allowed to do this for free so long as they include your signature file. Your signature file should include your name, your website(s) URL and maybe a couple of lines of text that you can include to say what it is that you offer at your site - more free publicity and links for you. Thats where you advertise - in your signature file, not in the body of the article itself.

Anyone can write an article the typical length is between 500 and 1200 words, so it really isnt too difficult. Just pick a subject you know a little about and write a short article. Dont be self conscious and dont feel that just because you know something everybody else also knows it already.

If you really arent comfortable with writing even this much text then there is a very simple and easy way that you can get your articles written and published and that is to write a list. You know the sort of thing:

Top Ten things To Do On A Rainy Day
Twenty Unusual Uses For Wrapping Paper
Seven Simple Steps To Improve Your Health

Its simple an introductory paragraph at the start, followed by the list, followed by a summary paragraph at the end. Youll see a lot of articles like this, and not just because the author couldnt be bothered to write a proper article either. The fact is that people like lists, they allow them to digest a lot of information and new concepts quickly and efficiently.

As if all of the above wasnt enough to convince you that you should be writing articles, there is one further hidden bonus that you may be able to benefit from. Do you have a web based project in mind which you are going to do just as soon as you have enough time? Okay when will you have enough time?

Now you can build your new website, or get your next series of autoresponder messages prepared, one page at a time just by writing articles. And when the time comes to launch the complete package, you will have your advertising in place. Get scribbling.