I love it when people ask me questions about article marketing. Here's a really interesting question I received from an affiliate marketer just recently: "I am using article marketing for affiliate products. I have a domain name that I purchased and this just redirects to the merchant's website. I have noticed that my URL is still not showing up in Google or any of the other search engines. Is this because my URL is redirecting to another place? Do I need a real website in order to get my URL listed in Google?"
This is a really interesting question, so I'll be delighted to provide some answers for you. So, presently you have just a URL, and you don't have an actual website. That is why your URL is not showing up in Google-there's no content for Google to rank at the location of your URL. To show up in the search engine rankings, you must create a website with appropriate content on it. Here are some ideas on the sort of content to provide in a website: *You could write a review of the affiliate product you're marketing. *Take the articles you've written for the article marketing of the products, rewrite them, and then publish them on your website. It is best to make this content on your own website unique, so you would not want to use the exact same articles you are submitting to directories. *Now, give your the opportunity to join your email list. This is vital. The idea is that a person will come to your website where you are offering a free newsletter, an e-course, or another item that is appealing to your visitors. They can sign up, and you can then send them helpful emails connected with your subject. For example, let's just say that your affiliate product has something to do with the amazing healing power of carrot juice. Then, you would send out a newsletter containing information about carrot juice, and every so often you could recommend the affiliate product you are marketing. You see, if you really would like to do affiliate marketing and achieve the best possible results, you need to have more than just an affiliate link. You will also need more than a domain name that just redirects to an affiliate site. You even need more than just a sales page! What you really need is a site with decent content and a way to then contact people who are interested in your subject. The current approach of just having the domain name that then redirects to the merchant site is simply not going to serve you well, because you're not able to follow up with the readers who click the link in your resource box. You also will not receive any traffic from the search engines, because you do not have a website. The best benefit that article marketing could bring you is search engine traffic. When people carry out article marketing, what they really want is a higher ranking for their website for particular keywords their target customers are entering into Google. Then after someone reaches your website, your most powerful ally will be that email list. When people visit your site, they will not necessarily want to purchase your products right away. People like to get comfortable, then think about a seller, and learn to trust the person who owns the website. You have got invest in that relationship.In this way, when you make recommendations people will be more inclined to listen and purchase the products. Therfore, in answer to your question--for the best results you do need a real site, even when you are only doing affiliate marketing. Ensure you invest the time necessary in making a website and a mailing list, and you will be maximizing your prospects and lengthening the window of time in which you have to make a sale.
Author Resource:-
Steve Shaw is an article marketing expert and founder of the popular article submitter SubmitYOURArticle.com, used by thousands of business owners to drive more traffic, leads and sales to their websites. For more info on how you can use article marketing to reach thousands of potential prospects for your website, go now to http://www.submityourarticle.com/report