Making money online doesn’t need to entail scams, or even starting a new business. If you can put a few sentences together about something other people might like to learn about, that’s a good start. Writing articles is no longer about getting the latest stories into the latest editions of the local newspapers, all written by well paid reporters. Things have really changed now with the internet. You don’t need to be a big name pro to get your writings accepted and recognized. Writing is a now a marketing tool. Learning about external links and article marketing can help grow your business.

The internet provides a wide range of outlets for any level of writing talent. “Article” no longer means a front page news story. It can include anything from consumer product reviews, blogging, news group information, forum postings, website content, and even content for “real” web based publishing houses.

You have a few options when you write for the internet. Each one has its benefits for amateurs and pros alike.

You can submit to sites that don’t pay you but they do give the opportunity to talk  about your services and your business; not in a salesy kind of way, but as a kind of expert  on the topic. At the end of your article you should place a link to your own website for the  readers to either get more information or turn into paying customers. This is where the payoff comes in article marketing.

For example, if you are a sports therapist you might want to write about how athletes can prevent injuries when working out. At the end of each article you should add your bio and a link to your website. Or You could write articles on how to make your own gift baskets and give readers ideas on how to decorate them and sell them. Of course, each article would have your bio talking about your company and it would have an external link to your website.

Some sites will pay you for your article. You may or may not be given a byline. Each paying site has different rules.

You probably aren’t going to pay off your mortgage or take a European vacation with your earnings from writing. Many famous writers over the years have died penniless. Hotmail was the first to put ads on the bottom of every email sent using their service. The idea caught on. Now, everyone who has anything to sell or promote should add links to every email he sends.

Are you a mortgage broker? Hair dresser? Computer repair tech? There’s nothing like adding a link on your emails with either special promotions or a link to your website. You will get customers!

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