You can write best article in world, but if your headline doesn't grab a reader's eyeballs and pull them into your article - you lose!

Article authors should spend at least half as much time writing headline as they spend writing their actual article.

In fact, an "average" article can get superior results simply from having a great headline at beginning.

Mistake #4 - "What's In It For Me"

If they manage to make it past first 3 pitfalls, many article authors trip on their shoelaces at this stage of process! Don't write about what you want to write about, only write on topics of high interest to your target audience.

In other words, give them exactly what they want and they will love you. Nobody cares how much of an expert you rate on a particular topic until they know you can deliver information they need in a way they can use - now!

Mistake #5 - "No Shoe Polish"

You could write an article worthy of front page of Wall Street Journal, but as soon as somebody spots a typo or misspelling, they immediately put your article lower than a Sunday sales circular.

Seriously, if you want to undermine all good you can do with a great article, send it out without proper spell- checking!

No matter what product or service you sell, once you understand promotion power of free articles, you'll never look at website traffic generation same way.

But remember, if you abuse power, spam ezine editors, or blatantly pitch people instead of providing real information, you might as well skip whole process altogether.

1) Write at least twelve articles related to your business and have them proofread and edited until they are polished. You will submit one article each month for next year to appropriate publications.

2) Create a web site marketing plan. Research web site promotion on internet and create a list of items that you can work on for next several months.

3) Develop several contests for your web site visitors and newsletter subscribers that you can run regularly during year. Prepare advertising text, rules and decide on prizes.

4) Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and offer to speak at a fall or winter event. Write your speech and practice it until you feel comfortable working without notes.

5) Research and budget for e-zine and newsletter advertising for next twelve months. Set up a tickler file to remind you when to submit and pay for your ads.

Grab a glass of lemonade and get started on using summer months to your advantage. Implement just a few of ideas in this article every summer and watch your sales soar all year round!

© 2003, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights reserved.

The author grants reprint permission to all venues so long as copyright and by-line are included intact.