In fact, you should read lots of articles anyway. Not only will articles help you learn, but you may also find a writer you like. And by finding a writer you like, you just may find an Internet marketing expert you like.

When you find a writer you like, make sure you check out his website carefully. If he doesn't have a website, don't consider his services. Why? Because you can't learn Internet marketing from someone whom doesn't have any type of presence on Internet.

A website is critical, because there are certain things you need to look for such as:

Does website have a strong headline and sales letter? Even if you don't have any experience in this area, you'll be able to tell right away, if headline and sales letter are effective.

How? Because if headline is able to pull you into reading sales letter, and sales letter keeps you interested and makes you want to buy whatever's being offered, chances are, both headline and sales letter are effective. Other important things to look for are:

Is their website design professional? Is it attractive and easy to navigate? Or is it busy and distracting?

Do they have their own domain name, or does it contain names, "Geocities", "Angelfire" or "Tripod"?

Can they back up their claims with cold, hard, indisputable and verifiable facts?

Do they have their name, telephone number and street address on their website?

Do they use authentic customer testimonials, complete with first and last names?

Do they make it easy for you to purchase their product or service?

Do they offer a fair and reasonable money-back guarantee?

If answer is "Yes" to every single one of above questions, congratulations! You may just found your Internet marketing expert!

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

In addition, it's been widely reported that they don't respond to e-mails, don't inform you if and when you're site is rejected, and that some of editors are rude and arrogant.

Who cares how much weight Google places on being listed in DMOZ? You don't have to put up with that nonsense! Find alternative ways to attract traffic to your website.

Yahooooooooooooooooo! I want you to read what it says on info page for submitting to Yahoo! Express:

"We established Yahoo! Express as part of a suite of services that Yahoo! has created to service small business needs. Through Yahoo! Express, we can ensure that sites suggested by merchants such as yourself are viewed and evaluated in a timely manner by Yahoo!'s editorial staff.

Your payment and participation in Yahoo! Express guarantees that within seven business days a member of Yahoo!'s editorial staff will look at your site and consider it for inclusion in Yahoo! directory.

Please keep in mind that payment does not automatically guarantee inclusion in directory, site placement, or site commentary. As with all sites suggested to us, final judgement remains solely with Yahoo! editors. Yahoo! Express Guarantees All Yahoo! Express submissions will be evaluated within seven business days. You will receive an email response within seven business days, stating whether your entry is accepted or declined. (If your entry is denied, you will be told why.) The Cost of Yahoo! Express Yahoo! Express requires a US $299.00 non-refundable, recurring annual fee per submission, or US $600.00 non-refundable, recurring annual fee for submissions offering adult content and/or services. Yahoo! Express does not guarantee a listing in Yahoo! directory, nor does it guarantee type of placement or description that your site will receive if accepted. Please read our Yahoo! Express Terms of Service to review terms and conditions of Yahoo! Express."

Are you kidding me? What a bunch of crap! Why, why, why would anyone want to just hand over their money to Yahoo! that way, without any type of guarantee?

I've just given you shining examples of arrogance and total lack of respect Google, DMOZ and Yahoo! has for very people they depend on to keep them in business.

I say we show them same kind of respect they show us. Get out of Google trap, let DMOZ nap, and don't accept Yahoo's crap!

Remember: DO NOT DEPEND SOLELY ON SEARCH ENGINES FOR YOUR TRAFFIC! Find alternative ways to attract traffic to your website. If you're fortunate enough to achieve a high search engine ranking, consider it a bonus. But DO NOT MAKE THE SEARCH ENGINES A PRIORITY!

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Website: http://www.lets-make-money.net