3. Submit correct URL. This needs to be your main domain and not sub-domains. In my case that would be http://www.sites-plus.com and nothing else. Do not add index.html at end when submitting.

4. Write an acceptable description of your site. You need to keep it to 2 sentences and nothing more. If you have any doubts about how to write a good description go to your category and look at descriptions of sites already listed.

5. Use official title of your site. This needs to be REAL Title of your site and not just part that shows in your browser. In my case that is Small Business Resources.

Generally it is accepted that 2 key directories to submit to are Yahoo and The Open Directory Project (ODP)

http://dir.yahoo.com/

http://dmoz.org/add.html

With Yahoo you will have to determine if you want a standard submission which is free or an express submission which costs $299.00. Submitting to ODP is free.

Here is another site I came across that offers rankings on best directories to submit to http://www.strongestlinks.com/directories.php

For a more in depth look at submitting to directories read this article here: http://www.strongestlinks.com/articles/dirSubmitGuide.php

In conclusion submitting your site to directories is an important part of overall philosophy of getting quality links pointing back to your site. The more merrier. If you want to see what it will take to get a Top 10 ranking for keywords relating to your site just look at number of links your competitors have pointing to their sites.

You can easily do that by going here: http://www.faganfinder.com/urlinfo

Enter your URL for your competitor and click on Links Button. You can see how many links they have pointing back to them according to Yahoo, Google, and GigiBlast. You will see you need a lot of links pointing to your site to compete with them. Adding your site to as many directories as possible is one way to do that.

2. Direct traffic to your articles

If you've written an article and published it online, use your blog to post a teaser, perhaps describing what made you write that particular article, and then link to it so you get your readers to also visit your website and check out your other offerings.

3. Direct traffic to your ezine archives

Post a few paragraphs or editorial of your ezine or newsletter issues on your blog and link to archived issue on your website so that your readers can read rest of issue there.

4. Talk about what's going on in your life

People buy from those they like and trust. As an online journal or diary, a blog is ideal medium to share details of your holiday, things that made you laugh (or not), your own humorous take on life, anything to let your prospective customers get to know person behind website better.

5. Comment on developments in your industry

A blog is an ideal place to post your personal opinions, favourable or not, about developments in your industry. If you are not happy with someone's customer service, or have been defrauded, they are also a good way of warning other potential victims. Becoming a source of industry information is part of process of branding yourself as an expert.

There are many more ways that you can promote yourself, your products and services using a blog, but ones above should get you started for now.

Just remember to use your blog for purpose it was meant to be used. To brand, to communicate, to connect.

Leave selling to your sales letter.