When you're working on choosing directories for site submission, keep these ideas in mind for the best results:

• Begin with DMOZ, then look for other directories that require your site be added manually. These directories often have the highest rankings and are used by more searchers.

• Search Alexa for directories to submit to. Select the highest ranking ones first. Submit your site to as many quality directories as you can.

• Look for directories in your niche. If you sell crafts, why would you submit your site to a computer parts directory? Search for directories where visitors in your target audience could locate your site and submit to those sites.

• Don't waste your time submitting to directories in other countries, directories that don't offer SPAM filtering, that allow any type listing at all, or link farms. You can be sure no one will find you in such a directory, and it might even hurt your search engine rankings.

• Follow the rules to be included at each directory. If the site submission instructions say you must have link to the directory for inclusion and you choose not to, don't bother submitting your link. You'll just be wasting that webmasters time and your own.

• Submit your site only once. If your site doesn't get listed within a reasonable amount of time, then email the webmaster or submit it again. But it can take a few weeks to be listed, so be patient and give it time.

• A directory that ranks high in Alexa may be worth paid inclusion, especially if it's within your niche. Many people think that free directories are the only ones worth the effort, but paying for a quality listing in a popular directory could bring in more traffic to your site and be good for your SEO.

Quality is more important than quantity when submitting your sites to online directories, just as it is with other types of SEO and SEM. Select the best directories, follow their instructions, and it's very likely your website will be included.

Directories are a great way to get links to your site, allow potential customers to find you, and build your rankings in the search engines. Choose wisely, use them well, and directory submissions can make a tremendous difference in your SEO.

Using article to market your business is a huge aspect of good SEO. This strategy alone can practically build all the website traffic you might want. It can certainly gain you a higher search engine ranking and grow your business online more quickly. And there are a many ways to gain more leverage from your article marketing efforts.

• Choose the five largest article directories online (based on Alexa.com - http://alexa.com) rankings and submit your articles to each of them. There’s really no need to submit to more than five since that could actually diminish your article’s value in the search engines because of their duplicate content issues.

• Print various articles and mail them to your clients and prospects with a post-it note attached telling how you thought they might find this information useful.

• Read the article into a tape recorder or camcorder and post the recording on your website, being sure to promote it with social marketing tools such as Twitter and Facebook.

• Include an article or two in packets you hand out to conference or seminar attendees.

• Select several of your best articles and compile them into an ebook you can offer from your website or to new ezine subscribers.

• Offer your original articles to your local or community newspapers and magazines.

• Print a small booklet of an exceptionally good article or two, and mail one to each of your customers, or include in orders you ship.

• Add a copy of one or two articles to your media kit.

• Choose one or two of your best articles, frame them, and hang them on a wall in your office for everyone to see.