Content rich websites

Everybody has heard the phrase 'content is king'; browse any marketing forum and you will be told repeatedly that the best way to receive search engine traffic and link referrals is to publish plenty of good quality content.

However, writing articles can be a time consuming process, especially if your holding down a full-time job and your website is a part-time business. Can you realistically build a 50, 100 or 200 page website of quality content in a short period of time?

So why not supplement your pages with articles written by other people?

Finding articles to re-print

Fortunately there is no shortage of authors eager to allow other people to publish their articles. It is a great form of public relations, allowing the author to demonstrate their knowledge of a particular subject.

There are also a number of 'middlemen' on the scene. These are directories where authors submit their articles, allowing people to browse through and find suitable content. Some of these directories are vast, containing 1000s and 1000s of articles for your use.

Finding articles to re-print is very easy, simply go to your favourite search engine and enter terms such as 'free re-print articles' or 'free website content'. You will soon come across a range of article directories.

Using re-print articles for your website business

There are a number of ways to grow your existing website or even set up a new business:

Knowledge directory

Many companies that own a website do not use them to their full potential. Normally the site will consist of basic information about the company, the products or services on offer and contact details.

Adding a knowledge directory of relevant articles would provide a level of added value for customers, encouraging them to return to the site frequently and generating more business.

Running an ezine or company newsletter

An extension to the knowledge directory would be to build up a mailing list of regular customers and send a newsletter to update them on new articles, plus news on new products, services and promotions.

Many people run ezines and simply find high quality re-print articles that they know their readers will be interested in. Using other people's content provides them with the time to build their mailing lists and find more companies willing to advertise.

Network of niche websites

'Multiple income streams' is a big internet marketing buzzword. This is the practice of setting up a number of websites targeted at different niche markets, each generating an income that when combined with the others becomes quite substantial. The advantages of niche websites being that it is easier to dominate a very small market, whilst spreading your risk; however a high level of resource is required to create the content for each niche site.

Using free content it is possible to set up and promote a network of websites, each consisting of 30 - 50 pages, within a relatively short space of time. Each site would be used to promote a relevant affiliate product and host Google Adsense or Yahoo! Publisher Network adverts for additional income opportunities.

Search engine marketing

Free content can also be used for search engine marketing. The more pages that you have on your website, the more opportunities you will have to be found for a greater range of key phrases. Effectively you are casting a wider net to increase the size of your catch.

Search engines like websites with plenty of pages, as they perceive them to have a greater authority on a particular subject. Just do a search for a competitive key phrase and it is likely that the sites that come up at the top of the rankings will consist of a high number of pages.

Search engines also like websites that are linked to by other sites. By populating your knowledge directory, ezine or niche network with high quality content, you will be creating resources that other people will be keen to link to.

Go build it

So why not take advantage of this great marketing opportunity to build your online business.