Of course, as with any marketing technique, you will want to gain a strong understanding of the basics before you attempt to implement it. There are about six things you will want to know; and I cover them below.

1. Select a topic that people actually want to know about. If there is some hot topic within your particular niche, then you should consider targeting that. The more relevant and recent your topic is, the better chance someone will be interested in reading about it.

2. Sprinkle your article with relevant keywords. Article directories - in most situations - will rank better than your own site on search engines. You can take advantage of this by optimizing the articles you submit to them for certain keywords (i.e. ones that you could never rank highly for on Google with your own site).

3. Give your article an intriguing title. It is not enough to have good, high-quality content. If no one even clicks through your title to read your article, then none of this will matter, since no one will get the chance to appreciate your article.

4. Include at least one call to action near the end of your article. If your readers are not explicitly told what to do next, they're likely to find other articles and start reading them. Instead, push them closer to your resource box.

5. Organize your article clearly and effectively. Have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Try to make points, relate them to a bigger picture - and communicate everything clearly.

6. Include a 60-word resource box that explains why readers should consider visiting your site. Mention your credentials within your given field. Also, mention why your site or product is different or useful. And, if you have one, mention any free reports or content they can receive.

Once you have finished combining all six of these parts, you'll have a strong article. From there, you will need to start submitting your articles to directories. You can either do this by hand (i.e. go from directory to directory and submit); or you can purchase a service to do this for you. If you pay for the service, you're likely to get better coverage. You may even get published in places other than directories, such as e-zines and content sites.

Now, if you've never tried article marketing before, the whole process may seem overwhelming. You may be irritated by all of the submissions and the details. But, on the whole, the process is neither tricky nor time-consuming. All you have to do is master the points I've mentioned, implement them in your products; and you should have no problem with your article marketing campaigns.