Things have changed a lot for web publishers since I wrote the first edition of Power Linking in 2002. Back then there was only one option for publishing websites for the average, non-geek: static html pages.

And with that option there were only a handful of really good ways to promote, namely, search engines and links.

Article syndication wasn't an option back then because there were no article directories nor software that webmasters could use to put syndicated content on their sites automatically.

RSS wasn't even on the radar and blogging was in existence but not as the widely used content management and promotion tool it is today.

Even today, blogging is still the domain of diary bloggers and kids to a great extent.

Here are the ways using a blogging system will open up all new traffic sources for your site:

1. Search engines still love blogs and probably always will.

2. With a blog system, you get an RSS feed that you can promote in blog directories all over the web - you cannot get on these sites without a feed URL!

3. The engines use the blog directories to find new sites and content and you can get spidered MUCH sooner using and promoting with RSS feeds than any other method outside of getting a link on a PR7+ site.

4. Offering your content via RSS gives publishers in your niche the ability to pick up and run your feed. They get content and you get HIGHLY VISIBLE non-reciprocal links - the very best kind.

RSS Killed the Link Directory

No longer is it necessary or even recommended that webmasters use the tired old link directory system for getting links.

Google doesn't give as much credit for reciprocated links and none of your visitors or your link partners' visitors ever visit link directories. So no one gets or expects any traffic directly from reciprocal link directories anymore.

The name of the game for the pros has been article syndication and RSS syndication for the last year. Now it is time for the outsiders to become insiders and start using these tactics before thousands of websites become extinct.

Essential Features of an RSS and Article Marketing Campaign

1. Set up a blog and fill it with GOOD, relevant content. I mean REALLY good content that your market is dying to find. You'll find out why as soon as you start gobbling up traffic hand over fist. People will find good content on the web and bookmark sites that host it.

2. Submit your blog to all the blog directories on the web.

3. Submit your blog's RSS feed to all the RSS directories on the web.

4. Do RSS exchanges with people who are smart enough to be blogging in your niche with you. Run their feed on your site in exchange for them running yours on their site.

5. Exchange blog links in a blogroll right on the visible portions of your site.

6. Create and syndicate articles with very high value content that your market is looking for.

7. Exchange articles with others in your niche.

As you can see, the world opens up when you use RSS, Blogs, and Articles to promote your site.

While your competition is still building static sites and using a tiny set of tools for promotion, you can demolish them in the engines and everywhere else because you switched to the kind of marketing the pros are doing right now.

Unfortunately, there will definitely be competitors who have already picked this information up, so you will need to catch up to them. But you are still going to be in the minority for a long time to come just by implementing the above tactics.