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[Ray Tamayo Contribution Level: 3]

When are links an unethical piece to add to your articles?

Is it wrong to put links in your article to promote a service?

What are your thoughts as we are gearing up to have more presence on the

internet marketing avenue?

[susan coils Contribution Level: 4]

Ray
If the whole purpose of the article is to showcase your link, then yes, it's unethical.
If you are putting in a link that points to a relevant other site, (and I'm not talking affiliate sites here) then it's perfectly acceptable, and you should be encouraged to do so. For instance, if I was writing an article on the importance of keyword research I wouldn't hesitate to put in a link to free keyword tools that could help people carry out that important research.

Check out Ferny's post here. This article makes it pretty clear what is 'crap' and what is not. And yes, I know that article is relating to this community (or MS as it was then), but it goes for pretty much every reputable article directory out there.

Think whether your article would get approved at EzineArticles.com If not, why not? At EzineArticles, your article is your give and your author resource box is your take. Here is pretty much the same. You have a profile, a sig link, a blog, an opportunity forum, a chance to create your own group - all ways of getting the word out about your links. There isn't really a need to put them in your articles.

And thanks for taking the time to ask this Ray. Hopefully, others will follow your lead.

[Ray Tamayo Contribution Level: 3]

Well said Susan,

That gives a clear def. on the matter....

[LISA ALEXANDER - WOLFE Company: AmeriPlan Corporation Contribution Level: 2]

When are links an unethical piece to add to your articles?

Is it wrong to put links in your article to promote a service?

What are your thoughts as we are gearing up to have more presence on the

internet marketing avenue?

Links are best fit to your author profile or signature line.

[Ray Tamayo Contribution Level: 3]

Thank You Lisa,

I am a little partial to you, you know that right?

[Jim Yaghi Contribution Level: 4]

yes susan did a way wicked job of answering the question. avoid using your own links in the body and keep them for the signature line.

links are annoying in an article or anything else cause they take you away and distract you from your reading. i feel lost opportunity when i have to make the decision to keep reading rather than click a link.

jim

[Malika Duke Contribution Level: 3]

Ray,
Not so much unethical as they are self sabotage. As JIm mentioned, in an article you are expressing a thought that will benefit your readers who can get distracted from the point if they click an outbound link in the article.

Even on my main site the only links I usually have in the post are other internal links that open in a new window so my reader can close and resume the original article. Even that I keep to a minimum... (you have that flexibility when it's YOUR own site.)

However, like Susan said, giving the "ezinearticle.com" litmus test is a good guide of what to do as a general rule of thumb.

So when are other types of promotional links acceptable? When you are mailing a specific promotion to your own optin list of subscribers. The intent of each of your articles or any post for that matter is to give your potential prospect a taste or how much they stand to benefit by listening to you. Your resource box is where they choose to give you their vote of confidence! So make every article count!

To the TOP,

Malika

[Cindy Floyd Contribution Level: 1]

I would not say they are unethical unless that's your only purpose for the article.

There are more an more article submission sites that are not even allowing you to add links, and if they do they can not be the same as the links in your signature bio.

I have found it much better just to ad my links in the signature.

But if the goal is to get someone to one of your sites, I was reading something last night about this. Split the article. Write your article, say on the top 10 article marketing secrets, find a good place to split it and say something like "All this and more can be found at my website" and give them the link. Cleaver.....

I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds fantastic. I'm going to work on it this evening.

[Chuck Bartok Contribution Level: 2]

I write several Technical articles and sometimes include links
to relevant sites, enhancing the position.

I am not a professional, so don't know is using "open in
new Window" is best or not.

And of course My Business card Link in the Bio signature File

[Andrew Murphy Contribution Level: 2]

I think it really depends on the subject at hand and how you are writing about it. Perhaps there are some "geeks" here that can test it and see what kind of results they get. (links in article vs just in signature line)
As long as you have a link in your signature line you're good to go so never forget to add it.

Andrew