For simple reference, let's start by using a simple category 'home-based business' to conduct our search. Once you see what I'm referring to, you can easily start your own category and top article search.

• Click home-based business.

• You'll see several articles listed by popularity.

(NOTE: What's popular today may differ tomorrow. That's how fast content changes).

• Your goal is to find content that is popularly-rated by audiences residing within the larger category. This research may tell you what's most popular and what isn't. The tricky part about locating information you can trust may require that you also check out other directories for similar content...go articles, search warp, hub pages, squidoo. This way, you're looking for consistent information between articles. This extra step helps to increase your own article reliability.

Now look at the top articles listed in the first 5 positions. These are the articles readers prefer most. It may defy your reasoning but we're after content people will want. Correct?

So...next you'll want to find:

• 'Stronger than average content'. This means you're looking at articles achieving #1, #2 and #3 top read content.

(NOTE: This does not mean that the content you see in these positions will necessarily be thorough, accurate, optimized or targeting buying audiences.)

What you want to find is content where the author clearly states the problem, explains what's basically happening, makes a recommendation or two based on some product reviews, then leads the reader towards some compelling solutions (...for more information, click on the site link provided in the resource box typically offered at the end of each article).

For new marketers - the resource box includes 2 things. It includes where you can be found or contacted and it offers a hyperlink (not leading directly to an affiliate page). When I was new, I clicked on a lot of resource boxes to see what other authors were doing. You may find this step helpful.

An article is designed to do only two things: move the reader to some type of capture page where you can obtain contact information for ready follow-up. You're not interested in making a sale at this point in the marketing process. You're only after legal permission to visit with this person.

NOTE: Some directories are stricter than others.

At ezines, your article may not directly move readers to your affiliate offer page (followed by pay buttons or pay pages), but as you check out rules at different directories, some places are fairly mellow. They will even let you embed an affiliate link directly into your article !

NOTE: Be careful not to spill all of your beans.

When writing an article, it's a starter reference point for readers. You may wish to save the juiciest content details for your eventual website or your private member newsletter. Basically, by taking this research step, it means you've spared yourself a lot of research time later on by hopping around the Internet aimlessly -- something I did for about 6 months. Then I figured out the less-than-glaringly obvious stuff I'm sharing with you here.

To read more, click on the 'Step 2' tab button next!