Excellent Mark and if I was just starting out I would be mass producing articles by the hour but, if you don''t mind, I may just use (write mysef I mean) some of this theory on my 'In Theory, If Only' Blog.
After writing hundreds of articles on different 'Niche' topics since February this year, I am pleased to say that a backlink from the article directory to my website has, in fact, made a 'Page One' appearance and yes it thrills me no end to see what can be achieved with little effort and no expense.
In Theory it is bound to "increase" sales, if there are any sales of course and, In Theory, with a listing on 'Page One', good keywords, etc., A site should get hits...
If Only that were the case. I have sites on 'Page One' that haven't had a hit for over 10 days, in fact I have a dozen sites on that revered page and Zilch.
I have had a website on Page One on Google since last August, (An eBook I wrote myself) and I have never made 1 sale.
Seems like I always find an excuse to find something wrong with Internet Marketing but it is, by far, an ingenious plan, that never ceases to enthral me.
Happy G