EzineArticles Experts - How Would YOU Do This?...

11 replies
Hi Folks

I'm writing an article for EzineArticles (EZA), which explains and analyzes
something to be found on a site of mine. Ideally, I'd like the reader to be
able to follow along ON MY SITE, at the same time as reading the article on
EZA.

I apologize if that sounds a bit "vague", but I don't want to give away
precisely what I'm doing. Imagine my article is giving a "behind the
scenes" look at something on my site.

I'd like to reference my site early on, not (directly) for the purpose
of promotion, but so that the reader CAN follow along as they read the
EZA article.

I was thinking something along the lines of this paragraph early on:

"You might want to view mysite.com at the same time as you read
this article, if you want to follow along."


My question for you good folks is...

Would it be safe and acceptable on EZA's part to actually link to the
site this early on in the article, if it's for the purpose of the visitor
following along?

If not, do you think it would be OK to at least mention the URL (but
not hyperlink it), to give the reader the opportunity of following along?

Or if the EZA gods will frown upon this, is there a better way?

I appreciate I could put the link in my author resource box, but by that
time they're not so much following along. Plus, I didn't particularly want to
promote that site, I had a different one in mind for the resource box.
I'm hoping they can actually look at my site AT THE SAME TIME as reading
the article, if you know what I mean.

Again, sorry to be vague, I don't want to spill the beans here. I'd love to
hear your thoughts and opinions.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
#experts #ezinearticles
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Paul, it seems a lot depends on which editor you draw to review the article and what mood they are in. As I read the guidelines, though, mentioning a url in the article is allowed as long as it's for the benefit of the reader.

    I think promoting a different site in the resource box may help you make your case.

    Of course, the only way to know for sure is to test it, right?
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    • Profile picture of the author Franck Silvestre
      Same thing for me.

      If the site you are promoting in the body of your article isn't selling anything, you'll have more chances to be accepted.

      Anyway, like John said, just do it, and explain your case if it is rejected. It works sometime for me when I write articles in the education section.

      It will also depend on your niche.

      All the best,

      Franck

      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      Paul, it seems a lot depends on which editor you draw to review the article and what mood they are in. As I read the guidelines, though, mentioning a url in the article is allowed as long as it's for the benefit of the reader.

      I think promoting a different site in the resource box may help you make your case.

      Of course, the only way to know for sure is to test it, right?
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  • Profile picture of the author David Raybould
    Hey Paul,

    I once had an EZA editor tell me that one
    link in the article body is fine, as long as it
    isn't completely spammy and doesn't appear
    in the first third of text...

    Seems like a safe framework to work from,
    but they may have changed it since then.

    Hope that helps

    -David Raybould
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  • Profile picture of the author acedalright
    Maybe run with just adding the url address unlinked and place heavy emphasis on clicking on it.

    Especially if it's paramount to what you're trying to explain
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
      Originally Posted by acedalright View Post

      Maybe run with just adding the url address unlinked and place heavy emphasis on clicking on it.

      Especially if it's paramount to what you're trying to explain
      I'm not sure if I understand what you mean. If it's unlinked, they won't be able to click on it...?

      Originally Posted by aboutalhah

      If the site you are promoting in the body of your article isn't selling anything, you'll have more chances to be accepted.
      The site IS selling something, but the link is provided not for that purpose, but more to explain what I'm doing there.

      Ah well, I'll submit it and see what they say. I can always delete the hyperlink if they complain
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
    @JohnMcCabe - yes, I will be testing... people say I'm very testing... and trying as well

    @David, first third of the article? OK, well I might have to stretch out the beginning a bit more just to get it past that first third.

    I don't think they'll view it as spammy based on the content, but I guess the only way to find out for certain is to submit it and, as John says, hope the reviewer hasn't had a bad hair day!

    Thanks for the ideas, guys.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Calvert
    Originally Posted by Paul Hancox View Post

    My question for you good folks is...

    Would it be safe and acceptable on EZA's part to actually link to the
    site this early on in the article, if it's for the purpose of the visitor
    following along?

    If not, do you think it would be OK to at least mention the URL (but
    not hyperlink it), to give the reader the opportunity of following along?

    Or if the EZA gods will frown upon this, is there a better way?
    Perhaps another way would be to just instruct the reader to "visit my website and follow along" in the body of the article. Then code the resource box link to take them directly to the page of your site that you want them to see.

    Hope this helps.

    Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author Jag82
    Paul,

    If the link is a link to non-sales content, then chances of it being approved is much higher.

    But it's not a given. Because we have to bear in mind that the approval is done by an editor. A human. And the link we put in is open to interpretation.

    I once had an article rejected even when the link I posted was to a site I felt would support a statement I made in the article nicely. But the editor rejected it and deem it as "advertising", even though I had no intention to sell anything with the link.

    Anyway, you can safely go ahead and post the link. If they come back to you, just explain it to them. And it will be okay.

    Jag
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    • Profile picture of the author David Raybould
      Originally Posted by Jag82 View Post

      Paul,

      If the link is a link to non-sales content, then chances of it being approved is much higher.

      But it's not a given. Because we have to bear in mind that the approval is done by an editor. A human. And the link we put in is open to interpretation.

      I once had an article rejected even when the link I posted was to a site I felt would support a statement I made in the article nicely. But the editor rejected it and deem it as "advertising", even though I had no intention to sell anything with the link.
      Yeah the human factor is the unpredictable thing.

      They once rejected an article of mine because I mentioned
      Google.

      They said mentioning Google was too self promotional.

      Did they really think I owned Google and I was trying to
      promote it by writing articles?

      Crazy.

      -David Raybould
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      Killer Emails. Cash-spewing VSLs. Turbocharged Landing Pages.

      Whatever you need, my high converting copy puts more money in your pocket. PM for details. 10 years experience and 9 figure revenues.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Paul, I'm going to be straight with you...forget it. They are getting VERY
        strict over there.

        I had an article that I mentioned a URL of another site (actually it was
        Andy Henry's) and they rejected it. It wasn't even my site and I got
        nothing of benefit from mentioning it.

        You can put in the paragraph something like, "You can follow along with
        this procedure at mysite dot com" but don't even try to put a link. It won't
        pass.

        Doesn't even matter if the site is promotional or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
    Thanks for all the advice, folks.

    I think I'm going to "chicken out" and put the link in the resource box, and just tell the readers to look down there if they want to follow along.

    There's no point giving them more reasons to reject it

    @David, admit it... you secretly own and run Google, don't you? That would explain EVERYTHING...
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    • Profile picture of the author David Raybould
      Originally Posted by Paul Hancox View Post


      @David, admit it... you secretly own and run Google, don't you? That would explain EVERYTHING...
      Okay you got me... LOL.
      Signature
      Killer Emails. Cash-spewing VSLs. Turbocharged Landing Pages.

      Whatever you need, my high converting copy puts more money in your pocket. PM for details. 10 years experience and 9 figure revenues.
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