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Article Syndication - How to proceed after publisher says YES

by Martin Pupke
12 replies
Hi

After building up a list of places where they agree to publish your articles what is the most practical way of going about sending them more articles on a regular basis?

I was thinking of using Aweber to create a publishers list which they subscribe to, then send my article out as a broadcast.
#article #proceed #publisher #syndication
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    I do that, only I use a self-hosted solution that I've tweaked over several years now. Doesn't really matter, except that I want to make using my content as easy as possible. So I don't ask publishers to subscribe to anything in this scenario. Once I have their permission, I manually subscribe them to a private list.

    I also include links to both plain text and html versions of the article, ready to copy/paste into their CMS or email program of choice (for autoresponder or ezine publishers).
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    • Profile picture of the author Ernie Mitchell
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      .....I also include links to both plain text and html versions of the article, ready to copy/paste into their CMS or email program of choice (for autoresponder or ezine publishers).
      John, how important? (probably a dumb question) do you feel it is to supply links to both plain text and html versions?

      I ask because I was planning to simply paste the article into the text of an email.

      Your method sounds like a good idea but it's a bit of a new twist --- an added step.

      Thanks in advance.

      Ernie Mitchell
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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        When a publisher accepts an article, I also will add them manually to an autoresponder (self-hosted) of similar niche publishers. Once one article is accepted for publication, just assume the publisher will continue to consider more articles. But be sure to always include a conspicuously visible unsubscribe link.

        For the first few subsequent submissions, however, I just include the article as text. On about the fourth article or so, I start adding other options such as html link, RSS subscription, and a link to all articles within the niche. Quite often, publishers do prefer the article in html format if they archive ezine issues or use it as blog/site content.
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  • Profile picture of the author equanto
    you could use article syndication services, also known as "article distribution services"
    there is lot on them on the web
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by pupkevicius@aol.com View Post

    I was thinking of using Aweber to create a publishers list which they subscribe to, then send my article out as a broadcast.
    I really wouldn't do this, Martin.

    If you can do it the way John describes above, without asking them to opt in to anything, that's another matter.

    Article syndication is a personalized, relationship-building business.

    What gets your work continually re-published in places with the targeted traffic you need to attract is the relationship you build with the publisher (whether it's an ezine publisher, a webmaster, or whatever else). I find it pays to send "further articles" with a little note (even if it's only a sentence or two). Anything that helps to avoid the appearance of being automated is good, for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Article syndication is a personalized, relationship-building business.

      What gets your work continually re-published in places with the targeted traffic you need to attract is the relationship you build with the publisher (whether it's an ezine publisher, a webmaster, or whatever else). I find it pays to send "further articles" with a little note (even if it's only a sentence or two). Anything that helps to avoid the appearance of being automated is good, for me.
      Exactly this. I run the private list and craft the outgoing emails in such a way that publishers will never know they are on a list.

      Of course, if they ask, I don't lie. Of the (very) few who have asked, exactly zero have objected.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I really wouldn't do this, Martin.

      If you can do it the way John describes above, without asking them to opt in to anything, that's another matter.

      Article syndication is a personalized, relationship-building business.

      What gets your work continually re-published in places with the targeted traffic you need to attract is the relationship you build with the publisher (whether it's an ezine publisher, a webmaster, or whatever else). I find it pays to send "further articles" with a little note (even if it's only a sentence or two). Anything that helps to avoid the appearance of being automated is good, for me.
      I go the other way with it. Relationship building is dumb and boring. If they want my content they're opting in, and reading my 8 daily untwisted affiliate offers :rolleyes:.
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  • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
    @ Alexa - yes I do see this as a personalized, relationship building business. However depending on the website one encounters different amounts of this relationship building is required right?

    Sometimes potential publishers instantly respond with "great article, its up on my site and would be willing to publish anything more you send me". Others respond with "tell me a little about yourself" In these two instances different amounts of "relationship building" would be required right?

    Your point about adding personalized sentences with future articles seems a bit unpractical to me if done manually, maybe you are using mailmerge to achieve this? My line of thinking here is that if one has a lot of publishers then taking the time to add personalized messages to each publisher for each article sent will take too much time (or is it?). I am sure you have a process that is efficient and works well, I am just trying to get to the mechanics of how you can be personalized to many publishers.

    @John and Myob - Thanks for making the point of them not needing to subscribe to a list, as I can do it for them manually.

    Moving forward I think the best thing do is to setup a list manually, then using mail merge send them future articles in a way that seems personalized.

    To add personalization to each publisher I could look at the type of sites they have and look at something specific on their site, then suggest how my article might add to their site.

    In my hobby niche the main type of sites I come across are:

    Small online shops with newsletters: I could explain the benefits of how general useful/interesting information about the hobby will keep their newsletter audience better engaged, which might lead to more sales.

    Hobbyfan personel blogs : Mention something interesting about one of their posts then exaplin how my article can add to the blog.

    Hobby club sites with newsletters : mention something about their club and explain how my article can help out their members.

    Am I on the right track here with this line of thinking?
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Originally Posted by pupkevicius@aol.com View Post

      Am I on the right track here with this line of thinking?
      There is no need to advise the publisher that your article will keep their "audience better engaged", "lead to more sales", or any such claims about article performance. More than likely, this will only cause the publisher to dismiss your submission as being an annoyance.

      I have found it effective to make the initial query a generic simple sentence or two with "consider this article for your publication", a reference to your publication credentials, a link to EZA profile, etc.

      Most publishers will have a good idea of how an article will be received by their subscribers. Any bloated promotional hype surrounding an article submission is generally considered the fluff of an amateur. Ideally, the article itself should be of quality and relevance to stand on its own merits.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Ernie Mitchell View Post

        John, how important? (probably a dumb question) do you feel it is to supply links to both plain text and html versions?

        I ask because I was planning to simply paste the article into the text of an email.

        Your method sounds like a good idea but it's a bit of a new twist --- an added step.

        Thanks in advance.

        Ernie Mitchell
        Ernie, I include the links in addition to, not instead of, including the text of the article in the email. Some applications allow importing of text files for posting, and some publishers see having basic formatting as a time-saver. They simply open the html file in a text editor, copy all, and paste in the CMS window.

        @pupkevicius

        I wouldn't presume to tell a publisher that my article will do anything for his audience. On the other side of the fence, I get ticked off to some degree when someone presumes to tell me how to engage my audience.

        I tell them I found their website, that we may serve similar markets, and that their readers may find the article interesting. I invite them to read the article provided, explain the download links, and tell them that they are free to publish the article if they feel it will interest or benefit their readers.

        A little humility is often more effective than swagger.

        I usually wrap up by pointing to a page where they can get more content, and ask them to hit reply and say yes if they would like to be told when I have something new they might find useful.

        If they answer in the affirmative, they go on the private list.

        You don't have to sell most publishers on using other peoples' content. Either they do or they don't, for their own reasons. You want to be a partner, not a peddler...
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        • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          @pupkevicius

          I wouldn't presume to tell a publisher that my article will do anything for his audience. On the other side of the fence, I get ticked off to some degree when someone presumes to tell me how to engage my audience.

          I tell them I found their website, that we may serve similar markets, and that their readers may find the article interesting. I invite them to read the article provided, explain the download links, and tell them that they are free to publish the article if they feel it will interest or benefit their readers.

          A little humility is often more effective than swagger.

          I usually wrap up by pointing to a page where they can get more content, and ask them to hit reply and say yes if they would like to be told when I have something new they might find useful.
          This is what I have been doing thus far and it is getting (from my little experience of article syndication) a decent response, as Myob mentioned above I might alienate some publishers if I push my article to them too hard so better carry on what I have been doing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Taniwha
    As soon as you ask them to join your autoresponder, their view of your relationship will change instantaneously as they will be seem as just another publisher in your long list.

    If anyone knows an autoresponder which doesn't require them to manually sign up, please let me and the community know as I'm sure it will be of great help.
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