14 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
14 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Article Syndication Question

by mungoyonty
11 replies
Just a quick question about article syndication here for anyone who uses this method (especially Alexa).

Having read a lot of posts on here it seems the best thing to do when trying to get an article syndicated is to email webmasters with a proposal and include the article you're looking to get published in the email, rather than as a link or attachment.

My question is in this email should I include the link back to my website as html code i.e. <a href="URL">AnchorText</a> or should I actually use a hyperlink?

I guess it depends how/where it's going to be republished? If they are going to publish it on a wordpress blog for example then a hyperlink would be fine, but perhaps if they publish it by email the html hyperlink code would be needed?

Just curious to know what other people do here.

Thanks
Adam
#article #question #syndication
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I try to start a conversation with the publisher, before asking the publisher to do anything for me.

    After a couple emails exchanged, I will often ask if they mind if I send them some content that they might find useful for their readers.

    Once that personal relationship is established, and the publisher has agreed to "look" at my article, I will send them a link to where they can see the article on a website, and on that website, I will have available to them a cut-and-paste HTML ready copy of the article available.

    I will also frequently send a text version of the article in an email, then offer them a link to the HTML copy-and-paste version of the article for their site.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317251].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mungoyonty
      That makes sense. It's all about building the relationship after all.

      With regards to linking back to my site I guess if I'm only linking back to my home page I can just include my URL and it should be clickable anyway - no need for anchor text.

      Is it best to only include one link in your syndicated content, to the main page you're trying to promote?

      Or do you include a secondary link, perhaps to a related article on your blog/site?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317430].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Taniwha
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      I try to start a conversation with the publisher, before asking the publisher to do anything for me.

      After a couple emails exchanged, I will often ask if they mind if I send them some content that they might find useful for their readers.
      This may be looking too far into it, but wouldn't that put them off?

      Let me explain..

      If you're sending a few emails back and forth creating a relationship with no apparent ulterior motives, wouldn't that put up their defences once you do advise an article for their subscribers/readers? Suddenly they realise what your true intentions are (not wondering how their day is going, or what made them create their website, but rather, to market your own website).

      My approach (keep in mind that I'm really new to this) is to create that relationship, but also send them an article that their readers may like, on the first email.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317510].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Taniwha View Post

        This may be looking too far into it, but wouldn't that put them off?

        Let me explain..

        If you're sending a few emails back and forth creating a relationship with no apparent ulterior motives, wouldn't that put up their defences once you do advise an article for their subscribers/readers? Suddenly they realise what your true intentions are (not wondering how their day is going, or what made them create their website, but rather, to market your own website).

        My approach (keep in mind that I'm really new to this) is to create that relationship, but also send them an article that their readers may like, on the first email.

        I don't think it is a put-off at all.

        1. People don't assume that the whole planet is out to take something away from them.

        2. I honestly don't expect anything in return for the friendship to be honest. Sure, I hope that they might publish my article, but it is not required for the relationship to continue to grown and develop.

        3. At some point in the conversation, they will ask me what I do. That is my invitation to tell them what I do, without asking for anything in return. Often times, they will ask me if I would be interested in writing for their site, BEFORE I ask them if they would like to publish one of my articles.

        4. They want my content, even before I offer it, because they are always looking for content.

        5. I always ask them if I could send them an article, before actually doing so, because it shows them that I have respect for their time and their audience.

        6. If they show an interest in getting an article from me, I make it appear more customized, simply by asking if they have anything that they would prefer to see in an article before I send them an article. Although it may be the same article I am giving to dozens of websites, because I asked what they expect to see in an article before sending them the article, they feel as if I made the article specifically for them.


        When you send the article on first contact, you are proving that you only care about what you will get out of the deal.

        With my approach, I set up a scenario where they might think it was their idea for me to send them content.
        Signature
        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317568].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author myob
          My personal preference when submitting articles for syndication is that articles stand on their own merits rather than first establishing a "relationship" with prospective publishers. I just include the full text version of the article along with a short intro and synopsis in each email query. Most publishers can format text articles for their media, so it's really not even necessary to include an article link or html version (except within the resource box of the article).

          Using this generic approach, you can scale up massively and automate article syndication with an autoresponder. Whenever new articles are produced, I first email them to the respective niche list within my network of syndication partners, some are sent by snail mail or fax (don't neglect offline publishers), then to a database of prospective publishers. The marketing process continues by always looking for additional relevant outlets for these articles.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8318963].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author feacebabyDrax
            Banned
            [DELETED]
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8319274].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I always do two anchor text links and a copy of my actual URL in the resource box.

    The first two links are to my primary page and a secondary page, both keyworded. The third link is just plain text to my domain name.

    The reason being is that if someone were to copy the article from where it was placed to somewhere else, the person may not understand how to get the source code for the article, and they might take just the text view of the resource box.

    If someone just takes the text view of my resource box, I want to ensure that my URL goes with the article.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8317483].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyisonline
    If anybody engages me directly on any one of our websites just wanting to be "friends", I KNOW they're up to something.

    Blowing smoke up my butt just makes me have to pee and it accomplishes absolutely nothing...especially a relationship with a smoke blowin' "marketer".

    If you want to publish an article that has true value to the website, then don't waste everybody's time by pussy footin' around, just have confidence in your work and ask. If it's a no...move along.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8319462].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mungoyonty
      Thanks guys, some really great advice here, will be taking it all on board.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8320274].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        I think one thing the thread shows, among all its good and valid points, is that not everyone who's doing article syndication successfully is doing everything in exactly the same way, even if the general principles of the "underlying method of content syndication" are the same. I've learned plenty from both Bill (tpw) and Paul (myob), who have both been doing this far longer than I have, of course. And I still don't do it exactly the same way as either of them, and they don't do it exactly the same way as each other.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8320299].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by garyisonline View Post

      If anybody engages me directly on any one of our websites just wanting to be "friends", I KNOW they're up to something.

      Blowing smoke up my butt just makes me have to pee and it accomplishes absolutely nothing...especially a relationship with a smoke blowin' "marketer".

      If you want to publish an article that has true value to the website, then don't waste everybody's time by pussy footin' around, just have confidence in your work and ask. If it's a no...move along.

      One, I wouldn't be blowing smoke up your ass if I approached you. I do pursue honest relationships with those folks who could help me in one fashion or another.

      And two, perhaps more important to this discussion, I have several methods afoot to enable me to get my articles published in more places.

      If you are subscribed to one of my "new article notification" lists (and I have dozens of them organized by niche), then you will have given me permission to send you new articles without you and I needing to say Hi first.

      Also, if you have a Contact page on your website that says, "Submit Your Articles Here", then I don't need permission to contact you there either.

      And, if you have a listing in Writers Digest or a similar publication, you will have told me in advance that you are looking for articles from me, and you will have given me the proper email address or physical address to which to send my articles.

      Each situation is different, and there is no one perfect way to do it, but I do prefer the relationship approach with publishers, because I want to know how to construct my articles to make my product more attractive, within the guise of your editorial standards.
      Signature
      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8320664].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Originally Posted by mungoyonty View Post

    My question is in this email should I include the link back to my website as html code i.e. <a href="URL">AnchorText</a> or should I actually use a hyperlink?
    Adam, let them decide.

    If you start pushing certain anchor text, over time your link profile will begin to look unnatural which could cause problems in the search engines.

    Let them do it, and keep it natural.
    Signature

    BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8320335].message }}

Trending Topics