Back At Square One With Article Marketing

by mekap04

Posted: 13 years ago 24 replies

I was going to get into article marketing again but with all the changes, I am a bit unsure of how I should go about it. I was really going to experiment with a few things. Like here was my plan.

Write unique articles on my blog for more competitive long tail keywords Write a shorter unique article to post on Ezinearticles which would link back to the original blog post
Wait until that article gets approved and publish to other article directories to try to get the blog post to rank

The other experiment was to post a unique article on Ezinearticles on a less competitive keyword and get the Ezinearticle to rank for the keyword by submitting the article to other article directories. I would also be using the extra link in the resource box at the other directories to link to an article on my blog.

With both methods, I would get backlinks from other sources as well to help them rank. I guess I just wanted to see which one brought the better results as far as rankings and sales.

But now, with the changes at Ezinearticles and article directories in general, I am not sure how well Ezinearticles will rank or if the other article directories will help as far as traffic and backlinks goes.

In any case, I am just so confused with article marketing now and how to use it to actually generate traffic and sales. I mean sending traffic from long articles from article directories to a blog with even more information really doesn't seem like it would convert into sales then articles may start not to rank as well as they used to with the algorithm changes. Maybe I'm just missing something very important. Any advice would be appreciated.

#article #back #marketing #square

SGForce 13 years ago

Mix it up a bit. Don't rely on article marketing exclusively. Do some Back Links and spot on SEO.
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tpw 13 years ago

Content should be a mix. Some should go on your site to give your visitors something to do while on site and to get your own search rankings.

Some of your content can be syndicated, to build back links and to reach bigger audiences.

Before 2005, no one relied on Ezine Articles or other article directories as the only way to do article marketing. We syndicated our own content through other channels, most often by creating personal relationships with publishers who might have an interest in using our content, and then sending them the content we thought they would like to use.
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Mike McAleer 13 years ago

That is why I never really got into Article Marketing. I figured that it just was not a good way to go. I mean yea yea they did work at a point but now that there are so many spammy articles google hates article directories.
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- myob 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by FreshDomains
  
  ... now that there are so many spammy articles google hates article directories.
  
  Actually, Google hates spammy articles, not the directories.
  
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  mekap04 13 years ago
  
  Article marketing is in no way my only strategy for traffic or even backlinks. SEO is my main traffic strategy and I do a little bit of video, forum marketing, etc. My main goal for article marketing is to generate a bit of traffic and also increase ranks for long tail keywords on my blog and maybe a few articles themselves. I was just thinking about going back into article marketing since I had some success with it in the past but things have changed since then. I don't even know if it's even worth it. In any case, the advice so far is good.
  
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  ShaneM686 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by myob
  
  Actually, Google hates spammy articles, not the directories.
  
  Yes but unfortunately.... even with a manual review like Ez.. it eventually was flooded with so much bad content G took action.
  
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  Jason Perez O'Connor 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by myob
  
  Actually, Google hates spammy articles, not the directories.
  
  Oh the messages I have had when I've said this :rolleyes:
  
  Nonetheless, very true. The ratio of Good to Bad Articles was in my eyes extremely low.
  
  I mean grammar was bad, but the intent of the articles were just as bad. For example you'd have an acne article titled "How to fix your ACNE", and then the article go on to say:
  
  "There are many ways to fix acne, hopefully the following will help you discover some of these. Just like you, I've suffered the incredible humility of an Acne breakout.... blablabla" (sorry I know nothing about this subject). They then continue to the story, include the fact it can be fixed a few more times and then tells the reader that to actually find out he/she has to click the link.
  
  I know the idea is to get them on your website, but at that rate you've just wasted their time reading your story, you've not helped them and now their probably pissed enough at you to just not bother with your link. You might as well of just shown them the resource box rather than the article.
  
  Interesting question, what do you think in Googles eyes warrant an article/page bad quality?
  
  Grammar?
  Stuffing?
  Bad links?
  Excessive abuse of linking and anchor text?
  Sentence flow?
  Text making no sense?
  
  Etc etc
  
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HiAbby

13 years ago

I agree that it's always a good idea to mix it up. Things are always going to change and if you rely too heavily on one source of traffic then you risk losing everything.

SEO is always a good longterm plan, but it can easily take 3 months or more to see any real results. In the meantime you can increase visibility by syndicating articles and videos, being helpful on forums, posting on other blogs, etc.

People are getting lazier and lazier, so even if you think it would be hard to generate traffic for your niche through videos, give it a shot. Pixelpipe.com is a good tool to get your articles and videos out there for both traffic and backlinks.

<3 Abby Elaina

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tpw

13 years ago

Originally Posted by HiAbby

People are getting lazier and lazier

I don't think people are any more lazy than they have ever been. Rather, more lazy people have found the Warrior Forum and they are here to find their magic buttons.

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HiAbby

13 years ago

Originally Posted by tpw

I don't think people are any more lazy than they have ever been. Rather, more lazy people have found the Warrior Forum and they are here to find their magic buttons.

Ha, you're probably right, although I wasn't specifically referring to the warriorforum. I suppose certain kinds of people have always and always will be attracted to the "magic button."

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mekap04 13 years ago

I'm glad I started this thread. Great advice as I would expect from fellow warriors and I will be using it. I will see how things turn out and get a bit more creative. GeorgR thanks for the tip about the article and leading to the blog post. Going to read the article you mentioned now.
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- Devid Farah 13 years ago
  
  You can still get results from the articles you sent to the articles directories but you may have to reduce the amount of articles you devote to directories submissions and focus more on proper whitehat backlinks.
  
  You can achieve that by guest-writing in forums in your niche.
  
  But you will be getting better results if you choose only those that have huge traffic presently.
  
  One more time, article marketing isn't dead.
  
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GeorgR. 13 years ago

The worst thing you can do is not to do it.

I myself use article marketing mainly for link building and ranking my sites, i don't have a single reason to stop doing this. In fact, i have good success with it. The actual traffic coming *from* the articles is really secondary. Do you think i care whether the articles are now ranking lower? I don't. Unless its proven that the links itself are not worth anything anymore it would be foolish to stop submitting articles.

Here is a nice "story" which i just blogged about here too
Why Keyword Research is Nonsense

Do never make the mistake not to attempt something, or give up before you even started...or think "maybe its not that good" if you don't have a real reason. My $0.02

As for the article marketing, ALWAYS use your own blog and link from the article to your site/blog. Submit enough good articles, and YOUR site will benefit. Simple.
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- TimG 13 years ago
  
  I posted this over in the Resell Rights Weekly Forum but it seems appropriate to post here also:
  
  Right now I see some of my articles still on the first page and maintaining their rankings while others have disappeared so I am evaluating what the difference is in the articles.
  
  I took a screenshot of the stats for my top performing articles and will compare it daily for the next week in order to track the amount of views and click-thrus they receive.
  
  I personally think Google went overboard and may tweak their algorithm later this week in order to compensate for the strict lockdown on certain sites. Perhaps consider what took place as a warning shot across the bow if you will.
  
  Couple of things I would focus on doing in order to weather this storm:
  
  1 - Become real good at writing high quality content - Looks like it still has the power to rank very well. This is especially true if it is original and unique.
  
  Always be posting to your site first....that should not be new to anyone because several accomplished WF members (Alexa, Bill Platt...etc) have been touting that for what seems like forever.
  
  2 - Look for ways to become a guest blogger - Skip the blog spamming and leave actual feedback that offers value. Blog owners will take notice and offer invites to guest blog for them. I believe this is an especially important strategy to properly employ.
  
  3 - Keep your eyes open for speciality directories that either pay for your content or still rank well. Once you locate them begin creating high quality content for those sites.
  
  4 - Keep submitting to article directories such as EZA and then make use of Facebook, Twitter...etc to announce your articles - You can still drive traffic to them even without Google's help. I am assuming you have already posted content to your own sites first.
  
  I believe that high quality articles can and will still rank well because many of my articles are still working on overtime for me within EZA's directory.
  
  5 - Seek out other webmasters within your niche who might be interested in your original high quality content. Right now value is high for original content...take advantage of it.
  
  Those are at least 5 ways to turn this to our advantage - No one should be in panic mode because honestly this algorithm change should actually help people who create original high quality content.
  
  Respectfully,
  Tim
  
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GeorgR. 13 years ago

sending traffic from long articles from article directories to a blog with even more information really doesn't seem like it would convert into sales

You already pre-sold quite a bit on the article, there is no reason to pre-sell further in lengths. That being said, have some information on your blog, but make the blog a logical step in the chain coming after the article. Dont re-iterate what you already said in the article, but point out the benefits of your product etc. Do not make a lengthy, article-style blog but consider the visitor might be ready to buy. A one pager/max two pages "sales page" would be best here.
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- The Niche Man 13 years ago
  
  Don't forget article marketing may or may not be as effective as it used to be, but remember it's still fast and it's free. That alone is motivation to use it.
  
  You should always have a solid article marketing program in your promotion arsenal. Unfortunately, there's been so many hypie programs marketed concerning article marketing.
  
  As a result that's caused many people including me to expect more from it than it can realistically give. Like sugar or salt it should be part of your business mix not the whole meal.
  
  Like everything on the net article marketing isn't dead it's just quickly evolving. However, the old school methods are slowly dying as you've probably noticed.
  
  We need creative people like you to help take it to the next level. Because article marketing is changing and presenting a new set of problems, it's also presenting a new set of opportunities for the alert and ambitious.
  
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MrDoughBoy Banned 13 years ago

Is it me or do I find ezinearticles not ranking like they used to?
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- tpw 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by MrDoughBoy
  
  Is it me or do I find ezinearticles not ranking like they used to?
  
  News: Number Crunchers: Who Lost In Google’s “Farmer” Algorithm Change?
  
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  MrDoughBoy Banned 13 years ago
  
  @tpw All I can say is thanks a million. Literally. I am going to bookmark that article link. This is extremely valuable information moving forward in 2011 and beyond. Ezinearticles used to be the platinum directory for article marketing but has finally fallen from its perch. But equally more valuable are those sites that have gained in SERPs.
  
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  TimG 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by tpw
  
  News: Number Crunchers: Who Lost In Google’s “Farmer” Algorithm Change?
  
  Looking through the article it shows that EZA lost 130,231 positions or 75% which tells me to focus on being part of the 25% that maintained their position.
  
  What I do find a bit disturbing is the fact that many shopping sites gained positions as a result of this recent change. If I am searching for information about a subject the last thing I want to see is something from Amazon, Sears, Walmart, Target...etc).
  
  Those sites are perfect if I am trying to buy something but see, I don't use the search engines for those sites. I simply go and visit the site and use the site's internal seearch function.
  
  One thing those sites seem to have in common is that people are probably staying for an extended time while browsing the sites so stickiness must helpful to a sites ranking right now.
  
  Respectfully,
  Tim
  
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Rob Whisonant

13 years ago

I personally will still post articles to all the major article directories but I also built my own network of sites that I post articles to. I also trade posts with other private networks.

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GeorgR.

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Rob Whisonant

Even if it WERE the case that the *links* from article directories also lost value with the change (which still needs to be shown!) - they could very well serve a purpose as convenient "2nd tier" linkers to "better" tier1 web2.0 properties.
In other words: Even if they went down the ***er, there would be a use for them for link building.

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serenityenterprises 13 years ago

Should I Transfer Directory Articles to Blog?

I used article marketing heavily because even though my website ranks high in the search engines with my top key words, it is a very niche market and most people aren't searching for it everyday. Article marketing allowed me to write articles on vary topics that tied in well with my products. I have definitely noticed a decrease in sales over the past few days.

Question??? Although I alternately posted both to directories and to my blog, which ranks well, most of my articles went to directories. I was thinking that with this change I may want to transfer the articles I wrote for directories and place them on my blog, like maybe one a day. Most of my articles from my blog rank well. Do you think this is a good idea? Will I get some sort of duplicate content penalty since the articles have already been published elsewhere? I am assuming that with the directory rankings being so low, that my articles published on my blog will rank better?

Any thoughts on this appreciated!
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- mekap04 13 years ago
  
  Hmm well, I have read quite a few article marketing posts on the forum and I have to the conclusion that....
  
  It would probably be a waste to try to rank an EZA article
  
  I should post on my own site first and then post that article on a few quality article directory sites in hopes that it gets picked up for publication elsewhere (However I did note that some people were talking about posting a totally unique article for EZA)
  
  It would probably be better to do "content syndication" than the typical "article marketing" (Like turning the original article on your site into podcasts, videos, etc)
  
  The thing I don't understand is how people get their "articles" syndicated if they aren't posting to article directories. How do you find places that fit the niche you are in to publish your articles for syndication?
  
  On a side note, I wonder why this thread was moved to this section. It may have sounded like it was about backlinks or whatever but it was more about article marketing in general.
  
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Back At Square One With Article Marketing

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