25 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
25 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Article Marketing - Why Do Authors Do This?

by cimbah
22 replies
I've been looking at a lot of articles lately on different directories and I've noticed something that just doesn't make sense to me. Granted, I'm not an article marketing pro but still, something seems off.

What I've noticed is some authors obviously spend time writing a good article about a specific niche and then in the bio box, they link to something totally out in left field. A hypothetical example would be - the author writes an article about dog training and their bio box says, "Sally has been training dogs for ten years. She also has a great website with blenders for the home. Click here to see her blenders."

It seems the more articles I read, the more I'm seeing these types of off topic bio boxes. Am I missing something or do a lot of people do this?

Chris
#article #authors #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
    I am not familiar with that and I am under the impression that EZA would not allow a link to a non relevant site.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1198600].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author terryd
    Just to get a link from the article itself without the article outranking the keyword phrase that they are targeting.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199093].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
    Seems pretty odd. Why would you want targeted traffic? Like a waste of time, unless as mentioned, just for the the links/linkbacks, but even that would be "off" target.
    Signature
    PLR Affiliate Program Has Launched! Easily Promote Over 5,000 PLR and MRR Products.

    Largest Selection of PLR Articles on the Planet! PLR Ebooks, PLR Video, PLR Websites and more with Private Label Rights
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199115].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Hyaku_Man
      Maybe you want 1000 article backlinks to your blender site but do you really want to write 1000 articles about blenders? Write about what you like, and you smash out like 40 articles in a day if you want. The links probably aren't as powerful because the content isn't relevant, but like terryd said it has the benefit of not competing with your site for that keyword.

      In other words it's to help your Google SERPs, not to get direct traffic. People who read the article probably won't click through.
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199126].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author freudianslip27
    I've seen it too, in fact I even see some people with NO link in the resource section! People writing articles just for the fun of it? That's crazy talk!

    It could just be an accident on the writers part, is it happening a lot in their articles?
    Signature

    WarriorForum Rules!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199122].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PatriciaJ
      There have been times that I've written articles with useful information that have had no relevance to any of my sites so I just added the site that I wanted to promote the most in the bio - worked really well.

      Originally Posted by freudianslip27 View Post

      I've seen it too, in fact I even see some people with NO link in the resource section! People writing articles just for the fun of it? That's crazy talk!

      It could just be an accident on the writers part, is it happening a lot in their articles?
      You would be surprised at just how many forget to include their author bio, or their links don't work. Unfortunately very few seem to check the email inbox that they use for article marketing so it's difficult for directory owners to contact them if there is a problem.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199700].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
    That is the recommended technique in a new popular WSO. To write about what you enjoy so it is fast and easy but you get your backlinks.

    I personally think it is best to write about the niche I am linking to but everyone has their own techniques.
    Signature

    Pen Name + 8 eBooks + social media sites 4 SALE - PM me (evergreen beauty niche)

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199138].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author cimbah
      The one author I noticed has several articles that have links in the bio box that have nothing to do with the article. Also, the links go to various websites so maybe the author is trying to build backlinks for more than one website.

      To each his own, I guess.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199169].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Hyaku_Man
        I figured out that can work a while back because I did a ton up article directory uploads with some software, and I was stupid and forgot to chage the author resource box so it was linking to the wrong site. But those links did push the (wrong) site up the SERPs even though the content didn't match.
        Signature

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199172].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Jake03
          I have seen it recommended by someone here as well. If you are simply using it for backlink juice then it works just fine. If it is for traffic then not so much.

          I don't think google knows if the article is related to your site. It's simply an incoming link.

          Then again I'm not an expert when it comes to exactly how google does their thing.

          Jake
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199226].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author LegitBlogger
    Yes, this technique was recommended in a popular course
    by another warrior here. While it might sound odd to do this,
    it does work gangbusters for him, for the purpose he's
    trying to achieve. But for me, I'd rather put something
    relating to my article in the resource box.
    Signature
    CRAZY $0 OFFER for the next FEW Warriors Only -
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199158].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Allyn Hane
    I think these people are using an automated article posting software of service and they are failing to change their author box as they write new articles and distribute them.
    Signature

    Drink Beer, Blog, Drink More Beer bloggerillustrated.net

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199247].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Danny Cutts
    hmmm thats pretty interesting strategy, I personally hate writing articles however I do see the power of them because I do write them. However if you are going to go to the trouble of writing articles then maybe yiou should write related content.

    Which WSO was it on I might go and see what they actually say

    Cheers

    danny
    Signature
    Come and See me on Facebook... Come and See me at my blog...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199252].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jake03
      Which WSO was it on I might go and see what they actually say

      Cheers

      danny[/QUOTE]


      The one I was referring to was about adsense.

      Jake
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199268].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Danny Cutts
    oh ok I think I might have missed something!
    Signature
    Come and See me on Facebook... Come and See me at my blog...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199277].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ifrahim Jasen
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199298].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author thmgoodw
      The anchor text is relevant for purposes of the backlink in Google's eyes (which can still be properly done even if the article itself is "off topic"), but otherwise you are wrong as to your second point. The backlink (especially from a good PR source) will help significantly, even if off topic.

      Originally Posted by Ifrahim Jasen View Post

      However, I am sure that will not give more hits for their sites as well as the backlink will not be more valuble as it is from off topic.
      Signature
      Masters Powerlifting
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199315].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Terry Hatfield
    I think the reason they do that is the dog training niche wasn't making money so they figure they may as well point the link to another one of their sites.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199354].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Crafty Blogger
    I saw this strategy recommended in a post started by XFACTOR in the adsense forum. As others have said, the backlink is what people want, and it doesn't matter if it is posted on an article with a relevant subject or not. However, EzineArticle just sent out a notice a couple of days ago asking authors to make sure their backlinks are on topic, so I'm guessing they might start cracking down on this practice soon.
    Signature
    Passive Income Online Blog
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199407].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Hyaku_Man
      Originally Posted by Crafty Blogger View Post

      I saw this strategy recommended in a post started by XFACTOR in the adsense forum. As others have said, the backlink is what people want, and it doesn't matter if it is posted on an article with a relevant subject or not. However, EzineArticle just sent out a notice a couple of days ago asking authors to make sure their backlinks are on topic, so I'm guessing they might start cracking down on this practice soon.
      There's always a way to make it look relevant. Dogs and blenders is kind of extreme, but if your article is about how to clean your coffee maker and the backlink is to a site about a different kitchen appliance I think that's doable. "Find out more about coffee makers, *water coolers*, and other appliances." Anchor text in the **

      Maybe even "Find out more about coffee makers, *washing machines*, and other home appliances."

      They're in the same category (home appliances) so you're kind of imposing relevance on the link.
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199424].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author waihon
    I think the anchor text of backlink in the resource box should be relevant to the article content itself.

    The underlying principle is to increase user/reader's experience. That's what article directories and search engines want in order to keep their users happy... so that they can continue to be profitable (and so do us).

    By the way, relevancy is a subjective matter. For example, is home improvement and mortgage reduction relevant?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1199487].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
    Originally Posted by cimbah View Post

    It seems the more articles I read, the more I'm seeing these types of off topic bio boxes. Am I missing something or do a lot of people do this?

    Chris
    No Chris, you're not missing something, THEY are. Never confuse your prospect.

    If you're into writing articles about 5 different things (ie, dog training and blenders) then I'd recommend using separate profiles (pen names) for each topic. This is completely A-OK with article directories.

    Interestingly, a while ago there was a thread on here and one fellow tested out the hypothesis that having nothing in our profile was actually better for sales and clicks than having something there. His stats indicated that was true... go figure!
    Signature

    Discover My Effective Backlinking Strategies...

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1203898].message }}

Trending Topics