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Really dumb article SYNDICATION question

by 3bagsfull
37 replies
here goes -- I have put my newbie helmet on to limit getting hit with rotten tomatoes but I actually have a real question

so.. I understand spinning -- whether through actual rewriting or software, etc

I understand submitting to article sites ala EZA etc to get backlinks

I understand about paying $67 a month to have a service put up your 3 articles to their network, etc ala UAW

but here is the question (yes, it took me long enough to get to the point)

EZA tells writers to submit articles and OTHER sites looking for content will take these articles and put them on their site with your "bio" box

so Does this really happen?? do sites scroll through EZA and take articles? as I move around the web, I never see posts of articles form EZA or any other article directory.

if it happens alot, can you point me to sites that are using EZA articles for their content?

thanks in advance!!!
#article #dumb #question #syndication
  • Profile picture of the author Sojourn
    Yes, this can happen a lot. I have 119 articles in several different niches on ezinearticles.com and those articles were picked up by other sites 228 times (228 backlinks from other sites). My ezinearticles dashboard shows this information but I also see when a site picks up the article as it will show up as a pingback or trackback in my WP dashboard.

    In almost every case, the site that picked up the article was in a related niche. I can't give you the examples without revealing my niche but I can tell you that this happens and I'm sure my experience is minimal compared to others.

    Lots of things come into play, though - your niche, for example. One of my niches does better than the others and I believe it's because the quality of those articles is better than the quality of the material in the others so my guess would be niche selection, quality of the writing, and popularity of the niche are just a few of the determining factors for success.
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  • Profile picture of the author 3bagsfull
    good to know - thanks for the info. No problem about showing me your site. I completely understand.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rach72
    That is the naturally occurring tiered syndicated backlinking that Google wants to see, rather than the mass submitted article (ala; UAW/ et al) with all the links pointing back to your site.

    Yes, this can happen a lot. I have 119 articles in several different niches on ezinearticles.com and those articles were picked up by other sites 228 times (228 backlinks from other sites). My ezinearticles dashboard shows this information but I also see when a site picks up the article as it will show up as a pingback or trackback in my WP dashboard.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by 3bagsfull View Post

    I understand submitting to article sites ala EZA etc to get backlinks
    "Getting backlinks" is not the purpose of submitting articles to article directories.

    Those "backlinks" are non-context-relevant, PR-0 backlinks.

    Even before Google's algorithm change devalued the article directories so much, the authors of the standard SEO textbooks were rightly saying that you'd need something between 50,000 and 100,000 of those "backlinks" to give you the link-juice equivalent to one backlink from a relevant authority site.

    The people trying to use article directories for their own backlinks (rather than as a stepping-stone to syndication) are all the ones starting the hundreds of threads here called "Article Marketing Is Dead" and "Article Marketing Doesn't Work". Because they all clearly feel what they're doing is dead, and doesn't work (and by the way it isn't really "article marketing" either: they only think it is - it's actually just "trying to use directories for their own traffic and their own backlinks" - which many other, successful article marketers call "article directory marketing" - and it's not very surprising they all say they're having such a hard time with it!).

    Originally Posted by 3bagsfull View Post

    EZA tells writers to submit articles and OTHER sites looking for content will take these articles and put them on their site with your "bio" box

    so Does this really happen?? do sites scroll through EZA and take articles?
    Of course they do. Many of us here are making our livings at least partly in that way. But the articles have to be written for syndication for that to happen. There's no point in writing a 400-word "salesy" article with a "call to action" in the resource-box and expecting people to syndicate it. That isn't going to happen.

    Originally Posted by 3bagsfull View Post

    as I move around the web, I never see posts of articles form EZA or any other article directory.
    How do you know?

    I see many.

    I wrote about 1,500 of them, myself. And some of those have been re-published multiple times each, on high-quality, relevant sites, many of which continue to send targeted traffic to my sites.

    And of course that's without mentioning the ezines in which they've also been published and circulated to targeted subscribers.

    Originally Posted by 3bagsfull View Post

    can you point me to sites that are using EZA articles for their content?
    For the most part, they're using EZA articles for some of their content and mixing it up with "original content". With apologies, I can't "show you mine", because I don't disclose my niches. But there are countless professional article marketers here in much the same position as me, discussing it in large numbers of threads, and I promise you we're not all making it up.

    But note, too, that "article marketing by syndication" doesn't rest entirely on people picking up your articles from EZA. That was how many of us originally got started, but there are a lot more opportunities in it than just that, too. I suspect this current thread's going to be relevant to you.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      First off, that was not a dumb question. It shows you were thinking.

      I can tell you, from both sides of the fence, that the type of syndication you describe happens every day.

      I have articles I posted six years ago that are still being picked up and used. I have sites that I use syndicated content on every month.

      And that doesn't even count the articles that end up in email pubs like ezines and autoresponder sequences.

      One reason you may not recognize content syndicated from sites like EZA is that many publishers don't use the link back to the directory that they oh so kindly include in the 'publisher's version'. Many end up linking back to the author page instead, if at all.

      It's one of those rules that's impossible to enforce, so they're happy with any voluntary compliance. Even harder to enforce if the article is published on one your own sites first - yet another reason to do so.
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      • Profile picture of the author patey88
        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        One reason you may not recognize content syndicated from sites like EZA is that many publishers don't use the link back to the directory that they oh so kindly include in the 'publisher's version'. Many end up linking back to the author page instead, if at all.
        Does anyone else find that more of their EZA articles get published without credit, than with?

        Maybe it's the nature of the 3 niches I have articles in. But lately I've changed my resource boxes to make them much less promotional... just a single sentence pointing to a site where you can find more of the author's work. And since then I get published more, but almost always without a backlink. More than 50% of the time my resource box gets chopped and there's no backlink, no nothing.

        I ignore it and move on, but I wonder if it's typical for everybody else?

        Patey
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        • Profile picture of the author onpointinfo
          Originally Posted by patey88 View Post

          Does anyone else find that more of their EZA articles get published without credit, than with?

          Maybe it's the nature of the 3 niches I have articles in. But lately I've changed my resource boxes to make them much less promotional... just a single sentence pointing to a site where you can find more of the author's work. And since then I get published more, but almost always without a backlink. More than 50% of the time my resource box gets chopped and there's no backlink, no nothing.

          I ignore it and move on, but I wonder if it's typical for everybody else?

          Patey
          Hi Patey88...

          Interesting... If they are picking it up from EZA are they not supposed to keep the link in place as part of the agreement they agree before they pick up and publish your content on their site.

          I am a newbie to these things but if I am right, EZA requires publishers to keep the link in place and if that is the case then you should contact the publisher and tell them that the link is missing and would they kindly include it as part of the EZA agreement.

          Patey88...it is great that your articles are getting picked up more, but purpose does it serve if the backlink is not intact to drive traffic back to your site.

          If those sites that are picking up your article and dropping your link, maybe bribe them and tell them that you will write articles exclusively for them provided they keep your resource box link intact, but only if they are worthy of you writing for them meaning what do you gain in return for your work.

          Unless you are getting in context links and those are not getting dropped, I do not see any benefit in continuing this, would you care to explain why you continue, you do not have to reveal your niche, but can maybe explain why you continue to write with a different resource box that helps them get syndicated, but with your links dropped.

          There must be a solution to this - maybe you should create a separate new post for this issue so that you can get as many people looking at the title and hopefully will come to the rescue.

          Now if you are getting good results with this new method, and the only problem is that the link is getting dropped, then maybe contacting those that drop your link and bribing them into not dropping the link if you write exclusive articles for them could be your solution for that 50% that drops them.

          Just my feedback... not really sure of what your situation or if you are already doing what I am suggesting, but maybe this can help
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by onpointinfo View Post

            Now if you are getting good results with this new method, and the only problem is that the link is getting dropped, then maybe contacting those that drop your link and bribing them into not dropping the link if you write exclusive articles for them could be your solution for that 50% that drops them.

            Just my feedback... not really sure of what your situation or if you are already doing what I am suggesting, but maybe this can help
            Most of the time, when you find one of your articles with the links stripped out, you're dealing with either a scraper or autoblogger using software to harvest an RSS feed from the directory. The software strips out the links, often removes the resource box entirely, and sometimes runs your content through a mechanical spinner. In short, they know what they are doing.

            "Bribing them" with offers of writing exclusive articles will only result in your original exclusive articles being published without your links. I can't imagine people willing to steal content hesitating to lie about including links.

            The only way to deal with these people is to follow the plan Alexa linked to. You have to deal with them in a way they understand.

            It's like the convenience store in the bad neighborhood that never gets robbed. The would-be thieves know the owner keeps a sawed-off 12-gauge under the counter, and he's willing and able to use it...
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by patey88 View Post

          Does anyone else find that more of their EZA articles get published without credit, than with?

          Maybe it's the nature of the 3 niches I have articles in.
          I would think it's probably the nature of the niches; yes.

          There are (perhaps) some niches not quite so well suited to passive article syndication as others, because they contain a little more than their fair share of thieves, scammers and idiots.

          But we all occasionally get an article syndicated from EZA without the resource-box - in which case these situations can quickly and easily dealt with, as explained in this post.
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          • Profile picture of the author jimmel196
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I would think it's probably the nature of the niches; yes.

            But we all occasionally get an article syndicated from EZA without the resource-box - in which case these situations can quickly and easily dealt with, as explained in this post.
            While I only have a grand total of 3 articles on EZA, when I do a search I find that one of my articles has been posted to approximately 20 sites. Only 3 of these sites have left the resource box with any links to my site. This has all occurred within the last month when I article posted on EZA. I have contacted numerous sites who either don't respond or simply remove the article. I must really be missing something because I have tried to follow the advise given and it really doesn't seem to be working. It seems that I am just writing my articles for the benefit of thieves who want to steal my content. I posted all of my articles to my site first and after indexed in Google then posted to EZA and yet I find that some of the stolen content articles are ranking way ahead of mine. I guess this would be OK if they left the resource box intact but as it is it gives me no benefit.

            Alexa or anyone, would you consider providing me with your template of your DMCA take down form and possibly the template of the form that you use to request that they re-establish your resource box with links? I am obviously not approaching these people in the correct way. Thanks. Jimmy
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            • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
              Banned
              Hi Jimmy, don't take this the wrong way, but when I hear that someone's article has been syndicated 20 times and only 3 times with the resource-box, it tells me one of two things is happening: either the remaining content has been copied by "autoblogs" (and a DMCA notice to their host is appropriate, with a copy to them, their registrar and Google), or the author is using a resource-box which people don't want on their site. You do need to write resource-boxes that people don't want to remove when they syndicate articles. That's explained in this post (point (iv)).

              There are, of course, some people who feel a bit "incensed" by that and think "I should be able to write any damn resource-box I like without worrying about this". And as "right" as that is, those are people who'll have frequent "issues" over this.

              The downside's very limited, though. Usually no real harm's done.

              The thing is to deal with this quickly and efficiently, taking up the minimum amount of time and effort possible over it. Once you get used to it, it's a 2-minute business, when it happens. And then one can focus one's time and attention on more positive, constructive things.

              Here's a standard DMCA notice, from Suzanne's site. (You'll need to change the wording a little, to fit your circumstances. This goes to the host, with a copy to the offender).

              My "initial email" is just a short one, introducing myself, thanking them for re-publishing my article called <title here> from Ezine Article <link here> and explaining that EZA's terms of service require the reproduction of the resource-box with the article, which their Webmaster has on this occasion apparently managed somehow to overlook. "So here's a copy of the resource box <space for that> and I'd be very grateful if you could arrange for it to be appended to the article, with the links in clickable form, as required". I then ask if they'd like more content on this subject, and explain that I have "x" number of other articles available on the subject, which of course I'd be happy for them to publish with my links intact. I also mention that I'm willing to send them additional articles which haven't been submitted to any article directory (they'll all have been published and indexed first on my own site, obviously, but I don't specifically mention that). This approach isn't going to work on an idiot with an autoblog who's just breaching copyrights mindlessly, every day of the week, of course, but a DMCA notice almost always will.

              So, it may not be that you're "not approaching them in the correct way", Jimmy. They might be using autoblogs. (This is more of a problem in some niches than in others.)

              You can find their host from any site like who-hosts.com, and if they see from your DMCA notice that it's been sent to the host, they'll normally remove the content right away before their host does it for them.
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              • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                ..., or the author is using a resource-box which people don't want on their site. You do need to write resource-boxes that people don't want to remove when they syndicate articles. That's explained in this post (point (iv)).

                There are, of course, some people who feel a bit "incensed" by that and think "I should be able to write any damn resource-box I like without worrying about this". And as "right" as that is, those are people who'll have frequent "issues" over this.
                As a publisher of syndicated articles, as well as someone who seeks to have my own articles syndicated, I can tell you that this is spot-on.

                In my case, though, rather than strip out your resource box (and breaking the directory's TOS, most of the time), I'll simply skip over articles with resource boxes I don't want on my site.

                While it is true that writers can write any damn resource box they choose to, it's equally true that publishers can accept or reject any article for any reason; an offensive resource box is as good a reason to reject as any other.

                So the question becomes "what makes for an offensive resource box?"

                While it's a bit like the judge's definition of porn (I know it when I see it), here are a few things that will cause me to pass your content by...

                > Overly promotional or overhyped copy.

                > Direct linking to a sales page. The exception would be if the link and supporting copy made it plain that the link is to a sales page and the product supports what my readers want to accomplish. No affiliate links, though.

                > Redirected links. I want to be reasonably comfortable that the content promised is the content clickers will see. No bait and switch.

                > Too many links. I don't mind paying for content with a plug, but I'm not running an SEO service for your benefit. Links should have a positive return for my readers, not just another anchor text keyword link for you.

                > Linking to content I don't believe will benefit my readers. Not much you can do about this one, but it comes up less than you might think. People doing this often disqualify themselves on one of the above points first.

                Hope this helps...
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              • Profile picture of the author jimmel196
                Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                Hi Jimmy, don't take this the wrong way, but when I hear that someone's article has been syndicated 20 times and only 3 times with the resource-box, it tells me one of two things is happening: either the remaining content has been copied by "autoblogs" (and a DMCA notice to their host is appropriate, with a copy to them, their registrar and Google), or the author is using a resource-box which people don't want on their site. You do need to write resource-boxes that people don't want to remove when they syndicate articles. That's explained in this post (point (iv)).

                Thanks for your information. I believe sever of these to be autoblogs by the same person with different pen names because their link takes you to the same Hertz site. These are predominately posted on Australia, Asia and Argentina Travel Blogs.

                There are, of course, some people who feel a bit "incensed" by that and think "I should be able to write any damn resource-box I like without worrying about this". And as "right" as that is, those are people who'll have frequent "issues" over this.

                I have two links in my resource box and the content of same is not overly promotional to my site. They have removed all reference to EZA and anything else that would lead you to believe that the article was written by anyone but them.

                The downside's very limited, though. Usually no real harm's done.

                The thing is to deal with this quickly and efficiently, taking up the minimum amount of time and effort possible over it. Once you get used to it, it's a 2-minute business, when it happens. And then one can focus one's time and attention on more positive, constructive things.

                Here's a standard DMCA notice, from Suzanne's site. (You'll need to change the wording a little, to fit your circumstances. This goes to the host, with a copy to the offender).

                My "initial email" is just a short one, introducing myself, thanking them for re-publishing my article called <title here> from Ezine Article <link here> and explaining that EZA's terms of service require the reproduction of the resource-box with the article, which their Webmaster has on this occasion apparently managed somehow to overlook. "So here's a copy of the resource box <space for that> and I'd be very grateful if you could arrange for it to be appended to the article, with the links in clickable form, as required". I then ask if they'd like more content on this subject, and explain that I have "x" number of other articles available on the subject, which of course I'd be happy for them to publish with my links intact. I also mention that I'm willing to send them additional articles which haven't been submitted to any article directory (they'll all have been published and indexed first on my own site, obviously, but I don't specifically mention that). This approach isn't going to work on an idiot with an autoblog who's just breaching copyrights mindlessly, every day of the week, of course, but a DMCA notice almost always will.

                Thanks for this DMCA Information.

                So, it may not be that you're "not approaching them in the correct way", Jimmy. They might be using autoblogs. (This is more of a problem in some niches than in others.)

                You can find their host from any site like who-hosts.com, and if they see from your DMCA notice that it's been sent to the host, they'll normally remove the content right away before their host does it for them.
                I will follow up on this right now. Thanks. Jimmy
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  • Profile picture of the author mattlaclear
    Link baiting is a horrible way to rank a site. It just doesn't work for the majority of people using it. If your goal is to grab page one rankings you will be better off posting spun plr articles for the links needed to drive you past your competition.

    If your goal is to generate traffic from the article directories then go for it. That puts bread on the table too.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by mattlaclear View Post

      Link baiting is a horrible way to rank a site. It just doesn't work for the majority of people using it. If your goal is to grab page one rankings you will be better off posting spun plr articles for the links needed to drive you past your competition.

      If your goal is to generate traffic from the article directories then go for it. That puts bread on the table too.
      I'm not sure I'd go along with the word "horrible", but I'll admit that syndication (not the same thing as 'link baiting", btw) can be inefficient for influencing rankings, especially for those just starting out.

      If all you're after is a big pile of links, then a service such as the one Matt normally promotes in his sig, is much quicker. He, to his credit, disabled his sig from this post. I've not used his service, so I can't say from personal experience, but he does seem to have a lot of satisfied customers.

      That said, not all who offer this type of service can make the same claim, so be careful if some of you go this way.

      The goal with syndication the way I do it is not to get traffic from the directories. As Matt said, it works, but it's also quite inefficient - both for influencing search rankings and generating direct traffic.

      My goal is simply to help identify sites which publish content similar to what I write, with the intent of putting my content in front of the traffic they drive.

      Matt's method, if I understand it, is to use links on his network of sites to improve search rankings and piggyback on those rankings to generate traffic.

      My method is to use links on other peoples' content sites (and newsletters and autoresponder series, etc.) to improve my own rankings, and more important, piggyback on those site owners' traffic to generate traffic to my own sites.

      Done ethically, it's two sides of the same coin.
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  • Profile picture of the author AlphaWarrior
    I have articles on EZA that were picked up and published on relevant sites. And I have picked up articles from EZA and put them on my some of my sites. Generally, I write my own articles, but there are some instances when I want an article from an expert in a niche where I am not an expert. I go to EZA, start going through the articles, disregarding the trash, picking truly helpful articles, and put them on my site - author bio intact and active.
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  • Profile picture of the author 3bagsfull
    Thank you for all the responses. I am TRULY learning alot.

    I think what my personal take away is this....

    try to write an article that is full of great content about a topic and upload it to EZA et al

    the hope is that the article is so useful to another site that they will pick it up and publish it to their site

    and HOPE that they also leave the "bio" link intact (which may or may not happen)

    whether I choose to use EZA et al as well as paying a company to post for me is up to me -- I need to understand that I "may" get traffic from the EZA article and I may get linking "credit" although the credit appears to be low. A better way is to try and get a high PR page to link to my site/article etc

    wow...this stuff isn't for the faint of heart
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  • Profile picture of the author Justin Jordan
    I have 45 live articles* on Ezinearticles, and they've been "published" 41 times. Now, this does not necessarily mean that they've been syndicated that many times, because people that click publish might just be looking to see what keywords you're using.

    That said, my most popular article, which is closing in on 9,000 views, has been "published" nine times. Some research into indicates this article has actually been syndicated in 13 places, and flat out stolen in at least a dozen other places.

    What's interesting to me is that this article, in addition to being the most viewed and most syndicated of my small sample of articles, is also the article that that has the lowest clickthrough.

    Messing around with it I see there's a rough negative correlation between clickthrough and the number of times an article has been syndicated - the higher the CTR, the lower the number of times syndicated.

    I'd speculate that the reason that this is the case is that the ones with the highest CTR are the shortest, and are specifically designed to get those clicks, and those same qualities make them less attractive to editors and webmasters.

    The TL;DR version - yes, people will syndicate your articles.

    * That kind of article marketing is not what I do, so I have a relative handful of articles.
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    • Profile picture of the author Justin Jordan
      An Addendum to that:

      Interestingly, the Panda update actually increased views on my top five viewed articles, and they've trending upwards for the last few months.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Justin Jordan View Post

      I see there's a rough negative correlation between clickthrough and the number of times an article has been syndicated - the higher the CTR, the lower the number of times syndicated.

      I'd speculate that the reason that this is the case is that the ones with the highest CTR are the shortest, and are specifically designed to get those clicks, and those same qualities make them less attractive to editors and webmasters.
      This is certainly correct. I think, in fact, it's an accurate and almost universal negative correlation, not just a "rough" one.

      "Writing for clicks" and "writing for syndication" are nearly mutually exclusive concepts - especially when it comes to the resource-box.

      Very few authoritative niche sites - understandably - are ever going to syndicate "sales articles" or articles with resource boxes which suggest that the author's trying to rank his site for the words "click here".
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  • Profile picture of the author Syamsul Alam
    At least, I do use eza articles for all of my niche sites... too lazy to write articles by myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author drmani
    Originally Posted by 3bagsfull View Post

    but here is the question (yes, it took me long enough to get to the point)

    EZA tells writers to submit articles and OTHER sites looking for content will take these articles and put them on their site with your "bio" box

    so Does this really happen?? do sites scroll through EZA and take articles?
    After my EA strategy changed, I only have 14 articles left in the account.

    I glanced at my stats, and see that they have been possibly syndicated and
    re-used (judged by the number of times the PUBLISH link was followed)
    910 times.

    So yes, the 'syndication' component works. Just how well it works for YOU
    will be hard to predict reliably, which is why Matt calls it a "horrible way to
    rank a site" - though the point of syndication is NOT to "rank a site", but to
    "attract mind-share" by getting your content DIRECTLY in front of a qualified
    and targeted audience.

    Hope this helps.

    All success
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    In relation to article syndication, and EZA exclusively, it appears there are some vital overtones frequently suggested concerning the quality of the article(s) being submitted, which then ultimately determines the overall benefits, regardless of the niche, or perhaps even the website... in the 'chain of command'.

    To wit, both share in an equal importance, of course.

    Therefore, not to overstate the obvious, but the success or failure of article syndication results appear to rest solely in the hands of the author's ability... "to compel readers" to "want more information" in essence, whereby, the readers 'action' either visits the author's site - or -finds the content worthy for republication to their own website(s).

    Naturally, by compel I don't mean a "hyped-up" sales copy!

    From what Alexa, John, drmani, and I am sure others would agree, the author's 'end goal' (so to speak) would be the latter, in hope to attract a highly recognized publisher or high authority site, to whom will syndicate the author's content, and expose it to high traffic, yielding "targeted" clients, of sort.

    Seems simple, and Yet - I have to remind myself to STOP looking for the negative!

    Which in absolution, I am guessing resides in the preparation, testing, and some patience to see results.

    Forgive me, as I am processing the mechanics above aloud -impart for myself, and to confirm what now appears to be a somewhat lucrative, yet intellectual approach to the art of "exposing oneself" to larger markets in one fowl swoop.

    Hence, in theory (as I've yet apply the practice) has the ability to put ones well-written article in the hearts and minds of millions...or a least a few hundred.

    If my understandings are correct, the importance is placed mainly on 2 key elements:
    1. The ability to write quality and compelling content worthy of high authority websites (*preferably in a buyer's market) to entice a targeted audience to our bio/resource box.
    2. Secondly, constructing a website which continues in the contextual flow of the readers interests, and establishes authority, leading to trust, opt-ins, sales, back links, and hopefully recurring sales.
    *Again, this was more for affirming that my interpretations are correct?

    However, as a person who is completely 'new' to the style and art of writing such quality articles for syndication, is it "recommended" to entertain a crash course before jumping into EZA?

    Honestly, I believe the context and syntax of writing comes somewhat natural to me. While my punctuation and grammar on the other hand...is NOT exactly "pretty"!

    While I am in no rush, and continue to experiment with my website's 'quiet' sales layout (i.e. opt-in, auto responder, SEO, etc...) -EZA warns: I have 30 days to submit my first article or risk losing my account.

    Thus, just how critical is punctuation and grammar at EZA?

    Perhaps, I am underestimating my writing capabilities more than ever, but since EZA does 'rank' the author's performance, I would prefer to be well equipped, rather than just start slinging low-grade(d) articles.

    I feel to have made the rookie mistake of doing this prior by slapping up websites, and dread the work needed to repair several of them. Although now, I feel to have a greater understanding of the dynamics involved, the process itself is clearly plausible.

    Thanks to several warriors whom in the last few days saved me from becoming a statistical victim of misinformation. (You know who you are!)

    Thanks.

    All the Best,

    Art
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by art72 View Post

      just how critical is punctuation and grammar at EZA?
      From looking at your forum posts, Art, I'd be extremely surprised if you had an "issue" there at all. It's not like writing something for the Oxford University Press. Just take care, and check the punctuation of your first article, and you'll be perfectly alright on that score.
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      • Profile picture of the author JRemington
        You asked what you thought was a dumb question when in fact it was a very relevant point and there are some great replies here.

        Sometimes, an article can get picked up by someone the very same day EZA publishes it. Some niche bloggers pick up on the latest articles faster than others and you'll see that some people fail to link to your site and others will link back to you without you asking.

        It's up to you to get them to link back to the original article on your site which should improve your rankings.
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        What you're not selling your products in different languages yet?
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Cold feet... I guess!

    I think in all the excitement of finding the "needle within the haystack" pertaining to learning proper article syndication methods, it almost didn't seem believable at first.

    To be able to focus on writing again, as opposed to learning SEO, ftp, html, Aweber, themes, squeeze pages, and the "other' basics... I might actually start to enjoy marketing -finally!

    Thanks Alexa...almost made me blush!:p
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  • Profile picture of the author danr62
    I have another question about syndication for TPW or Alexa:

    Do you differentiate between blog posts and articles? For instance, do you sometimes write blog posts that is just for your readers and more conversational in tone, etc. without syndicating them?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by danr62 View Post

      Do you differentiate between blog posts and articles?
      I do in the sense that I have some stuff on my sites/blogs that's never going to be syndicated or submitted anywhere else (such as "product reviews" and some other site-content).

      To be honest, I don't actually think in terms of "blog posts" per se ... not being a Wordpress user, and with my sites not looking like "blogs" anyway, really ... (I know it's a semantic point, but it's getting awfully difficult, these days, accurately to define "blog", isn't it, with so many static sites built from Wordpress and so many regularly updated sites with sidebars built from non-bloggy software? My sites are technically "blogs" but they don't have dated posts, comments, blogrolls, and much of the other stuff that many people typically associate with "blogs".)

      Originally Posted by danr62 View Post

      For instance, do you sometimes write blog posts that is just for your readers and more conversational in tone, etc. without syndicating them?
      I don't, really; I'm sure some people do, though. I'm a bit more "conversational" in the autoresponder emails ...
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by JRemington View Post

        It's up to you to get them to link back to the original article on your site which should improve your rankings.
        Actually, you do not want them linking to a copy of the original article. If they just read the article and followed the link, why would they want to read the same article again?

        Better to link to another article, a squeeze page, and offer, etc.
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        • Profile picture of the author drmani
          The ability to write quality and compelling content worthy of high authority websites...
          I'd like to take some time to share thoughts on this, because it crops
          up over and over again in discussions about syndication.

          There is a mis-interpretation about what "quality and compelling content"
          actually is.

          On one level, prose of Hemingway standards would fit the bill.

          And very rarely is a writer able to touch such heights.

          But one BIG point that's missed is that VALUABLE content is just as highly
          regarded as "compelling"... and ANYONE can deliver value.

          Let's take stock market picks as an example. And let's say you've got
          a system with a 95% strike rate of picking winners.

          Do you seriously believe your audience cares two hoots about whether you
          can write correct grammar, use perfect syntax, apply parody or satire,
          or even punctuate your sentences correctly?

          All they care about is whether you pick the winners - and SPELL their
          name (or atleast their stock symbols) correctly!

          And if you do that consistently well, do you think investment publications
          will fall over themselves to syndicate your VALUABLE content?

          Of COURSE they will.

          So don't kid yourself into believing that writing is all about craft
          and skill. It's far more important to be writing from EXPERIENCE and
          EXPERTISE... which is a surer way to deliver value than simply stringing
          together words and phrases into nice sounding sentences (unless your
          writing niche is poetry or fiction, where that itself IS the value!)

          Hope this encourages more people to practice content syndication - by
          creating VALUABLE content.

          All success
          Dr.Mani
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Excellent point. That might also explain why most ad copy and larger marketing campaigns intentionally write at a 6th grade level, whereby they can deliver value to a broader audience.

    In layman's terms, what you're really saying is "don't {push|sell|promote} junk!" -But rather focus on providing quality {results|services|products}.

    "Always give more than that which you are paid!"

    All the Best,

    Art

    PS - As it happens I prefer creative writing, but prose is where the $ flows!

    Metallica seemed to do well with Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" In which I respect both.

    To me writing is indeed a valuable craft, one which out lives our own experience, and carries it forth to the next.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Ning Lo
    Yes it can happen.

    I personally use ezine for article writing...

    Just pick a good one and rewrite it

    Cheers,

    ~Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author 3bagsfull
    art72 -

    I have a suggestion (although it may appear that my "newbie" status does not warrant such an action)

    your writing is excellent - however, it has an academic bent. Which (having several degrees myself) is not a bad thing and should be commended. HOWEVER, this is actually a "problem" in the IM world (IMHO). My natural instinct is to write a $5 word (as they say) and at times I don't even realize that is the type of word I have selected. It is part of my vocabulary.

    so - I am having to force myself to select 10 cent or dollar words which at times makes me feel uncomfortable based on past writing requirements and expectations. But, I am not turning in a end-of-the-semester research paper.... I am writing a blog post. So - a more down to earth, I am talking to my next door neighbor approach is better. It doesn't turn off the reader because they don't have to copy the word and look it up in the dictionary or reread the sentence six times to understand what I am trying to convey.

    Take on the approach of a local newspaper that must write on a 5th or 6th grade level as far as word choice and sentence structure. I do not mean in any way to suggest that your reader or audience is un/under educated, but it is about EASE -- ease in reading, ease in understanding -- transfer the knowledge that you hold through wording that does not create a barrier. If the process of actually READING is a "task" (aka sit up straight, pay attention, you're in school now) then it is quite possible that the reader will be turned off and your knowledge will not be transferred -- and that is your ULTIMATE goal --- ESPECIALLY if you are wanting them to purchase something. You want them to feel comfortable and STICK AROUND.

    of course - this is clearly MHO -- but I believe it has validity
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  • Profile picture of the author obrain
    is it good for article marketing........
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Originally Posted by art72 View Post

    Excellent point. That might also explain why most ad copy and larger marketing campaigns intentionally write at a 6th grade level, whereby they can deliver value to a broader audience.
    Agreed^^^

    Originally Posted by 3bagsfull View Post

    art72 -

    your writing is excellent - however, it has an academic bent. Which (having several degrees myself) is not a bad thing and should be commended. HOWEVER, this is actually a "problem" in the IM world (IMHO). My natural instinct is to write a $5 word (as they say) and at times I don't even realize that is the type of word I have selected. It is part of my vocabulary.
    Not to get off topic, as I appreciate all the advice I can get.

    Here's the shocker... and one which I am NOT necessarily proud to admit; I do NOT have ANY formal education, not even a HS diploma. In fact, 7th and 8th grade remains a blur. I quit school at 15 and went to work full time.

    As drmani stressed above my "experience and expertise" as he calls it, leaves me to wonder; where the hell that truly comes from?

    Does it come from a book? a degree? our spirit? the trenches of life?

    Writing to me is defined by one word: empathy!

    While I cannot argue the age ol' "keep it simple stupid" mentality, especially in a marketing approach, I often feel to be trapped between two stereotypes.

    There's the socioeconomic scales: which implies I am NOT qualified to get a $12 job as a painter (for a company) because I don't have a HS diploma!:confused:

    At age 18, I defied the standard teachings, and owned and operated an ice cream truck, and made $1k a week - not exactly genius, but I was FREE!

    "Thank-You Zig Zigglar!" & "Zig Zag's"

    However, I sincerely felt to be undermining, almost cheating my raw intelligence. (and still do!)

    Point being, "I don't know" - that's why I am here. I'm just now "coming out" and trying to figure out what to do with my passion for writing out my philosophies, and how it can be used?, marketable?, and useful to another?

    If at all?

    Playing possum has taught me a great deal. Pain, humility, suffering, and the components of fear... (my expertise) is in finding a cure to a world riddled with pestilence.

    The psychology within this forum is fascinating!

    Helping others, an evergreen and endless niche, if you will. I can see piles of money, and yet fear the acquisition could turn my escape into a cage, as the world prefers it.

    Getting a job writing... is almost laughable, yet several people insist that's where I belong. :confused:

    I only hope to be privileged enough to contribute to someone else finding freedom, when I do, that will be truly academic!

    In consideration to the posts above, I need to either learn to write at a lesser degree (than my 8th grade education) or find an audience who can appreciate it.

    Therefore, I got exactly "what" I NEVER asked for...you see.

    After all, those who wrote many of the books store housed on college shelves, never attended themselves. (No pun intended)

    In the end, I remain neutral, lost in the balance, listening to the continuum of argument, whereby I can only imagine the changes we could provide if we all simply admitted we're all in search of the same thing...freedom!

    Which may inspire my first warrior blog post to further solidify my entire marketing approach, as I feel to have already taken up too much space here.

    While it may appear the above was 'out of context' - I firmly believe; marketing solutions remains at the helm, and without argument will be the first to admit...I may be adrift a sea of indifference in my approach.

    syn·di·cate (snd-kt)n.1. An association of people or firms authorized to undertake a duty or transact specific business.
    2. An association of people or firms formed to engage in an enterprise or promote a common interest.
    3. A loose affiliation of gangsters in control of organized criminal activities.
    4. An agency that sells articles, features, or photographs for publication in a number of newspapers or periodicals simultaneously.
    5. A company consisting of a number of separate newspapers; a newspaper chain.
    6. The office, position, or jurisdiction of a syndic or body of syndics.

    For the record, I had to look up the word 2 days ago, as I really didn't know what it meant!

    Peace,

    Art

    Meanwhile, I need to change hats, as I am off to go fix toilets, paint, and perform my daily chores. Knowing, it's only a matter of time before that misery will be replaced by a cheap laptop, and a dream!

    I also realize the need to work on the short answer, but the equation I am trying to solve is bigger than I am!
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  • Profile picture of the author keepgoin
    wow, Excellent thread with so many great tips! Thanks all!

    Andy

    :-)
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    Learning Fast Right Here :)

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  • Profile picture of the author sidfromla
    I am a newb compared to most here but i have had some success getting articles in a couple of niche's picked up by some relevant sites, then some other niches not so much. Some great tips in this thread though that i will try and put to use for upcoming articles. Overall have found Ezine to be a realy useful tool so far.
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