How much content on the website before I try to get my articles syndicated?

19 replies
How many articles/pages should my website have before I can reach out to the ezines or webmasters and try to get my articles syndicated?

Is 5 enough ? Or maybe 10? Or even 30 ?
#articles #content #syndicated #website
  • Profile picture of the author loshmi86
    i think that number of pages is not important as long as your articles are indexed by google before yott syndicate them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Larquini
      Originally Posted by loshmi86 View Post

      i think that number of pages is not important as long as your articles are indexed by google before yott syndicate them.
      I am also very new to IM. eg 3 articles written (3months)
      I have been submitting to ezine articles as I write them and it takes about 6 days for the approval (or problem status).
      How long does it take for google to index them on my site?

      Thanks
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      • Profile picture of the author DaveWildash
        Larquini

        The time to get a page indexed depends on how well linked it is and how often the content changes. To see if your page has been indexed just Google

        site:www.yourdomainname.com (or .co.uk. if that's your web address)

        If your page appears in the resulting list then it has been indexed. If it's not there then it hasn't been indexed yet.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by canyon View Post

        How many articles/pages should my website have before I can reach out to the ezines or webmasters and try to get my articles syndicated?

        Is 5 enough ? Or maybe 10? Or even 30 ?
        I think 4 or 5 is enough. It's enough for me, anyway. (Call me a skepchick, but I suspect that many of them won't look, anyway, before deciding whether or not to syndicate your article! They'll typically decide that on exactly the same basis they'd decide it if they found it in EZA: "Is this content that I want to share with my readers?").

        Originally Posted by Larquini View Post

        I have been submitting to ezine articles as I write them
        This is a very big mistake, Larquini. The sooner you stop doing that, the more it'll help you in the long run. You should submit them to EZA only after they've been indexed on your own site.

        I think this little thread will help you a lot: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ries-work.html

        And in this very long thread, a large number of successful, professional article marketers explain all their shared reasons for never submitting to EZA until after this: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...eza-first.html
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        • Profile picture of the author Joe J
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          I think 4 or 5 is enough. It's enough for me, anyway. (Call me a skepchick, but I suspect that many of them won't look, anyway, before deciding whether or not to syndicate your article! They'll typically decide that on exactly the same basis they'd decide it if they found it in EZA: "Is this content that I want to share with my readers?").

          Hi

          If someone would find a good article to syndicate, wouldn't it be a good idea for them to check out the website that the author may have linked to in their author's box?

          I haven't got to the point yet to be concerned with that but should we be concerned that a reader will be leaving my page just to go to an inferior one? Of course, I'm not talking about the obvious sites that are generally of no interest to law-abiding or morally oriented people, but just a website that has no value to the reader except that 1 article that was syndicated.

          Being a 'syndicator"(?), would that be an article you would just leave alone even if there was not another good one available?

          I hope I didn't get too far off topic, but I think it ties into how many articles you should have on your website first, along with other user friendly 'stuff', for someone syndicating your articles and having them being happy to post, and possibly having their visitor's click over to your site.

          So, I really don't have an answer to how MANY, but I think there should be enough to want someone to keep syndicating your work.


          Maybe that will get some more opinions about it here.

          Joe
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucian Lada
    I think it also depends on how many categories you have. If you have 5 categories than it looks strange to have just one article in each one.

    I have just bought a new domain and I am still trying to find out how many categories/pages should I have.

    Until now I have come up with these ones:
    • Home
    • Niche-relevant category
    • Niche-relevant product review page
    • Contact
    • About me


    The problem is, I only have the Niche-relevant category as a dynamic page. Inside it there would be articles on the niche, but the rest of the pages will be static.

    How are others doing this? Do they have more dynamic pages where they include articles?

    I also have a weight loss website that I think I will abandon and there I had like 3 categories/pages with dynamic content where I had to post articles. It becomes tiresome after a while to fill the gap for 3 pages instead of one.

    What I do not understand yet is how is my website required to look in order to gain trust? Many categories/pages? Or is it enough to have a few(or one) but with good info ?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by canyon View Post

      What I do not understand yet is how is my website required to look in order to gain trust?
      To gain enough trust for syndicators to publish your articles, you mean? In my experience, all that's necessary for that is that it looks like a "real website", i.e. not a porn site, not something that the publisher would clearly be embarrassed to link to. Minimal requirements, in other words. This just isn't an issue at all.

      What matters is the article, not your website.

      How your website's required to look to gain the trust of your potential customer visitors is a whole different matter, but that varies enormously with the traffic demographics (and maybe with the niche as well).

      Being able to opt visitors in by offering people something they want, in exchange for their email address, is what matters.

      Don't forget that thousands of marketers do this with just a squeeze page (i.e. no content at all apart from the incentivized opt-in).

      Even that works perfectly well.

      Clearly, the "moral of the story" is that you don't need a lot of content.

      As so often, Bill's post above (#9) was the helpful one, here.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan2525
    Originally Posted by canyon View Post

    How many articles/pages should my website have before I can reach out to the ezines or webmasters and try to get my articles syndicated?

    Is 5 enough ? Or maybe 10? Or even 30 ?
    Hey Canton,

    You can start submitting your content to the article networks
    straight away. Just leave it a week for them to get indexed on
    your website first.

    For better syndication and a better use of your time you should
    use tools like 'Unique Article Wizard' to give you a much further
    reach, backlinks and traffic.

    Hope this helps
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    • Profile picture of the author capitalalchemy
      That's funny - this was a problem that I recently faced as well. I decided that I would wait until I had about 50 articles under my belt and had built a large list of syndication partners. The reason I figured is because I want as many people to submit my content to as possible, without burning a few articles in the process while I look for more partners.

      But I'm in an unusual niche where sometimes the pickins can be lean for subject matter.

      If you're in IM or weight loss or something like that the conversation is endless.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    The only page that I believe you need on your website before syndicating articles is your call-to-action page, i.e. subscribe here, buy my offer, etc.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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    • Profile picture of the author Lucian Lada
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      The only page that I believe you need on your website before syndicating articles is your call-to-action page, i.e. subscribe here, buy my offer, etc.
      But when they land on my website on the call-to-action page, and look around and see that there are no other pages.. wouldn't that make them go away?
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by canyon View Post

        But when they land on my website on the call-to-action page, and look around and see that there are no other pages.. wouldn't that make them go away?

        It depends on the strength of your offer.

        Google suggests that you should also have a Privacy page and a Terms of Service page, but I build sites for my customers instead of Google.

        Sometimes the call-to-action page is all that is necessary.

        Yet, a small part of your audience will want to know more about you before they buy your offer. The larger part of your audience will only want to know the WIIIFM details (What Is In It For Me).
        Signature
        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe J
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      The only page that I believe you need on your website before syndicating articles is your call-to-action page, i.e. subscribe here, buy my offer, etc.

      That's about as uncomplicated but straight to the whole point as it gets!

      Talk about keeping it simple.

      As long as your call-to-action page rocks, why distract them.

      Great Advice and one of those eye-openers for me.

      Thanks

      Joe
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucian Lada
    Ok, I got it.
    Now I have another dilemma: I want to give them a free ebook if they sign up. Does the same principles apply? Meaning not lot of content but rather quality ?

    I was thinking of making it about.. 5-6 pages long. But I could make it longer if I include some relevant pics.

    L.E.: I was recommended not use short forms(can't , don't etc) in the articles or other content that I publish. Really?!
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by canyon View Post

      I want to give them a free ebook if they sign up. Does the same principles apply? Meaning not lot of content but rather quality ?
      Well, generally, yes - in the sense that quality's far more important than quantity.

      However, this is a slightly "special" situation, too. I can suggest a tip, here, which might help: keep in mind that the "free report" (or whatever you call it) that you send out after the opt-in has one specific purpose: to ensure that they expect, await, open and read your subsequent emails.

      All questions about the "free report" can be answered with reference to that one overriding principle. Obviously, the specific answers can vary enormously, according to the traffic demographic, niche, expectations, what you've already told them before they opt in, and so on and so forth. I'm not suggesting that this in itself "answers any questions" - but it's the context for all the questions to be answered.

      You should do whatever you think's going to increase the chances of the subscribers expecting, awaiting, opening and reading your subsequent emails.

      For example, one way (not always the best way, but one possible way) to do that is by giving them "two thirds of the story" and announcing openly that the remaining part is coming up by email in a few days' time.

      Originally Posted by canyon View Post

      I was thinking of making it about.. 5-6 pages long.
      Sounds good to me, in principle.

      Originally Posted by canyon View Post

      But I could make it longer if I include some relevant pics.
      You can ... this depends who your customers are. I think most of mine don't want pictures. And it's easier not to have to, of course, because it avoids the problem of "where to get them"!

      Originally Posted by canyon View Post

      I was recommended not use short forms(can't , don't etc) in the articles or other content that I publish. Really?!
      Noooooooo ... really NOT.

      That's terrible advice.

      You should always use vernacular contractions ("don't", not "do not"; "can't", not "cannot", "you'll", not "you will"). I can write a really long-winded answer about this question, if you want it, but this is just a black and white issue, to me. Make it as easy to read and as conversational as possible!
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        I was recommended not use short forms(can't , don't etc) in the articles or other content that I publish. Really?!
        Noooooooo ... really NOT.

        That's terrible advice.

        You should always use vernacular contractions ("don't", not "do not"; "can't", not "cannot", "you'll", not "you will"). I can write a really long-winded answer about this question, if you want it, but this is just a black and white issue, to me. Make it as easy to read and as conversational as possible!

        I tend to agree with Alexa on this, although I don't follow her advice when I write.

        Most of the time, I use the long version of the words (do not, should not, would not), but that is a personal preference for writing style.

        The reality is that we should probably use the contractions, because as copy writers have tested and proven, people respond better to the more conversational and personalized contraction.
        Signature
        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author fxstay
    at least 3 article but other things are important not just article
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  • Profile picture of the author samurairey
    Thanks I also need a good answer and explanation. Great to know as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      If you are using the directories to start the search for syndicators, you likely don't need a cache of articles before you start building. If you are looking for syndicators to opt in for more content once they reach your site (even after direct contact), 5-20 is what I've heard recommended. I'd have 5-10 available, in case that new partner wants multiple articles at once.

      As a syndicator myself, I do check the landing pages authors link to. And I have rejected articles because of the landing pages. On a positive note, getting that big green '+' on my checklist isn't that hard.

      If it's a simple offer or opt-in page, make it clear what the actual offer is. Have a neat, organized layout. Use decent language - contractions like it's for 'it is' or 'it has' are fine, but I don't like when copy sounds like a word-for-word transcript of actual conversation. In other words, sound like you are talking to a friend, only with a little bit of polish.

      The article itself is the most important thing, but attention to the details counts, too.
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