3 Things You Must Do Before You Submit To Article Directories

This article provides guidance to both writers and non-writers about leveraging article marketing as an effective tool for online promotion. It stresses the importance of producing quality content while avoiding common mistakes that hinder the success of article marketing. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

 

1. Confusing the Purpose of Writing vs. Promoting Articles

  • Mistake: Many people confuse the reason for writing articles with the reason for promoting them. The primary goal of writing an article should be to inform and provide value to the reader. If the article fails to serve this purpose, it won’t be effective in driving traffic or generating leads.
  • Solution: Focus on creating high-quality, informative content first. Only after that can you use it for branding, lead generation, and promotion. If the article isn’t valuable to the reader, no one will engage with it, and your promotional efforts will fail.

 

2. Failing to Maximize Promotional Opportunities

  • Mistake: Many writers only use article marketing to generate backlinks to their website, missing out on additional benefits.
  • Solution: You can strategically place keywords within your article to improve search engine rankings. However, be careful not to overuse them. Some directories also allow the use of anchor texts, which can boost visibility, although not all platforms support this.
  • Additionally, it’s crucial to write high-quality articles that will be picked up by publishers with large audiences. By doing so, you’ll gain more exposure and potentially leverage partnerships with other brands. Articles that rank well in search engines are also beneficial for long-term traffic and visibility.
  • Plan your articles carefully, ensuring they fulfill your intended purpose—whether it’s driving traffic, promoting your brand, or generating leads.

 

3. Publishing Content That Doesn’t Help the Reader

  • Mistake: Writers sometimes focus solely on getting links back to their site, without considering whether their content actually provides value to the reader.
  • Solution: Article directories and publishers have submission guidelines and quality standards. You can increase your article’s reach by writing content that aligns with these guidelines and provides real value to readers. By writing articles that publishers are eager to share with their audience, you can significantly boost your exposure.
  • Adhering to standard guidelines, proofreading for errors, and researching good topics will increase your chances of acceptance. Hiring a professional writer to help ensure quality can also be a good investment.
  • Ultimately, the choice is yours: you can choose basic exposure through backlinks or put in extra effort for high-quality content that yields massive exposure from publishers and large audiences.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Write for the Reader: The primary goal of article writing is to inform and engage your audience. Once that’s achieved, you can leverage the content for branding and promotion.
  • Leverage Keywords and Anchor Text: Be strategic with keyword placement to help improve search rankings and drive traffic. Also, focus on writing quality content that will be picked up by publishers.
  • Follow Guidelines: Respect submission guidelines and write articles that offer real value to your readers. This increases the likelihood of your articles being shared and published by major platforms.

 

In conclusion, article marketing can be highly effective, but success lies in creating valuable, informative content that resonates with your audience. By focusing on quality and aligning your content with what publishers and directories seek, you’ll gain more exposure and better results from your article marketing efforts.