Are articles worthwhile?

[PhiltheBear]

I've always done OK with the tactics I've used to get my sites ranked in Google, etc but I keep getting told that I should be using articles.

Now, is that because a) backlinks get created from the site that holds the article, b) backlinks get created when someone uses the article in a newsletter/on a webpage or c) because people read the article and click the link?

I'm dubious about the amount of effort it would seem to take. I've noticed someone here keeps plugging the idea of writing an article for $10 (or thereabouts) and shoving it onto 5700 sites. Does having the same article on that many sites really give any benefit?

I'd be interested in your experiences - good or bad.

 

[matapples01]

Now, is that because a) backlinks get created from the site that holds the article, b) backlinks get created when someone uses the article in a newsletter/on a webpage or c) because people read the article and click the link?

Yes, Yes and Yes. Article marketing is about the backlinks. If you write great content, you'll get some clicks too but, good or bad, you'll get the backlinks.

With people auto-populating sites with RSS feeds and other scraper-type technologies that just "borrow" content at the article type sites, your articles with your backlinks will continue to grow over time as well.

Alphabeta on this board seems to have a pretty fair price for what she's offering since it's creation AND distribution.

 

[PhiltheBear]

With people auto-populating sites with RSS feeds and other scraper-type technologies that just "borrow" content at the article type sites, your articles with your backlinks will continue to grow over time as well.

And there's the rub - as we all know about rewriting articles - surely your risk of loss by others ripping you off, republishing without your link but with your content means that your links get downgraded?

I'm still confused by the idea that submitting the same article to thousands of sites won't result in a hefty Google penalty.

 

[matapples01]

And there's the rub - as we all know about rewriting articles - surely your risk of loss by others ripping you off, republishing without your link but with your content means that your links get downgraded?

I'm still confused by the idea that submitting the same article to thousands of sites won't result in a hefty Google penalty.

People get too wrapped up around the duplicate content "penalty". A site with the same content as another site may not get REWARDED as much as the other site but they won't get penalized...the Internet IS duplicate content. If you're worried about if affecting your own site, you just need to have 2 sets of content...one for YOUR site and the other for distribution. With the distribution content, you want to encourage them to use your content. Again, article distributon is all about backlink volume...end of story. You can work on building the weight of that backlink later with bookmarking, pinging...etc.

Hell, you can create your own feed to get even more links out there. Grab a bunch of PLR, insert your backlinks, convert it to RSS and submit it to RSS sites. Then just wait for people to come and use your content with your links in it.

As far as people republishing without your link, it doesn't happen as much as you'd think. Most of the RSS and scraper technology is automated to the point where it's a manual effort to go in and remove your links. The whole point is automation and it's just too much work for them to go in and edit everything. They'll add their links in there too, or the sidebar...etc. but yours will typically remain. It's not 100% but c'est la vie.

 

[a0rta]

Yes, Yes and Yes. Article marketing is about the backlinks. If you write great content, you'll get some clicks too but, good or bad, you'll get the backlinks.

I have a lot of problem in some of my niches with people taking my articles and just dumping the link

What is there to do? No point in writing a lot of articles if one can't get the link credit for it.

 

[PhiltheBear]

As far as people republishing without your link, it doesn't happen as much as you'd think.

I have a lot of problem in some of my niches with people taking my articles and just dumping the link

There seems to be a discrepancy here....

People get too wrapped up around the duplicate content "penalty". A site with the same content as another site may not get REWARDED as much as the other site but they won't get penalized

That goes against everything I've ever heard about Google rankings and it seems to be the reason why so many people try and produce 200 versions of the same article. If you don't get penalized, why bother?

 

[justmeron]

I would think that you could write or spin an article that isn't duplicated on your site. The article itself may not give as much link juice to your site if it duplicated as it would original. But neverthe less it is a one way link. So I see your point about not being worth investing a lot of time. But if you get a few articles and a article submitter I think it could help add up for your main sites PR and search engine ranking. So yes, overall I would say it is worth it especially if you are targeting hard to rank key words.

 

[jammie]

phil, look for "art*meis pro" (remove *) on here, and harro has a backlink guide. on page 2 of the guide there are over 1400+ directories to plug into the program.

Write your article, submit it using that, and theres alot of exposure right there!

Since i've relaxed on forex abit, i've been getting a general IM overview and would def. look into this. Works v. well with CPA stuff i've been told. Want to start but alas, no site as of yet! I will get round to making one though!

 

[scb335]

To me, using articles is all about "automation & backlinks". I do it in an assembly line manner with a mass-production mentality.

From creating the articles, to submitting them and then going beyond by tapping the RSS feeds article directories give to author's to rss directories.

I use my own software for spinning, most programs suck at it. P0wer 4rticle Rewriter is the closest to what my own does so you could give that a try since I think there is a full-functions free trial version of it. About 10 minutes turns 1 article into 50 that are all 30% to 50% unique which is more than enough to pass any filters in my experience.

Then use an automated submission software (there's tons) to send your new articles out to directories. Maybe take a couple minutes to manually use some of those spun pieces for a Squid00 lens or HubPage too for authority...

Then use an rss submission software (I like R$$ $ubmit myself) that submits (not pinging) feeds to rss directories and start collecting your author's rss feed URL's from the article directories and running them through the software. It creates links to your articles which link to your sales pages... instant link funneling.

Start to finish you can get this all down to under an hour once you have tools you like and a system in place, and the result is a giant funnel of links that all eventually lead down to your site. Plus there's usually a little initial traffic boost from all the articles too when I do this.

That's how I view and approach articles.

 

[jammie]

scb, thats a great post! didn't think of using a rewriter or the r55 stuff, will def. implement them in my next campaign!

.. once i get a website >.<!!

 

[matapples01]

There seems to be a discrepancy here....



That goes against everything I've ever heard about Google rankings and it seems to be the reason why so many people try and produce 200 versions of the same article. If you don't get penalized, why bother?

Like I said...not 100% It will happen but it's a small price to pay for the backlinks from the people who don't strip them out. I just put out mediocre content for distribution and don't worry about it

People spin 200 versions for articles because they

1. Want to use them on their own site-G WILL penalize you for duplicate content WITHIN a site, not for dupe content on the Net as a whole. Otherwise people would create 10,000 page site with one duplicated page of keword jammed content

2. Want to submit another article for distribution without having to create a new one. If you really learn to spin articles well, you can spend a little more time on 1 article, spin it X number of times and just keep distributing the spun versions as "new" until the cows come home.

 

[matapples01]

scb, thats a great post! didn't think of using a rewriter or the r55 stuff, will def. implement them in my next campaign!

.. once i get a website >.<!!

Like scb said, you can use some of the spun articles as content for squidoo, hubpages or blogger blogs...all free. You can also distribute the articles and have the article resource box backlinks point back to squidoo, hubpages or blogger blogs where you have adsense, clickbank or aff links as well. Having a website is helpful but not an absoute necessity.

 

[jammie]

ahhh! thats another peice of the "free money pie" just gone down my throat.

I know alot of techniques to get money once you have some to spend on some resources (domain, hosting etc.), but making money from absolutely nothing is completely different.

I mean, i have enough money to start a website and stuff if i needed too, but i keep "real life" and "IM" life seperate. Once i get some money from nothing and i can buy hosting with it, it'll get alot easier.

Guess its just the fear of wasting the money when it could of been better spent in my car or something. I know 99.9% sure i'll get it back pretty quick (not really hard to earn $45 with a website!) but if i don't spend anything i know i won't loose anything!

Bad logic, but it keeps me from wasting loadsa money on cr4p when theres plenty of good stuff available here!

I'll have a play with blogger in the morning with a few content generators & some article stuff and use adsense. Run a few articles and see what the count is in a months time. Anything over 2 dollars would do me fine (Climbing the ladder is easy once you get on it ;].)

 

[scb335]

bobfrapples is right on, start with a lens or hub if you need to. I usualy do this when I enter a new market that I haven't been in before because it's a free way to test the market. Make 1 of these Web 2.0 sites your money page, then use the others and articles to boost that money page. If it's a good market and you're making bank you can always add your own niche site later and point the original money page to it.

 

[jammie]

thats a really good idea. I've wanted to test 3/4/5 niches i came up with today.

Really, today i've learnt more just by drilling people and eating away at every bit of information i'm given, than i have in months of searching. For some reason, everything just makes sense now - the techniques to use, ways to do everything better etc.

To be honest, its because i've looked for months day in day out in the "making money" forum, when all the answers have been right here in WH & BH SEO!

I have some ways to drive some huge traffic (i hope!) to some sites, so if i make a lense/hub i'll drive everything there. Assuming there'll be some form of widget to monitor traffic? or will i have to use a basic counter?

And to think i was going to go in to some niches with all guns blazing, buy & design 4 websites, try to monetize them all at once etc. just 24 hours ago. Why use guns when we can use bombs 'eh!

You are all livesavers in disguise.

 

[matapples01]

Assuming there'll be some form of widget to monitor traffic? or will i have to use a basic counter?

If you use any sort of affiliate program links or banners on your lenses or blogger pages you can check the reports at your affiliate company. It will show you impressions, clicks, click through rate...etc.

 

[jammie]

ahh yeah, sorry, mind totally blanked! its almost 2am cos i'm franticly scribbling everything down to make sure everything is sorted for when i wake up and i can get working on it.

You two are legends!

 

[PhiltheBear]

phil, look for "art*meis pro" (remove *) on here, and harro has a backlink guide. on page 2 of the guide there are over 1400+ directories to plug into the program.

OK - got hold of Art*emis - and that's fine as it goes but a) I have no idea where it's posting to on its internal list and b) the stuff in that HaRRo thread gives a list of websites - not email addresses.

Or am I missing something?

I'm quite prepared to give this a go and see what the results are. Because I'd do it for an established site the increase in traffic (if any) should be easily quantifiable.

BTW - Thanks to you all for joining in and adding your expertise.