Writing For Article Directories Vs. Guest Posting What Gives You More Back In The End?
Monday, December 5th, 2011 at
2:07 pm
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Filed under: Article Marketing • Guest Posts
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Hi Sylviane, first of all I’d like to thank you for writing this guest post for my readers and I to enjoy.
You’ve certainly got me think here Sylviane. For sometime I have wondered why some of the articles were ever written for the article directories. Whilst some are very good there are a far greater number that are extremely poor.
It’s no wonder EzineArticles tightened their rules a short time ago. Many of the articles I have read there have really left me wondering why I should bother.
I have recently started submitting articles again but after reading your post I’m thinking along the lines of guest posting.
I have done so twice, guest posting, and on both occasions had a better responce that I have from my articles…. Maybe that’s telling me something
One difference is that people may find guest posting time consuming as we need to be available to reply to comments where as articles are written, submitted and left alone whilst we get on with the next ones. Of course on the flip side of this is the interaction with other bloggers where we are able to start building the all important relationships with like minded people, which is always a HUGE plus.
Thanks again for submitting your guest post Sylviane, you’ve certainly got me thinking
Respect and Regards,
Barry
Barry Wells recently posted..Triple Blog Traffic
Twitter: sylviane101
First off thank you Barry for the opportunity
Yes, I totally agree with you. Some articles on directories are so ridiculously bad, it’s unbelievable. Now most directories have become a bit more ridge, however, but there are still low quality articles out there.
I wrote this post, because, I’ve spend years and about a couple of thousands articles on article directories and to me it’s not worth it to concentrate only on that anymore.
I should have spend more time on guest blogging which to me brings way more rewards. However, for those who don’t want to write quality content, guest blogging would be tough, because, guest blogging requires way better quality content. Now doubt.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: therocketrider
I do quite a bit of guest blogging, however have realized there are better writers out there than I & have out sourced the actual writing to a a couple of writers, who can put my thoughts onto paper better than I can. However, I spend as much time creating the specs for the article than a lot of writers would do for the actual article, so in essence it is actually “me”!
I haven’t bothered with articles/directories for years
Bruce recently posted..Guest Articles – Accept them or not?
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Bruce,
Outsourcing is one solution, however, if you want to improve your writing and write yourself, you can do that too. As I always say, no one was born with all the writing skills. Most of them had to be learned. When I read old articles of mine, I am pulling my hair ?
I understand that you’ve got tired of article marketing. I’ve been writing so much for them for relatively little rewards, considering.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: desdrec
Congrats on your guest post Sylviane.
I had quite a few articles published at Ezinearticles and was hit quite badly when Google did their last updates.
You’ve got far more control with a guest post, and you’ve got a nice targeted audience willing to read what you’ve written.
Yep, guest posting may be time consuming. I think it’s worth it though.
Des recently posted..Using Download Helper To Increase Your Learning Time
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Des,
Yes, indeed,lots of people have been hurt when Google slammed on Ezinearticles. Well, they had a lot of junk in their directory and they should have been more careful. Unfortunately not only they, but their guests paid the price.
Guest posting certainly offers a much better and focused audience and it’s worth the extra effort.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: pumbles
Hi Sylviane,
When I first began my online marketing life, I decided to create an article directory. (That was the first mistake of many I have made)Anyway, articles were coming through from some of these article distribution softwares, and the majority had been tampered with by the ubiquitous article spinner.
What may have been a perfectly reasonable piece of work had been, literally, destroyed. There is no wonder that Google Panda changed the rules. I doubt that the major article sites had too many spun articles, but many of the smaller sites had.
Once again. a great business resource almost destroyed by greed and short-sightedness.
I think that now article sites are good for gathering ideas, but for your blog to have any impact you really need fresh, and totally original content. Rewriting someone else’s article is neither fresh nor original.
Phew, glad to get that one off my chest
Once my blog becomes ore established I will open it up to guest bloggers, and offer my services likewise, with, of course, all fresh content,
Barry
Barry Ranns recently posted..Beg, Steal Or Borrow! What?
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Barry,
How interesting to hear that you’ve started an article directory. I almost did myself too about a year ago or so, but I’ve learned to listen to my little voice inside which is pretty loud in my case and because of it I didn’t do it ?
Yes, big article directories have more power and money and they most definitely refuse any spun articles, however, the smaller ones as you say are getting all those horrific spun articles that are sometimes barely understandable for the human eyes.
I have people asking me just about on a weekly basis what kind of spinner I use to which I answer NONE!!! I which people would put that idea of using spinners away forever!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: adriennesmith40
It’s great to see you Sylviane over here at Barry’s place. Welcome and what a great job you did too.
I use to write a lot of articles and although I did receive a lot of traffic to my blog from those articles, the other benefit to them is being linked back to your blog from a PR6 site. Yep, Google loves that so that’s one huge benefit. But as you pointed out, it can be terribly time consuming.
I’ve only written a three guest posts so far and I have received some new traffic from it I will admit. I think people are just curious about you and want to see what you are all about. It can be extremely helpful with the views to your blog and of course those wonderful comments because hopefully they can’t help but stick around and read a few of your posts. They can be time consuming too though because I find myself much harder on me when I’m writing for someone else.
Appreciate you clearing that up about the difference between these two. I’m sure others aren’t quite sure but they certainly are now.
Great seeing you and hope you both have a wonderful day!
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Why You Need A Bulletproof Mindset To Succeed
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Adrienne,
We see a lot of each other this days, and it’s thanks to Barry that I met you ? I love what you do.
Of course article marketing is great for back-links and I still use article marketing mostly for this reason. As for the traffic that a directory article will bring is a hit or miss. You just never really know. I am glad to hear that you’ve got success with it, though!
Guest blogging is time consuming, no doubt. I usually review my guest posts for three days before I submit them and then sometimes you get a polite “NO” ? But, no waste, though, I use the article for something else or my own blogs when it’s the case.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
I am not a writer at all as you know, Sylviane, but I have you to write all my articles, press releases and blog posts for me. And you are doing a great job. Congratulation on your guest post here!
Twitter: sylviane101
Thanks Anthony, it’s so easy to write for you. Any time! Thanks for passing by over here on Barry’s blog!
Twitter: bryanmch
Hi Sylviane,
Great to meet you here on Barry’s blog.
I have avoided …. at least put off …. writing articles as I don’t feel I have the required skill yet.
I have read some of the article provided by the directories and they are a lot to be desired.
Thanks for sharing this post here …
Cheers
Bryan
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Bryan,
I am sure you can learn how to write. Usually people who think they can’t are just making it harder than it really is (in their head). Also, the best remedy for this is practice
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: LogAllot
Great post Sylviane! I remember years ago, that was all the rage to write for Ezine and other directories. I didn’t give it much thought and only wrote 1 article. Writing for another blog, cements the relationship you have built with a particular blogger and the trust behind it is priceless.
Plus you get to connect with their readers and introduce yourself as well. That is something you can’t buy and no directory is going to deliver readers like that.
Sonia recently posted..How To Track, Analyze and Peek On Your Visitors In Real Time
Twitter: sylviane101
Totally AMEN to that Sonia
That’s exactely why I am concentrating more on guest posting then article writing now. In just a few months I made more connections doing just that then I did in 5 years of writing articles on directories.
Nice meeting you, by the way
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: LogAllot
Same to you! Sylviane, I like the way you write. If you ever want to guest on my blog, let me know!
Sonia recently posted..Why What You Were Taught About Life Is Wrong (And How To Fix It)
Twitter: sylviane101
Thank you for the invitation. Sure would be interested
I do not write only about writing and internet marketing. I write about all kind of self-development subjects, the mind, the law of attraction, travel, cooking, authors, and many other things.
I just love to write
I’ll take you up on your invitation.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: IMRelations
Thanks for the great breakdown. I was a bit nervous about guest posting myself when I first started. However, I have found that it is much more lucrative for the time invested. I get a lot of traffic, sign ups for my email list and even sales from guest posting.
Article directories just don’t give you the same bang for the buck. Although you do have to spend more time on each post answering comments, I find that I still get more benefit, and spend less time.
Honestly, when I was doing article directory submissions, I would have to do 10 articles to get the same benefit of 1 guest post, so you are still spending the time, just on different tasks.
James recently posted..The Simple Trick to Curating Specific Posts On Your Blog
Twitter: sylviane101
Sorry, the comment below was my reply. Hit the wrong button I guess!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: sylviane101
Yes, that’s right James. There is no such thing as something for nothing, so at some point we are going to have to give, somehow, somewhere.
As you are saying it takes more articles to get the same results as just one or two posts. On the other hand, we can’t afford to ignore the post once it’s published. We need to answer all those comments. But, I personally love it
Thanks for passing by
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: IncomeMC
First I must say this is well written indeed. Every point here is valid. I agree that guest posting beats article writing on most points.
However, there is an angle I think you left out. Now, I’ve done article marketing before I started blogging and since I’ve started blogging I’ve done a few blog posts. I want to say that in comparing the two, we should look at them from different angles. The truth is that guest blogging is good for bloggers in that you have people who are interested in the same niche at your finger tips.
But I must say that most of the traffic from blogs are nothing but other bloggers looking for a reciprocal link or comment. Most times they are not potential customers.
Submitting an article to an article directory on the other hand places your article before a much wider readership most of whom are looking for solutions to their ills. Besides, if you decide to set your articles apart by writing nothing well optimized and content rich articles, your article may get picked up by ezine publishers further spreading the reach of the article. This is not possible with guest blogging since the blog owner restrict that article from being published any where else.
Internet marketers don’t guest blog because they can’t write well enough? No, no, no! As I’ve just said above, I think they know what pays them more. I know bloggers can afford to labor on their blogs for months without making nothing, since they just love blogging but internet marketers are always going for the cash. May be your second idea is correct, that is they don’t want to write for a blog that is their own. And I must say, it is for the same money. Every content they put out is for the purpose of making some money.
I’ve tested the two, and I must say the choice is dependent on what you want to accomplish.
Chadrack recently posted..Theodore Roosevelt on Success and How to Stand Out In Life!
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Chadrack,
I totally agree with you Chadrack, don’t forget that I am also an internet marketer with a couple of thousands articles on I don’t know how many directories out there:)
However, this said, I can’t say that I’ve been rewarded according to my work and exposure out there, so I decided to start a new approch and concentrating more on my blogs now, while I still post articles out there, but at a much lower pace.
Yes, bloggers themselves might not be costumers in many cases, but again some are and they help you to be in front of a wider crowed that are two.
That is how many bloggers do make their money. So, there is no right or wrong, it both works for different people.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..What Is The Difference Between An Article And A Blog Post?
Twitter: stevescott1
Sylviane,
First off, I do not guest post much at all. It is constantly “on my list” but I never seem to get around to it. I do the occasional article directory post, because like you said, they can be done a lot quicker.
(If I guest post I want it to be a killer article I am proud of…and of course replying to comments etc. also takes up time)
But all that being said, I absolutely agree that on a strait this or that scale… guest posting is far more valuable than article directories. I believe their is a place for both. But if you write a kick butt article and are going to place it somewhere other than your own site…it should be a guest post.
Steve recently posted..How to Increase Your Google Website Traffic by 30.01% [Traffic and Conversion #3]
Twitter: sylviane101
I agree with you Steve, if you are going to post an article on someone else’ blog it needs to be very good, or so I hope in my case
I have tons of articles on directories as well and some are very long and very good too because I had a purpose in doing so.
Few hundreds of such articles have been republished from directories to samller blogs with my credits intact, so,that’s no problem with me. I also have had my content stolen a couple of times (that I know of):) where my content was attibuted to someone else and each time I reported the thief and got the article taken off.
The point is… content online sometimes takes a life of its own and there is little you can do. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s not so good, but it’s all well in the end. When I Google my name I am all over the place just because of all those articles
Thanks for passing by, Steve! I’ll check out your blog
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..The 3 Most Important Factors Of Persuasive Writing
Twitter: ExtremeJohn
Guest posting and article directory posting both have their advantages as is presented here. But i really do think guest posting is way much better than writing in article directories. One thing that I like about it is the interaction from readers that it could get and when there are interactions going on, we build stronger relationships as co-bloggers and readers just like how this guest post built strong rapport from its readers.
Extreme John recently posted..Business Blitz: 6 Common SEO Mistakes On Small Business Websites
Twitter: sylviane101
Yes, that is right. Even thought I still see the advantages of posting an article on directories which tends to attract more direct customers, if I had to choose only one way, today, I would definitely go with guest posting.
However, I still use both, but I don’t use directories as much as I used to.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..What Is The Difference Between An Article And A Blog Post?
Twitter: bobandrosemary
Hi Sylviane… I really enjoyed your guest post on Barry’s blog. It was quite timely for me.
Your points are well taken. I do believe that you get much more out of guest posting than submitting articles to directories. The reason, as you stated lies in the relationships you can build, not just with the new readers who may have read your articles for the first time, but also with the other blog owners who are potential collaborators or JV partners.
Great post, well written. And thanks to Barry for having you guest post on his blog!
Dr. Bob Clarke recently posted..How To Get Over The Fear of Writing Guest Posts
Twitter: sylviane101
Thanks for passing by Dr. Bob Clarke! I see that your last post is very relevant to mine and here goes one more blog that I am on my way to go visit.
sylviane Nuccio recently posted..What Is The Difference Between An Article And A Blog Post?
Twitter: danielsumner
Hey Sylviane, I have written quite a few articles and used article submission software as well. I personally think I hurt the sites I was linking back to due the low quality sites involved in the distribution list. I still get spam emails now from some article sites with a lower PR rating than my own.
I still stick with Ezine Articles and Go Articles, but have toned my efforts down as I find writing articles no fun at all. If I do write a nice article I would rather put it on my blog. I know I’m losing a back link but that not what it’s all about is it?
I haven’t guest posted for a while (long overdue). Although I was speaking to Kim Roach a while ago and she told me that she has seen awesome results from guest blogging so I’m in your corner with this one Sylviane.
Dan
Twitter: sylviane101
Hello Dan,
Yes, some of those submission software linking to pure garbage of the internet can hurt our site more than helping it. The best and sure way is to write yourself and on good directories as the ones you mention above.
Writing has never been a problem for me, just love it
However, I know that it’s not for everyone.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..What Is The Difference Between An Article And A Blog Post?
Twitter: deeannrice
Sylviane,
I had never knew the difference be writing an article for an article directory and writing guest post.
Your post really defines the difference well and makes it really easy to understand. Thank you
I have written a few articles and know that it will help with traffic to my blog and also ranking.
I have never written a guest post. I think I am in that category of “I am not sure I am a good enough writer to write a guest post.” I am not sure if that is true or not, I tend to be a perfectionist and pretty critical of myself.
This has made me think about writing articles and guest posts in a new way.
Thanks for the information and have a very Merry Christmas.
Dee Ann Rice
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Merry Christmas
Twitter: sylviane101
Hi Dee Ann,
Nice meeting you here! A see a lot of people who “think” that they are not good enough to write either for article directories or as blog guest. The truth is, most of us would be and are.
What don’t you try sometimes? I do accept guess posts on my blogs as well. I have several blogs with various subjects, you can check it out if you want
Thanks for passing by.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Five Golden Rules To Leave Blog Comments That Will Benefit You And Your Site
Twitter: hajraks
Hey Sylviane,
This is such an informative post. Though I have indulged in guest posting, I haven’t tried article directories as yet. Guest posting has bought me a lot of benefits. But there a lot of things that needs to be kept in mind if you trying to target a whole lot of audience back to your own site.
Making sure your niche is similar to the niche where you are guest posting is quite an important feature that needs to be kept in mind. I mean, your readers like your article where you were the guest, but when they come back to your blog, they might be in for a surprise.
Like for me, I have a personal blog but I do guest post about social media because I am part of a blog that concerns blogging. But I make sure I do guest posts which relate to my blog’s niche too.
This is quite informative! Thanks Barry for linking me to such a valuable post!
Hope you all have a great day!
Hajra recently posted..Will they call you over for a bloggers party?
Hi Hajra,
Thanks for popping over
It’s a great post isn’t it…. Sylviane covered the topic very well and when you think this post has generated her 7 more invites to guest post on other blogs it kind of drives home her point.
You make a very good point about making sure we post on those within our niche so as to keep the audience entertained when they arrive.
I know that Sylviane will come over and reply to you in person Hajra, she’s that kind of person
Glad you enjoyed the post, I had a feeling you would Hajra.
Catch you up soon,
Take care,
Barry
Barry recently posted..Developing Alliances and Friendships With Other Bloggers
Twitter: learn_to_blog
I totally agree, Sylviane. Guest posts on blogs always bring me so much more traffic than articles. I imagine one reason is that article writing has been advocated for so long, whereas guest posting is something not many people consider doing. At the end of the day you have to source a blog that will accept your post, then write something the owner feels is right for them to print. It is so much more difficult than writing an article that can be shorter and about anything you choose.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Twitter: alexandra_cath
Hi Sylviane,
You’ve outlined some fantastic points here about Guest Blogging. I love the checklists you’ve made here, that’s very helpful!
I actually am pretty new to the Guest Blogging scene and have found it to be profoundly powerful in terms of generating new traffic and providing a B12 shot in the arm.
Way to knock it out of the park on this post!
Cat Alexandra
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