Article Directories Aren't What They Used To Be

Since I write several unique articles every month I try to find the time to submit some of them to a few article directories because it's a great way to get some free traffic and links to your site. And because I use a tool to help me speed the submission process, I've been submitting my articles to the same directories.

Well tonight I thought I'd expand my horizons and add a few more directories to my list since I was going to be setting up my new Article Architect to assist me with the submission process. And because the search engines are always changing their algorithms I figured I'd see who they thought the best directories were.

You won't believe what I discovered while searching Google and Yahoo!

First, some of the oldest and largest article directories are not on the 1st page of either Google or Yahoo. In fact, they didn't make it onto the first 5 pages.

Second, some of the directories who are now on the first pages have very few features to assist those who are either searching for or submitting articles. They don't allow you to search for authors or keywords. Some don't even list all the authors if you try to find an author by going to their "Top Authors" page.

Third, most of the directories have very few articles when compared to the older directories who used to hold the top 10 positions on Google and Yahoo. In fact, 1 of the top 10 directories on Google has so few articles that when you go into their listings of articles on some high volume topics, like internet marketing, all you find is Adsense ads.

Forth, I couldn't find any of the authors I read regularly listed on any of the now higher ranked directories even though I knew they had recently submitted articles to the older directories.

Fifth, and the reason I am writing this post, at least 1 article directory listed on the 1st page of Yahoo states in their article submission guidelines that no affiliate links can be contained in the articles submitted. However, when I checked a couple of the articles, they had ContentAds with affiliate links embedded within them. I thought this was strange so I checked a couple more articles and discovered that different articles by different submitters contained the same affiliate link to 1 particular product.

Now I understand that certain types of sites are created strictly to get high volume traffic by offering a service and earn income by using ads but...

Putting your affiliate link in someone else's content is hitting below the belt!

I will admit that I didn't read the rules for using any of the articles on any of these sites however I know that the older directories I've used in the past state that the articles can be used only if they are not changed and must contain the authors byline. (In 1 of the directories I saw 1 article that didn't even include the author's byline but maybe the author forgot to use 1?)

Submitting articles is a good thing. And some of newer, small directories are legitimate directories and will grow and add more features to assist the users. And yes, getting into them at the beginning is good since you may easily gain top submitter status with just a few articles.

However tonight I didn't expand my list. I didn't even get my articles submitted to my old list. Instead, I wrote this post to warn you.

Article submitters beware. Don't just go to the first article directories listed by your favorite search engine and submit your work. Check out some of the authors and articles. Read the submission rules and the rules for those who may want to use your article. Don't be fooled into thinking that the search engines always know what they're doing and are listing the best directories first.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. If you agree or disagree with any of the content in this article please let me know by leaving a comment.

Article Architect

Jay Jennings latest product, Article Architect, became available to the general public today and now I can finally tell you about this amazing new product.

I got an early copy last week and decided to try it out since it was suppose to make writing articles easier.

You won't believer everything this product does!

First, it helps you research niche topics and find the best keywords.

Second, because you may working on more than 1 niche, it lets you create multiple projects so you can store everything for your niche topic in 1 of your projects.

Third, it helps you find online information for your topic and lets you save the addresses for those information sites within your project.

Fourth, it has a built in editor so you can write your article. This editor lets you select the keywords for your article and tells you the frequency for those keywords in your article.

Fifth, it has a built in wizard that will help you write an article title that gets attention.

Sixth, it has a built-in article submitter so you can speed up the process of submitting your articles to article directories.

Seventh, there's a video tutorial that demonstrates all the features available.

Since getting this tool, I've used it to write newsletter articles, ads and blog posts. In fact, I was so impressed with everything this tool does I even wrote a testimonial about it for 1 of Jay's blogs.

If you're writing articles to generate traffic or you're doing bum marketing, I can not recommend this tool highly enough because it helps you do everything you need to do and stores it all in 1 place. I personally have a few tools I use regularly to assist me with my business and, after using it for 1 week, Article Architect became the tool I used the most.

Writing articles for traffic and income just got a lot easier and faster with
Article Architect.

Check it out today and let me know how you like it.

To Your Success,
Susan

Tags: articles, ezine articles, traffic, writing for traffic, words into traffic, article traffic, keyword, search engine optimization, seo

Hot Vault Downloads

I've just taken a look inside "Hot Vault Downloads", a new giveaway that started April 18th, and there are a lot of good free products available inside the member area. I haven't gone through all 12 pages of gifts yet but can give you a hint of what's inside.

Within the first 3 pages I saw a tool I purchased just last week, "Simple Sales Copy." This is great tool for helping you come up with the words for a sales letter or ad because it includes professionally produced: Headline copy, Subheads, Openings, Bullets, Guarantees, Closes, PS’s, Similes, Copy Connectors And Power words. You simply select the components you want to use, add some basic information and press a button to create sales copy.

Going a few pages further into the giveaway I found Impact PopUps. This is a tool I've used several times on my own site since it's a great way to bring attention to something you don't want your readers to miss. When you use it, it looks like you have put a sticky note on your site.

And of course, if you go further into the giveaway pages you'll find my gift which I think is pretty good too. I won't tell you what it is but will say that I don't usually give it away since I get income from it every month.

Soooo, if you're looking for some free products and services you should go to Hot Vault Downloads, join and start downloading what you want - today.

To Your Success,
Susan

Tags: giveaways, free products

Easy Blog Traffic

Recently I made a $7 purchase of "Easy Blog Traffic" and it included the resale rights. However, I don't recommend you get this product and here's why:

• The product is written for WordPress bloggers so if you are using Blogger.com or any other blog service or software, most of the recommended plug-in won't work for you.
  


• The author highly recommends WordPress as the best blogging software (this may be true, I don't know) but has not kept current on the new features of any of the other blog services available. With the new version of Blogger, many of the features that did not work before, now do.
  


• The author freely admits that installing and using WordPress is not the easiest thing to do and even gave up trying for awhile. I guess he finally went back and tried again because he now points to his blog at: http://www.whoisandrewwee.com/. While his blog shows a good page rank, I am sorry to say that I found it too difficult to read to be of any value.
  


• All 6 ebooks contained in this package continually promote both his and another fellow blogger's products along with some recommended resources (affiliate links of course). After seeing his blog I wasn't convinced that any of his other products or recommendations were of much value.
  


• While he states several times that blogs on Blogger won't draw much traffic, he uses this blog to show the value of having a lot of traffic to make money selling advertising space:
  http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/
  


• 1 of the ebooks is a PDF version of Louis Allports Blog Traffic video ebook. While there is some good information in these videos, at least half of it will be of no use to the average blogger.
  


• The ebook "Blog Profit Machine" states that it has "The basics of blogging and setting up your blog, perfect for even the most clueless newbie." (Statement taken from the sales page.) While it does have some high level information about search engine optimization, writing content and traffic resources, it won't help anyone who doesn't know how to set up a blog. There are no instructions to assist in setting up the options on Blogger or to install WordPress.

I could go on and mention a few more reasons why I don't recommend this product however I hope the above 7 are enough to convince you to keep your money.

Now even though I don't think you should "buy" this product, I will give you my affiliate link. If you're not going to take my recommendation, I'll gladly take your money for Easy Blog Traffic. Also, if you are a member of the Prudent Resellers Book Club and can wait until next month for this product, you will be getting it free as a member. Then you can review this product too and add your comments to this review.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. There was 1 positive thing that came from reviewing this product and I'll freely share that piece of information with you. Post to your blog frequently and keep it interesting.

Feel free to make comments about this review or the product discussed.

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Do You Use Free Advertising?

Since all online marketers are looking for more traffic and most don't have an unlimited advertising budget, many use free forms of advertising.

To help each other out let's share what we think works the best.

If you use a free form of advertising that you would like to share with others please add a comment with your vote to this article and include a link to the free advertising source you are recommending.

If you do not use free advertising, please add a comment voting no and include a link to the advertising resource you think works the best.

Remember, this is to share places where we can all advertise. If you post a link to a site where we can not advertise or get traffic I will have to remove your vote. (Affiliate links for the advertising resources are allowed.)

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. If you see the advertising resource you wanted to recommend already listed, please go ahead and post your comment and link again. The more comments for a single resource means it must be really good. Right?