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.
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