If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

With the easy tie-in of technology and social marketing, two worlds have collided. Does your article submission and distribution service leverage this brave new world?

Back in the good old days of article marketing, a site owner simply wrote a bunch of articles, posted them to her favorite article submission service, and waited for the traffic to role in. Because article distribution was relatively new on the scene, most keyword phrases had little competition, and it was fairly easy to nail the top spot in Google.

Article marketing, especially when you use a solid article distribution service, is still a great strategy. It’s a key part of a comprehensive strategy that will build exposure. What’s new is the social tie-in.

Article Distribution and Social Media

If you use an article submission and distribution service, you can leverage that to make more inroads in the social sphere. After your article is distributed, be sure to send it out through your Twitter feed, update your blog and post it in your LinkedIn status.

A good article distribution service will make this easy for you, with quick links from your author account to Twitter and other social outlets. If not, check out a social site like Ping.fm, which lets you update all your profiles with one post.

Either way, be sure to maximize your exposure from each article you submit. While the exposure you get from your article distribution service is irreplaceable, it can be leveraged with a few simple clicks to reach even more audiences.

After The Article, Then What?

Internet marketers fall prey to a common syndrome: I call it post and go. They will post an article, then send it out through their social networks. All well and good, but what’s truly the value in simply pushing your content out there?

If you use the social sphere to push your content, you have to give something back. Use that social network to engage other users, re-tweet interesting ideas, and generally participate in the discussion. You’ll get back as much as you give.

To recap, use your article distribution service to get your articles into the world. And, if they offer it, take advantage of your service’s social media tie-ins. Then use the social sphere to engage your new market and grow your prospects. It’s the new face of article and content distribution.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His Professional Writing Service provides quality content for article marketing automation programs.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Do a quick search on “article submission service” or “article distribution service” and you’ll find a lot of choices. You’ve made a good call deciding to go with an automated service. Just make sure it’s got the features and technology you need. The last thing you want is any nasty surprises.

How Big Is Their Distribution List?

Many article submission services promise “wide distribution,” and a lot of them do deliver. How do you know if yours does? Check their publisher list before you buy. Make sure they tell you all the places your article might be distributed. Keep in mind, not all publishers accept all categories of articles. Still, be sure the list is healthy and includes places like GoArticles.com and other big article sites.

Where Was Your Article Sent?

Once the article distribution service sends out your piece, make sure you can get a quick report on where it was sent. This is key, guys. Some companies will claim to do submission to a ton of article sites; that’s fine, as long as they can prove it. Ask for a distribution report; if they can’t give it to you, go elsewhere.

What Is the Cost Per Article?

Most experts agree that to really knock it out of the park with article marketing, you need to send a solid, consistent stream of new content out into the world. So when you are signing on with an article submission service, be sure to check their policy on cost per article.

Many places charge a fee for each article distributed. Look for an article distribution service that offers unlimited articles for one price: this way you can market to your heart’s content and not worry about the cost.

Does It Tie In To Your Social Networks?

Social marketing has become mandatory these days for anyone looking to expose themselves to new markets. Does your article distribution service offer an easy way to link in to your own personal social networks?

Every time you distribute an article through your article submission service, make sure it gets to your Twitter account, Linked In profile, etc. Look for a forward thinking article submission site that makes this a one-click affair. It’s the evolution of content syndication, and if you’re article distribution service isn’t doing it, they are woefully behind the times.

To recap, make sure whatever article submission service you choose offers a transparent publisher list; article distribution reports; unlimited article submissions; and easy tie-ins to your social sphere. Oh, and don’t pay more than $40/month.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His Professional Writing Service provides quality content for article marketing automation programs.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Thanks to automation, search engine marketing with articles has become almost too easy. Still, some folks continue to work the old way, posting their article to submission sites by hand. Automate yourself! Choose an article distribution service that lets you input the article once, and distribute it far and wide.

Unlimited Article Submissions For One Set Price

Google is clear about this…new fresh relevant content is key to staying in the SERPS game. You can’t distribute one or two articles and expect to stay on the front page of your search term. You’ve got to continue to post new articles, two or three per week for each category you want to dominate. So look for an article submission and distribution service that offers unlimited articles for one price, not a “pay per article” deal.

Easy Tie-Ins to Your Social Networks

Old school article submission services work like this: they take your article and distribute it to their favorite article submission sites and publishers. You’ll get some results this way, for sure. Forward thinking article distribution companies know that you need to reach new markets in new ways…and those people live in your social networks.

Use an article distribution service that offers an easy tie-in to your Twitter account, Linked In profile…even RSS feeds. This broadens the exposure you’ll get, and puts your content in front of entirely new markets, for no additional cost.

Easy To Read Reports So You Can Track Results

The mantra for anyone who is serious about marketing is return on investment…what kind of results did I get from this effort? Make sure you can answer that question. Does your article submission service tell you where the articles were distributed? Do they give you an easy to read report so you can see the actual exposure you’re getting? If not, why not? Tracking results is key. Don’t neglect it.

Article Scheduling Lets You Set It and Forget It

The average knowledge worker switches tasks every three minutes, and, once distracted, a worker takes nearly a half-hour to resume the original task, according to Gloria Mark, a leader in the new field of “interruption science.”

The solution? Do as much as you can in one sitting. This goes for your article submissions as well. Write up a bunch of articles, and then input them all at once. Schedule them go out over time, using your article distribution service’s auto-pilot or scheduling feature.

Your service doesn’t offer this? Time to shop around. Consider the huge cost of switching tasks and the fee for a good service easily pays for itself time and again.

In summary, use the automation that is already available for your article marketing efforts. Choose an article submission and distribution service that allows unlimited articles, social network tie-ins, complete reports, and article scheduling. Anything less and you’re just doing drudge work.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His Professional Writing Service provides quality content for article marketing automation programs.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”

Article marketing has evolved in a powerful social marketing tool. Beyond traditional article sites and content publishers, articles are now making their presence known in the social sphere. Is your article distribution service a social butterfly? Here’s how to make the most of your article submissions with the least amount of manual work.

Get Seamless Socializing from Your Article Distribution Service

After submitting an article, automated distribution begins. Your article makes the usual rounds to all the big article sites, online publishers, niche industry blogs, and news groups. That’s a great start. And it’s not enough anymore.

Forward-thinking article distribution services have recognized that social networks are opening up entirely new markets to article authors. With more and more web users using Twitter as a mini-search engine, it’s imperative that your content be easily available to the Tweeting crowd.

LinkedIn is another networking site that is gaining a lot of traction in the social sphere. With more than 50 million users, LinkedIn offers a great opportunity to reach new markets through groups and connections. Updating your profile there with good informative content will quickly help build your reputation there.

The most up-to-date article submission sites will make it easy for you to send your articles out to your social networks. With a click or two, you’ll be able to Tweet your article, send it to update your LinkedIn status, and even purchase premium placement at the big name article directories.

Not Social Yet? Consider Your Options

If your article distribution service doesn’t offer this easy tie in, you can do it yourself. Every time you distribute an article, just take the URL, shorten it, Tweet it and update your profiles. It will take some time to do this manually. Or, consider going with an article distribution service that has this built in. Save some time, and gain a ton of leveraged exposure with each article.

Don’t Stop With the Push

If you do send your articles out into the world as your social messengers, be ready to join in the conversation you’ve started. If someone re-tweets your article, and it gets some comments, talk back. Join in. Add insight, talk to people. In other words, be social!

It’s like going to a party and handing out business cards. If you don’t take the time to speak the people you are handing them to, and get their cards back in return, what good is it? People want to do business with folks they know.

Use your article distribution service to gain entrance into the social sphere. Follow it up with real conversation. It’s a great win-win combination.

To your success,

Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a freelance consultant to internet marketers. His Professional Writing Service provides quality content for article marketing automation programs.

Follow Us on Twitter: ContentCrooner

“Crooner Rocks”