Article marketing can significantly boost your online presence by establishing you as an authority, driving targeted traffic, generating leads, expanding your email list, and increasing valuable backlinks. However, the sheer number of article directories can be overwhelming. A simple search can yield millions of results, making it difficult to identify high-quality platforms. Sorting through these options and manually assessing their quality is time-consuming and inefficient.
The quality of the directory matters. Search engines and readers judge you by the company you keep. Focus your efforts on a select group of reputable directories rather than spreading your content thinly across numerous low-quality sites. Prioritize consistent submissions to these core platforms to maximize your impact.
So, how do you identify these high-quality directories? When I began article marketing, I sought recommendations from experienced marketers. I gathered suggestions from relevant forums, quickly compiling a list of potential sites. To narrow down the list, I focused on directories recommended by multiple people. Then, I evaluated them based on specific criteria. Here are ten essential questions to consider when reviewing an article directory:
1. **Directory Age and Ranking:** Is the directory established and well-ranked, or is it new and still developing? Consider established and growing directories.
2. **Ownership and Contact Information:** Can you easily identify the owner or operator? Is there a readily available way to contact them?
3. **Responsiveness:** How quickly do they respond to inquiries or article submissions?
4. **Author Count:** How many authors are listed? A high number indicates an established platform, but a growing site may offer greater visibility.
5. **Article Volume:** How many articles are published on the site? A large volume suggests a reputable directory. However, a smaller site with steady growth could soon experience an SEO boost.
6. **Category Relevance:** Does the directory have categories relevant to your topics? A niche directory can be beneficial if it aligns with your content.
7. **Distribution Features:** Does the site offer RSS feeds, email alerts, or “forward to a friend” options to enhance article distribution?
8. **Advertising Quality:** Is the advertising responsible and unobtrusive (e.g., no pop-ups or offensive ads)?
9. **Article Reporting:** Does the directory provide reports to track article views, ratings, and distribution?
10. **Search Engine Ranking:** How do search engines perceive the site?
By carefully evaluating each directory based on these questions, you can refine your list to a core group of high-performing sites. Maintain a secondary list of additional directories for submission as time permits.
Regularly re-evaluate your top directory list. Monitor backlinks and directory statistics to assess article performance. Sites may move up or down your priority list based on their effectiveness.