The first thing to take into account before submitting articles to article directories is your purpose in writing. You also need to consider whether or not you want to retain rights to your own work, and you need to know how best to use your articles to make money.
If you want to submit your work to earn a passive income, you can achieve this at some of the big article directories. A few directory sites offer set payments for articles, or provide a market for you to sell on your articles. These sites can generate regular income for an article writer.
Articles written for marketing purposes, or to promote another site, can be submitted to dozens of free article directories. Some of these require unique content, but each article can be reproduced on many different blogs and websites, in e-zines and newsletters.
It is important to read closely the terms of agreement when registering at a site, particularly regarding rights to any article submitted there. Many directory sites require first publication rights, but will offer non-exclusive rights to any article submitted there.
An article directory may accept only certain types of informational articles. Some directories take content written in informal blog post style, others will request only magazine style articles. Articles may be rejected if submitted to sites that do not suit your style of writing.
Whether you submit your articles to free directories, or to paying sites, it is important to remember that you also need to network, bookmark and promote your articles, to get them ranked high and found in search engine results.
What to Consider When Writing Articles for Money:
Before you submit to any article sites, do take time to check terms and requirements at each site.
Some directory sites require you to have your own Google Adsense account, so you earn from clicks to ad links that appear along with your articles. If you do not already have an account with Adsense, you need to understand clearly how it works, and be prepared to wait until you have earned $100 before you get paid.
Article directories that automatically embed advertising, and pay writers a share of revenue, usually pay out monthly through PayPal. It is possible to earn a good long term residual income, depending on the number of times each article is viewed. Do not forget the importance of search engine optimization, and use quality keywords in titles and tags.
Be sure to check out the top earning articles to see if they are the same type of topics you want to write about. Specialist interest articles will get less traffic, and earn lower ad revenue, than articles on personal finance, jobs, budgeting, travel, technology and subjects that are most frequently searched for.
Take into account the time you need to spend at any site where you submit your articles. If you decide to submit to Helium you need a rating star to earn revenue share. Other article sites have comment boxes or voting systems. You should allow time to get involved in networking activities on each article directory site where you submit your work.
What to Take Into Account for Article Marketing:
Articles submitted to non-paying directories can effectively build traffic and increase profits from the link you place in your resource box. This link appears wherever the article is posted, and the same link appears with all your articles at a free directory site.
Marketing articles should be formatted so they are easy to read online, using subheadings, bullet points and short paragraphs. You also need to understand the importance of keywords in content title and tags.
The content of a marketing article should never be written to sell a product or to gain referrals. Each article should relate closely to what is being marketed or promoted. A marketing article should be useful and informative.
When a marketing article provides useful information, visitors to the site linked to the resource box will be more interested in purchasing products or signing up for something on the site.
Decide whether or not you are willing to pay a subscription or additional fee to a directory offering a premium service. Payment of a subscription or fee can give priority listings, and other benefits, at some article directories.
Making money with article directory sites involves much more than writing and submitting. You need knowledge of how to use article sites effectively and to understand how much time and effort is needed to get your articles found and viewed online.