Before you go to the trouble of researching, writing, and rewriting an article, you need to know how to submit your article so it doesn’t get rejected by directories.
As an editor for an online directory, I can tell you that I read a lot of articles that never get published. That means they don’t get read, which means you won’t generate the traffic you’ve worked so hard for. That also means that the cleverly crafted link in your resource area will be worthless.
So how do you get your article published and read? Here are some tips:
1. Write a great headline
Your title must be consistent. By that I mean it should be clear. Having said that, however, I have read some good articles whose title doesn’t really give away the content. Far from putting me off, it actually piqued my curiosity to read the article!
But if you can’t be smart, be clear. Use your keywords in your title and be descriptive. The title of any document should tell the reader what to expect from the piece.
2. Write a summary that generates interest
This is absolutely necessary if you come up with a clever headline that, while interesting, doesn’t give away the content of your article. An interesting summary will give a brief synopsis of your article and entice the visitor to read it. A good way to generate interest in your article is to ask the questions that the target reader would be asking. Then tell them that they will find answers to their questions in your article.
3. Write a useful article
Articles that help the reader to understand are the most useful articles. Believe me, you know more than you think and there are many people who would benefit from your knowledge. If you’re in business, this is even more true.
What may seem like second nature to you, a topic that you are truly passionate about (really interested in) is what others want to learn or learn more about. Visitors to article directories are a very diverse demographic. There are visitors who want to know how to organize a bachelorette party and visitors who are looking for information about a health problem or illness. Others are looking for a quick answer to an immediate question, such as how to trim their cat’s claws.
When making a series of bullet points in your article, use numbered elements to break down the information easily for the reader.
4. Submit your item correctly
While I edit for a general content directory, many of my colleagues don’t. Their article sites are very focused and therefore they do not accept articles that are not written for their target audience.
I’m not saying don’t submit to directories of a general nature, I’m saying submit to the appropriate niche directories as long as your article fits the niche. If you have an article about great wines, submitting it to a health article directory is just a waste of time. Yours and the editors!
5. Always, always, always edit your own article
Editors despise misspellings and bad grammar. They don’t want to post something that makes them look bad, like a poorly written article. By all means, use a spell checker in your favorite text editor, but it’s imperative to re-read your article before submitting it for submission. It will catch many errors before sending. My biggest dislikes as an editor are things like “you” when it should be “are”.
Writing and submitting articles is a time-consuming task, but one that can pay off big if done right. Do yourself and article publishers a favor and follow these tips to get your article published and read.
