Article Submitting: How To Study A Publisher's Website

There are many websites that will host your articles onthe Internet. Some small, some large, some withguidelines, some without, some support streams oftopics, some have a limited focus, some charge a feeand some are free.

With so many places to post your articles how can youmaximize distribution with the least amount of effort?You can do so by being selective. Post your articlesonly on sites that support your topic, have integrity,and have a win/win approach. Since no two websites arealike. Here are a few features to watch for whenconsidering your articles for submission:

1. Search capabilities. When you are at the websiteis there a search feature visitors can use to find acertain topic? If the page or pages list articles oneafter the other down a long page readers will not getpast the first 20 names. Actually they will not evenread that many. Web viewers do not have the patienceto scroll through rows of titles trying to find theright subject.

2. How user friendly is the website? If the articlesection is buried inside a website and you havedifficulty figuring out how to submit your article youwill want to consider submitting your articles to thissite.

3. What is the purpose of the website? Is thatpurpose supportive of your article, topic, and purposeor detrimental? Is it a sales page just trying todrive up search engine optimization under falsepretenses? don't be fooled there are many of them outthere. Is the host of the website apparent ornonexistent? Can you find a phone number or location-- city, state or country?

4. Submission guidelines. Some websites stipulate aword count, minimum, maximum or range. If yourarticle doesn't meet their word count stipulations yourarticle will normally not get published. Take themseriously and take the time to read them. Moreimportantly find a system to track these. I have arating system I use with 1 being the perfect submissionsite on up to 15 being an absolutely no. I keep trackof the no website sites so that when I'm looking fornew sites I know which ones I have already reviewed.

Since website owners change, just as we do as we learnand grow with our skills, guidelines changeoccasionally as well. I recommend reviewing theguidelines either every three months or at least eversix. Some sites have gotten sneaky and post goodguidelines and then change to "we have the copyrightnow" sites when you are least expecting it.

There are also a few sneaky submission sites that arecounting on you not reading their guidelines. Thesesites stipulate in their guidelines that uponsubmission the author gives up their copyright on thearticle. Some are blatantly labeled while others arehidden inside obscure legalize.

Some sites stipulate that you give them permission touse your material in anything they print or publish.This means that they can accumulate articles on acertain subject, and this is their usual intention, putthem together in an ebook and sell the ebook. Whilesome of you will not mind this and consider it viralmarketing there are some dangers in this. And thisauthor knows because this has occurred to her materialsbefore she became wise to the secret purpose.

5. Statistics. There are very few websites thatprovide reader statistics. I love the websites thattell me how many people read the article. I want toknow if a particular topic is well read. Many sitesprefer not to post reader statistics. I suspect it isbecause writers would see that there is a very lowcount and submitting their articles. Voting on thearticle is a nice feature, however, it is not really avital statistic counter. Maybe 1 out of 10 to 15 viewswill someone take the time to vote. If the votingfeature is remotely positioned viewers never know ofits existence. Even if this feature is position wellon the page -- above the article to let readers knowits there and immediately below the article -- readerswill rarely vote unless the article was awful.

Article hosting and posting is a joint venture -- viewit as such -- and you will maximize your time andeffort.

Copyright 2005, Catherine Franz.

Catherine Franz, Millionaire Coach, thinks outside thebox naturally when it comes to attracting money. Orderher latest strategy, How To "Get 'Them' To Follow YourYellow Brick Road" report (for professionals,consultants, employees, and retail store owners).http://www.marketingstrategiestogo.com