The Skinny On Individual Article Submission Sites

Individual article submission sites are websites, blogs, forums and e-zines that accept article submissions. Each site seeks articles on a particular topic or a narrow range of topics. Accepting articles directly saves the publisher from having to search newsgroups or directories for fresh content. Each site has its own set of guidelines that authors must read and understand before they can submit their article.

Benefits of submitting articles to individual submission sites include:

1. Direct Delivery - Articles go directly to the publisher who is interested in their particular topic, saving publishers hours searching for the perfect article.

2. Improved Response - Because authors screen submission sites before submitting their articles, they have a better idea of what a publisher wants.

3. Editorial Suggestions - Some publishers offer valuable feedback on articles to help you improve submissions.

4. Expedited Publishing - Direct submissions, if on topic and compliant with guidelines, often are published much faster through individual submission sites than through other channels.

5. Strategic Relationships - Authors can and should create a relationship with each individual site's publisher, letting him or her know that they can provide original articles or a customized version.

6. Return Link - A reputable website that publishes an article will provide its author with a one-way active link to his website. If this is not provided the author has the option to have the article removed from the site.

7. Direct Control - If an article isn't published according to its author's wishes, he'll know how to contact the publisher directly for corrections.

8. Submission Tracking - Article marketers rarely know who has reprinted their article. Submitting articles directly to an individual site enables them to track their submissions easily.

9. Negotiate Terms - Because authors create a strategic relationship with their publisher, they can negotiate the terms of future submissions.

As with article directories, editorial guidelines often are provided for authors, which requires them to submit only their own original work or work that they paid a writer to create; offer only articles that include proper grammar, spelling and punctuation; allow their articles to be published anywhere on the submission site, and possibly on partner sites; and agree that an article can be edited. They also might be told that the link in their byline is the only payment they will receive.

As with article directories, authors should submit articles to individual article submission sites only when they can comply with the rules, and not waste their or the publisher's time by ignoring those rules.

There are so many specific article submission sites that it's overwhelming to consider them all. To build a list and find topic-appropriate sites, go to Google.com and search "topic + articles" or "topic + article submission." Either of these terms, combined with a particular topic, should net many potential submission sites.

© 2009, Davis Virtual Assistance. Publication rights granted so long as article and byline are reprinted intact, with all links made live.