Hi all,

Thought I'd share my experience.

I have my own blog now, so it has been quite a while since I submitted anything to a free article marketing bank. In fact, I fell out of the habit about two years ago, long before I started the blog.

But when I did do article marketing, I thought I was going about it carefully. Only seven of the hundreds of article banks out there met my standards. All the others were hard to use, were spammy-looking, required link-swapping, had no review/screening system in place (so any slapped-together piece of bad or even stolen writing could end up published right next to your good one), expensive, etc.

Fast forward to this weekend. I'm trying to finalize a bunch of details related to my re-brand, and fixing my URL, name, etc. on those article bank profiles is one of them. Of the seven sites I had used, I have so far only been able to get into my profile for only two. Of those two, just ONE--Ezine Articles--has let me fix my profile with relatively little fuss. The others have returned error messages. I have all my user IDs and passwords, but apparently either access to the sites has changed without notice, or the sites are no longer active but haven't been canceled or yanked yet (which I suspect because of the outdated copyright years on some of them). Unfortunately, at least one of the sites still has my articles available on it through subject or author search, complete with my old, inaccurate contact information.

If you're thinking about using that automatic article submission software, THINK AGAIN. If I had done this, not only would my writing have gone to who knows how many truly BAD sites, but this weekend, I'd be trying to track down and correct my info in HUNDREDS of places instead of just these seven. Imagine the frustration!

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services

Interesting you mention this. I was wondering how the automated software works for distribution. Thanks for sharing.

Hi

So sorry to hear this is happening to you! I'm so with you on the article submission software though and that's a really good reason that I hadn't even thought out.

I just find it's better to do it yourself. You just have so much more control and also you can check the stats. When I submit new articles out I'll always check the stats of my articles on the site to see they they are getting approved and that they are getting some traffic.

Thanks!

Diana Ennen
Virtual Word Publishing
www.virtualwordpublishing.com

AnnaLisa -

Have you considered during a URL redirect from the old site to the new site? That will eliminate confusion from prospects. It will automatically redirect them to your new site.

Just a thought. Good luck on the re-branding. I'm "branding" myself now too, and it's taking me time to develop something I like. But it's fun!

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Jaimie VanSickle, Premier Virtual Assistant

Hi Jaimie,

Yep, I've had the old site redirecting since the first day the new one was officially live. You're right; it's a very important step in the rebrand process!

The trouble is, on some level, it fixes the "clicking" problem, but it doesn't get my old name out of circulation (or help get the "new" one in, for that matter) because it doesn't fix the anchor text that delivers the prospect to me. My concern is that it looks less than thorough--a perception I really can't afford as an editor--just to have those inaccurate profiles and resource paragraphs still out there. It's the kind of error (however "not my fault" it might be) a good editor is careful not to miss.

Where are you in the branding process yourself? I haven't been around the boards much lately and am not sure I've met you before. I hope you're making really great progress with your planning!

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services

AnnaLisa -

Oh, I completely understand and KUDDOS to you for being so detail-orientated. Very important in our business :-)

I'm branding myself because I believe that branding is very important to stand out from the herd and to ensure my clients recognize me and my prospects remember me. I'm really not exactly sure how to "technically" approach it. I'm so swamped with researching so many things that I tend to approach other things at a slower pace.

I actually have about 3 massive projects going on right now. I have link building through directory sites, RSS directories, blog directories, classified directories, etc. So exhausting! Then I'm finalizing the launch for my webinar management services. I'm hoping to have it completed by day's end...but probably won't get it completed until this weekend. And, and, and...not to mention working with clientele, etc.

But I love to be busy. It's all a great sign! Plus, I just love my work.

I've been registered here at the forums since February, (I think), but haven't been actively participating until just recently. I was incredibly swamped with web launch, etc before. But I'm here now! And you all are stuck with me (haha!)

Best of luck in your branding!

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Jaimie VanSickle, Premier Virtual Assistant

There are many reason likes high monthly fess,spam submission with wrong categories,not good synonyms System, Fake Results.

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article submission

I have some clients before who wants me to use the software for article submission. Some are good tho - like for example Article Samurai. But as for me, I really prepare to do things manually. It's more efficient for me.

Wow! Thanks so much for warning us!! I was thinking about purchasing this software, I guess I'll have to continue to do it manually. Better safe than sorry!