Is EzineArticles Still Good For SEO in 2023?
Is EzineArticles Still Good For SEO? Short answer:
“Not so fast!” Get ready to uncover the truth behind this once-mighty article directory and discover whether it still holds its weight in the ever-changing world of search engine optimization.
Join me on this thrilling SEO investigation!
Here’s the Quick Answer…
The opinions on whether EzineArticles is still good for SEO are mixed.
Some sources suggest that it is no longer a useful strategy because search engines see it as duplicate directory on the web and it does not benefit your site.
(And even though if you publish quality content on there, still Google doesn’t trust Ezine enough to pass you quality link juice.)
However, others believe that it can still be somewhat useful, especially if your website is not getting any traffic and you have no luck in building up the traffic.
Article submission sites like EzineArticles can be valuable for SEO. Some people believe that EzineArticles can still drive traffic and is not a bad source of traffic and others use it for lead generation and other purposes.
Overall, while there are differing opinions on the usefulness of EzineArticles for SEO, it seems that it may still have some value depending on your specific situation and goals and if you don’t build 100 of links using it.
Let’s dig deep…
Understanding EzineArticles
You’ll learn:
- EzineArticles’ history
- Submission process & guidelines
- EzineArticles Benefits
- Authority & credibility
- Limitations in search rankings
Brief history & evolution of EzineArticles
EzineArticles is an online content publishing platform founded in 1999 by Chris Knight.
It began as a free article directory, allowing authors to gain exposure for their articles. Over time, it developed into a more sophisticated platform with features like analytics tools and content guidelines.
In 2011, Google’s crackdown on content farms led EzineArticles to make all links from articles “nofollow,” reducing their SEO value.
Despite this setback, EzineArticles continued operating and attracting authors seeking a wider audience.
Features, guidelines, & submission process
EzineArticles enables authors to submit original, high-quality articles for increased exposure, credibility, and website traffic.
The submission process involves creating an account, writing an article adhering to content guidelines, and submitting it for review. Key features include:
- Article submission process: Authors can submit articles for free after creating an account.
- Content guidelines: Strict guidelines ensure high-quality articles that provide value to readers.
- Analytics tools: Authors can track their article performance using the site’s analytics tools.
- Exposure: EzineArticles provides exposure to a wider audience, aiding in building credibility within a niche. But is that still so? I’ll say very slim chances.
authority & credibility in the SEO community
Despite its reputation, EzineArticles continues to attract authors aiming to share content with a broader audience still to this date.
With a domain authority of 88 according to Moz, it is considered reputable.
Nevertheless, its impact on search rankings is limited due to Google’s crackdown on content farms even though they’ve changed the link type to nofollow.
Impact On SEO
You’ll learn:
- EzineArticles’ SEO impact
- Algorithmic updates and article directories
- “Nofollow” links
- Value of backlinks from EzineArticles
- Content quality and link building importance
Historical significance of EzineArticles for SEO
EzineArticles was previously a popular strategy for SEO, allowing authors to generate backlinks, drive traffic, and improve search engine rankings.
However, its effectiveness has been questioned due to algorithmic updates like Google’s Panda and Penguin updates.
Recent algorithmic updates on article directories
Updates such as Google’s Panda and Penguin have greatly impacted the effectiveness of article directories, including EzineArticles, for SEO.
These updates targeted content farms and low-quality content, leading to lower rankings for many article directories including:
- Articlesbase
- Articlesfactory
- Goarticles
Consequently, EzineArticles made all links from articles “nofollow,” removing their SEO benefits.
The value of backlinks from EzineArticles in modern SEO practices
High-quality and relevant backlinks from EzineArticles can still hold some value if they contribute to a comprehensive high-quality link profile.
Quality of backlinks matters more than quantity in modern SEO practices.
Overall, while EzineArticles may not be as effective as before for SEO, it can still have some usefulness based on specific circumstances and goals.
Creating high-quality content and obtaining reputable backlinks are crucial for improving search engine rankings.
Pros And Cons Of EzineArticles For SEO
You’ll learn:
- Increased visibility
- Wide audience exposure
- Potential referral traffic
- Establishing thought leadership
- Decline in authority
Benefits of utilizing EzineArticles for SEO purposes
- Increased visibility: EzineArticles exposes your content and website to a wide audience, increasing visibility.
- Exposure to a wide audience: With a large readership, EzineArticles helps you reach a broader audience and potentially attract referral traffic.
- Potential referral traffic: High-quality and relevant articles on EzineArticles may generate referral traffic from interested readers.
- Opportunity to establish thought leadership: Publishing quality articles on EzineArticles helps establish thought leadership in your industry or niche.
Potential drawbacks & limitations of the platform
- Decline in authority: EzineArticles has experienced a decline in authority due to algorithmic updates and content farm crackdowns.
- Potential for low-quality content: Criticisms exist regarding EzineArticles allowing low-quality content with a mere 250 word article and 10’s of links pasted inside, which can harm its and its authors’ reputation.
- Duplicate content concerns: Publishing the same content on multiple platforms, including EzineArticles, can lead to duplicate content issues and affect search engine rankings.
- Increased competition for visibility: Standing out and getting noticed on EzineArticles can be challenging due to the large number of authors.
Best Practices For Maximizing SEO Benefits
You’ll learn:
- Categorizing articles
- Using tags
- Social media promotion
- Relevant link incorporation
- Platform features for visibility
Strategies for optimizing articles on EzineArticles for search engines
- Conduct keyword research: Identify relevant and high-traffic keywords to target in your articles using tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush.
- Write high-quality and engaging content: Create informative, engaging, and valuable content for your target audience. Avoid keyword stuffing and prioritize readability.
- Optimize meta tags: Use relevant and descriptive meta titles and descriptions that include your target keywords to improve click-through rates from search engine results pages.
- Incorporate relevant links: Include internal and external links within your articles to provide additional context and value to readers. Use anchor text that includes your target keywords.
Leveraging the platform’s features to enhance visibility & reach
- Complete your author profile: Establish credibility and build trust with readers by filling out your author profile with a professional headshot, bio, and links to your website and social media profiles.
- Categorize your articles: Choose the most relevant category for each article to help them appear in relevant search results and attract the right audience. Even if the published article might not appear in the Google search results it can still come in EzineArticles built-in search. So keep that in mind.
- Use tags: Add relevant tags to your articles to increase the chances of appearing in related content recommendations on the platform.
- Share on social media: Promote your articles on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to increase visibility and attract more readers.
Link-building techniques and recommendations for improved SEO outcomes
- Build high-quality backlinks: Focus on obtaining backlinks from high-authority websites within your niche or industry in addition to Ezine so the whole link-building profile looks natural and not spammy. Request backlinks or guest posting opportunities from other websites or bloggers.
- Leverage anchor text: Use anchor text that includes your target keywords when linking back to your website or other relevant content.
- Utilize internal linking within the platform: When you plan to publish on EzineArticles, make sure you include links to other relevant articles within EzineArticles to provide additional value to readers and improve higher acceptance rate.
Alternatives & Future Considerations
You’ll learn:
- Medium as an alternative
- LinkedIn Pulse for thought leadership
- Benefits of guest blogging
- Industry-specific platforms
- Emerging SEO trends
Exploring alternative article directories & content platforms
- Medium: Medium is a popular platform for publishing high-quality articles and establishing thought leadership. It has a large readership and allows authors to reach a wider audience. It offers better SEO benefits when compared to EzineArticles.
- LinkedIn Pulse: LinkedIn Pulse is another platform for publishing articles and establishing thought leadership. It is particularly useful for B2B marketing and networking. Like Medium, it does offer better SEO benefits comparing it to EzineArticles.
- Guest blogging: Guest blogging on high-authority websites can be an effective way to build backlinks and improve your search engine rankings. However, it requires more effort than publishing on EzineArticles (and similar sites) but results in a better ROI in terms of search rankings.
- Industry-specific article directories: Depending on your niche or industry, there may be other article directories or content platforms that are more relevant and effective for SEO purposes.
- Authority sites: There are some niche specific sites that are beast in those specific industries. So for example, if you are in the healthcare industry, Healthline sponsored posts may be a more appropriate platform to publish your articles if you’ve the budget. The link will likely going to be nofollow but the readership and authortiy Healthline has in the eyes of Google surpasses everything.
Emerging trends & shifts in SEO practices
- Rise of content marketing: Content marketing has become increasingly important as search engines prioritize high-quality, informative, and engaging content over keyword-stuffed articles.
- Importance of user experience (UX): Search engines now place greater emphasis on user experience metrics such as bounce rate, time on site, and engagement. Creating high-quality content that engages readers and keeps them on your site is more important than ever.
- Role of social media signals: Social media signals such as likes, shares, and comments are becoming increasingly important in search engine algorithms. Promoting your articles on social media can have a positive impact on your search engine rankings.
Predictions for the future role of article directories in SEO
The future role of article directories in SEO is uncertain.
While they can still be somewhat useful for increasing visibility and attracting referral traffic, their effectiveness for improving search engine rankings has declined due to algorithmic updates and the crackdown on content farms.
As search engines continue to prioritize high-quality content and user experience metrics, other forms of content marketing such as guest blogging, influencer marketing, and social media marketing are likely to become more important for SEO purposes.
EzineArticles isn’t optimal. Quality guest posting works wonders.
– Mubashir Mazhar
