What is Article Syndication?
Article syndication or content syndication is the practice of publishing a single article on multiple sites. It occurs when one or more sites publish an article already published on another site. The article may be republished in part or as a whole.
It is easy to identify a syndicated article as the site republishing it usually includes phrases like ‘This article originally published on’ to inform the reader that it was originally published elsewhere. It will also contain a hyperlink pointing to the original article.
It is essential to differentiate between a syndicated article and a guest post.
- A syndicated article is first published on the author’s site before republishing on another site.
- A guest post is published on a site other than the author’s. This content is usually unique and not published elsewhere.
However, you should know that the syndicated content could outrank the original. Google may also select the syndicated content as canonical. In that case, the content on the original site will be considered a copy.
To prevent such, ensure to include a rel=”canonical” tag in the syndicated content.
Why Content Syndication is Important
Content syndication is important because it allows bloggers, brands, and businesses to share their content across multiple platforms. This enables them to share their expertise with a broader audience than they could reach through their channels alone.
This helps improve brand visibility and attracts new readers who would not have encountered the content. Additionally, syndicated content on reputable sites can lend credibility to the brand, positioning it as an authority in its industry.
Considering that the same content is syndicated across multiple platforms, the creator does not need to create multiple unique content, thus saving them the resources they would have invested in such.
Another critical benefit of content syndication is its impact on SEO and website traffic. Syndicated articles often include backlinks pointing to the original content. This can help drive traffic back to the main site and improve search engine rankings.
Quality backlinks from well-regarded sources enhance a website’s authority, signaling to search engines that the site is trustworthy. As a result, content syndication can strengthen a brand’s digital presence, improve its search visibility, and attract a steady stream of engaged visitors.
The backlink also makes the content a great source of referral traffic, as readers can follow the link back to the original site.
How to Find Sites That Syndicate Articles
You can find sites that syndicate articles using content syndication platforms like Taboola and Outbrain. However, if you prefer to choose which sites to syndicate your content, you can do that using Google.
Specifically, you will look for sites already publishing syndicated posts. These sites usually have content with phrases like:
- Originally published on
- Originally appeared in
- This article first appeared on
- Republished with permission from
So, search for one of those phrases followed by the plus operator + and then the primary or secondary keywords you expect to find in such an article.
For example, if you want to syndicate an article that is optimized for the keyword “running shoes,” you will search for "Originally appeared on" + "running shoes".
To increase your chances of finding sites that accept syndicated articles, you should try searching for the keyword using the other phrases. For example, "This article first appeared on" + "running shoes".
You should also search for the secondary keywords you want to rank. For example, "Originally appeared on" + "best running shoes".
You will review the sites on the search results page to see which ones will work for you. You then reach out to them about syndicating your article.
Sometimes, however, it may happen that these sites may not want to syndicate an article on a topic that they have already syndicated. This is not an issue. In this case, check for keywords closely related to the keyword of the content you want to syndicate.
For example, if the content you are looking to syndicate is optimized for “running shoes” and “best running shoes,” you can look for sites that have syndicated articles optimized for related keywords like “trail running shoes.”
Now, use Google to find sites that have syndicated articles targeting those keywords. For example, "Originally appeared on" + "trail running shoes".
