Article submission is an off-page SEO and content marketing technique where you write articles and publish them on third-party websites, article directories, or content platforms to gain backlinks, increase visibility, and drive traffic to your website.
In the early days of SEO, article submission was heavily used to build backlinks at scale. Today, it still has value—but only when done with high-quality content and on reputable platforms.
What Is Article Submission?
Article submission involves creating original content and submitting it to external websites that allow guest or contributed articles. These articles usually include:
- An author bio
- One or more backlinks to the author’s website
- Branded or contextual anchor text
The main goal is to share expertise while earning exposure and links.
How Article Submission Works
Here’s how article submission typically works:
- You create a well-written, informative article
- You submit it to a relevant website or publishing platform
- The site reviews and publishes the content
- Your article includes a link back to your website
- Readers and search engines discover your site through that link
Modern article submission focuses more on audience value and branding, not mass link building.
Why Article Submission Matters for SEO
When done correctly, article submission can help with:
- Building brand awareness
- Driving referral traffic
- Establishing authority in your niche
- Earning contextual backlinks
- Reaching new audiences
However, the SEO value depends entirely on content quality and platform authority.
Article Submission: Then vs Now
| Old-Style Article Submission | Modern Article Submission |
|---|---|
| Low-quality spun articles | High-quality original content |
| Mass submissions | Selective publishing |
| Link-focused | Value-focused |
| Article directories | Authority blogs & platforms |
Search engines now prioritize editorial intent, not volume.
Is Article Submission Safe for SEO?
Safe Article Submission Practices
Article submission is safe when:
- Content is original and useful
- Sites are relevant and reputable
- Links are natural and limited
- Anchor text is branded or generic
Risky Article Submission Practices
It becomes risky when:
- Articles are thin or duplicated
- Submitted to spammy directories
- Over-optimized anchor text is used
- Done purely for backlinks
Google has penalized websites in the past for low-quality article marketing campaigns.
Best Practices for Article Submission
To get the most out of article submission:
- Focus on quality over quantity
- Choose niche-relevant platforms
- Write for humans, not search engines
- Avoid exact-match anchor text
- Limit the number of backlinks per article
- Treat article submission like guest posting
Think of it as content distribution, not link manipulation.
Examples of Article Submission Platforms
- Industry blogs accepting guest posts
- Content platforms like Medium or LinkedIn Articles
- News and publishing sites with contributor programs
- Niche authority websites
Avoid generic article directories that exist only for SEO.
Final Thoughts on Article Submission
Article submission is no longer a mass SEO tactic—but it remains effective when used strategically. High-quality articles published on trusted platforms can strengthen your brand, drive real traffic, and support your SEO efforts in a natural way.
Success today comes from expertise, relevance, and value, not volume.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is article submission still effective for SEO?
Yes, but only when done on high-quality, relevant websites with original content.
Is article submission the same as guest posting?
They are similar, but guest posting usually involves stricter editorial standards and higher-quality sites.
How many backlinks should an article submission include?
Typically one or two natural links are enough. More than that can look spammy.
Are article directories safe for article submission?
Most generic article directories provide little SEO value and can be risky.
What type of content works best for article submission?
Educational, actionable, and authoritative content performs best.