You may have been convinced that publishing your articles online is one way to get free traffic. You give free content in exchange for traffic from your links. You may have written tons of articles by now and you are faced with the question if they are ready for publishing.

In almost all directories, they set article submission guidelines for those who want their articles to be published. It may differ from directory to another but the following are the common ones.

* Content

Article submission directories do not allow articles that openly promote product brands and your specific product. Articles that are published online through article directories are those that are general and informative in nature, so before starting to write your first article, try to keep in mind the topic of your article and avoid openly advertising your product in the body of your article.

Links are also not allowed in the body of your article. Most directories do not also allow you to put images, though some may allow it. To be safe, save those images until you have already known the article submission guidelines of the directory.

Some directories may ask for a teaser or a short summary of your article, so you might as well prepare for that before submission. Directories are also strict about plagiarism. ‘Copy-pasted’ articles are a no-no and have no place in article directories.

* Word Count

Most directories have a requirement on the word count of articles. It is important then that before you write down heaps of articles check the word count requirement. Most often, articles published online requires 300 to 500 words in an article. Because you will aim on having more and more articles distributed online, stick to the required word count. Going way beyond the required could be a waste of time.

* Formatting

Formatting of your article is not necessary. Most directories prefer articles from notepad or those in plain text, although bold font, italicization, bullets and numbers may be allowed. Try also to do away with automatic numbering. Smart quotes should also be avoided as it may lead to foreign characters appearing in your published article. Directories also have strict article submission guidelines in formatting your titles. Make sure you do not make your titles in all caps. Always follow the standard title case.

* Resource Box

The resource box contains your links that will generate you traffic. In creating the links, make sure they work properly and are not broken. It is always advisable that you test your links before you submit your articles. Article directories allow you do this. Watch for broken links and those that do not match the landing page.

* Author’s Profile

Most directories have a profile page for authors. This is where you put your name as the author, your picture and a short biography. At some point you may have thought about these as trifling matters, but somehow it affects the impact of your article. Reading an article where you can see a picture of the author can make it more trustworthy and legitimate.

* Keywords and Categories

Submitting your articles online also require keywords and categories. Make sure that you have chosen the right keywords and submitted your articles under the correct categories.

If you take note of these common article submission guidelines before writing your articles, for sure, publishing your articles online will be a lot easier and faster.

Carolyn Anderson enjoys being an article marketing writer. To learn about great strategies in submitting your articles online, check out article marketing strategies. Also check out Article Marketing Domination for helpful tools article marketing.

Article Source: ArticleSpan