Article Directory Sites

This article directory sites list collects platforms where you can publish an article under your own name, often with a short bio and a link to your website. Classic article directories lost most of their SEO value years ago, so the list also includes open publishing sites such as Tumblr, LiveJournal and Write.as. Use them to reach readers with original writing, not to collect backlinks.

What an article directory is

An article directory is a site that accepts articles from many authors and sorts them into categories. In the 2000s, sites like EzineArticles were huge. Marketers wrote short articles, added a keyword-rich link in the author box and submitted the same piece, or a "spun" copy of it, to dozens of directories.

The idea was simple: every copy meant another backlink. For a while it worked, which is why so many directories appeared. Most of them did very little editing, so the same thin articles filled site after site.

How this article directory sites list is checked

Every site here was added by hand, and our link checker regularly confirms it still loads; dead sites are removed. Sites that closed, stopped accepting posts or turned into spam dumps are removed, so the list changes over time. Some entries are classic article directories; others are blogging or publishing platforms that do the same job today.

Before you post anywhere, read a few recent articles on the site. If most of them are thin sales pitches with links stuffed in, your article will sit in bad company.

What happened to article directories

In February 2011 Google announced an algorithm change, later known as Panda, that affected 11.8% of queries. Google said it aimed to lower the rankings of sites that are "low-value add for users, copy content from other websites or sites that are just not very useful." Content farms and article directories were exactly that kind of site.

EzineArticles, one of the best known, said it lost between ten and thirty-five percent of its traffic and quickly tightened its editorial guidelines. Smaller directories with no editing at all fared worse, and many closed.

Google's spam policies today name "links with optimized anchor text in articles, guest posts, or press releases distributed on other sites" as an example of link spam. That describes the old article marketing method almost word for word.

What still works

• Original articles only. Write something new for the platform, or republish your own post with a clear note and link to the original.
• Write for the readers there. An article that answers a real question can bring visitors who stay, which a hidden bio link never did.
• A simple bio link. Use your name or site name, not a keyword anchor.
• Brand exposure. A useful article with your name on it helps people recognise you later.
• No spinning, no mass posting. Rewritten copies of one article across many sites are thin content by definition.

Better alternatives to old article directories

Option	Good for	Keep in mind
Medium	Reaching readers, republishing your own posts	Its import tool adds a canonical link to your original post
LinkedIn articles	Professional and business topics	Works best when you already have a network there
Guest posts	Real audiences in your niche	Editors expect original, well-written work; keep links natural
Your own blog	Building something you control	Slower to grow, but every article stays yours

My own try at guest blogging

I tried guest blogging myself and was never accepted. I think my weak English grammar was the reason. It taught me that editors with a real audience care about writing quality first, which is also why the old "submit anywhere" article directories died. If you are not a confident writer either, start with your own blog and open platforms, and improve as you go.

Article platforms are only one piece of building links. Read what backlinks are and how they work, then compare other options such as the social bookmarking sites list, the blog commenting sites guide and the free directory list.

Use this article directory sites list as a list of places to share good writing: pick two or three platforms that fit your topic, publish something original, and judge them by the readers they bring, not by the links.

Frequently asked questions

Do article directories still help SEO?

Not much as a link source. Google's Panda update hit sites full of thin and copied articles, and its spam policies treat keyword-anchor links in distributed articles as link spam. Original articles on active platforms can still bring readers and help people find your name.

Can I publish the same article on my blog and an article site?

You can, but publish on your own site first and make the copy point back to it. Medium's import tool, for example, adds a canonical link to the original source. Avoid posting the same text on many sites at once.

What is the difference between an article directory and a guest post?

An article directory accepts posts from almost anyone, usually with little editing. A guest post is written for one specific blog and reviewed by its editor. Guest posts are harder to get, but they reach a real audience.