Should article directories pay content providers?

I think we are on the cusp of a new trend where article directories pay content providers (eg, let them share in the revenue derived from their articles).

This is a very new concept among directories, but I think it is the next big thing. So, how does it work? [For those of you aware of how this works, feel free to skip this little part].

HOW ARTICLE DIRECTORIES MAKE MONEY

Most article directories derive their income from ads. Eg, you know those Google ads you see across the top of the page, in a side bar, in the middle of an article. Ads are served up based on the content of the article. Each time a visitor clicks on those ads, the site owner makes money.

As an example, if you submit an article about motorcycles, then you might see advertiser (Google) ads about motorcycle schools, Harley Davidson dealers, or motor cycle riding gear. The logic being, people who read ads about motorcycles are interested in them and the lifestyle that surrounds it.

HERE’S A CONCEPT – SHARE THE LOOT WITH CONTENT PROVIDERS!

Some sites, eg, AssociatedContent.com, do pay content providers. Although the pay is not going to replace a job, it is a guaranteed minimum something if the piece is accepted (as of this writing, $3, with pay going up to a high of $40).

Other sites are now starting to offer content providers (me, you – the article writers), a portion of the proceeds earned from ads that appear beside their content. Tres cool! And, why shouldn’t we benefit monetarily from our content? After all, it is a two-way street. These sites need us just as much as we need them.

POST CONTINUED BELOW
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The web is a very crowded place these days. And, while article marketing is still one of the best ways to get unlimited FREE exposure, it is becoming “old hat.” I think a lot of directories will disappear if they don’t start paying as content providers will inevitably go to where the money is.

ArticleonRamp.com is one site that began this revenue-sharing model this year [2007]. After not submitting to it for a while, when I got the email from the webmaster announcing this program, I immediately went and started submitting.

NOTE: I didn’t stop submitting to this site because I didn’t like it. In fact, it’s been one of my favorites since I discovered it in October 2006 because they post articles quickly and my articles seem to get a lot of reads there. I took a break over the holidays and only submitted a few pieces to a couple of sites during this time

Now, be warned, I don’t think there are going to be any great fortunes made. I know, I have Google ads on my site (InkwellEditorial.com). BUT, if you submit to 20, 30 or 40 sites – and submission software makes it much easier to submit to hundreds at a time – there could be a nice chunk of change served up at the end of the month.

REVENUE-SHARING ARTICLE DIRECTORIES, BLOGS, FORUMS & MORE
I did a Google search and came across the following AdMoolah.com. It has a list of sites that offer revenue sharing to content providers. Most offer a 50% take; some offer 100%.

Click here to see the list. The list details 12 article directories, 16 communities/forums, 4 blogs and a host of sites listed under “Other”.

Hey, if you’re writing and submitting articles for free now, why not pick up a few dollars along the way where possible by submitting those same pieces elsewhere.

Disclaimer: I have not submitted to any of these sites, so don’t know anything about them other than what I read on their sites.

Good luck – and if you make a fortune, please let me know!
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