What Are Syndicated Articles & Do They Damage SEO?

Imagine spending hours creating a valuable, insightful article. You fill it with research, stats, and graphics, and you know it offers real value to readers. 

You post it on your website…and crickets. 

Generating website traffic is a common problem, but what’s the point of creating great content if it doesn’t get views, clicks, and new subscribers?

Content syndication is a stand-out strategy for getting more eyes on your content. It’s cost-effective, quickly boosts brand awareness, and increases domain authority – if it’s done correctly. 

In this post, we’ll show you what syndicated articles are, how they work, and how to use them successfully. 

What Are Syndicated Articles?

Syndicated articles are pieces of content you republish on different websites. Large publications tend to syndicate already published content because it’s a quick and easy way to give their readers fresh content. The original author benefits by getting new eyes on their content and a high-authority backlink pointing to their website. 

It’s important to understand the difference between content syndication and guest blogging. A guest blog is a unique article that shouldn’t be posted elsewhere. A syndicated article can be posted on multiple platforms with permission from the original author. 

You can tell if an article is syndicated because it will have a canonical link and a mention at the top of the post that says:

“This article originally appeared on xyz.com [+link]”

How Does Article Syndication Work?

Google doesn’t like duplicate content and will even blacklist websites for plagiarism or duplicate pages. So, does content syndication go against Google’s terms of service?

Syndicated articles aren’t penalized as long as they’re properly labeled. But they also might not help with SEO.  

In the eyes of Google, article syndication isn’t the same as duplicate content. If it’s obvious to search engines that the article is re-posted and the correct credit is given to the original author, no one is penalized. 

The main benefit of syndicated articles is the backlink opportunity. Any large publication that syndicates your post will link back to your website, which will help boost domain authority. Including a reference to your website within the article helps boost your DA even further since it acts as an editorial link. 

Is Content Syndication The Same as Digital PR?

The short answer is no. Not all publications syndicate content and it can be tough getting a post picked up by the big outlets, even if they do republish posts. 

Digital PR is a more targeted marketing strategy that gets original content featured in the best publications. At Linkifi, we create winning digital PR campaigns by writing binge-worthy content, adding links from our clients, and getting those articles featured on high-authority websites. 

This means you get an editorial link (which is like gold and significantly boosts domain authority) and a spike in website traffic. 

We also have relationships with huge platforms that don’t syndicate content, which means we can get you featured on websites like HuffPost, Healthline, Apartment Therapy, and so many more. 

Find out more about our digital PR services here. 

The Benefits of Content Syndication

Many business owners wonder if article syndication is worth the effort, but it does come with some valuable benefits. 

Increased Website Traffic

Large publications have massive audiences, and if those readers find your article interesting, they’re likely to click through to your website to see what other content you have available. 

Boosted Brand Awareness

Syndicated articles allow you to expand your reach and tap into new audiences who may not know your brand yet. When readers see your brand associated with large publications, it also solidifies your company as a trusted source and leader in your industry. 

Effective Link-Building Strategy

Imagine you write an article that gets picked up by four or five major news articles – with five high-authority backlinks pointing to your website. When done correctly, content syndication can seriously boost your domain authority and help fast-track your link-building efforts. 

Do Syndicated Articles Effect SEO?

While syndicated content is great for brand awareness and domain authority, it does come with some significant SEO risks you should be aware of. 

If it’s not totally clear that the article is syndicated, the content may be classed as duplicate by search engines, which will negatively impact your rankings. 

Also, if you post your article on your website, you may end up competing with a top publication for views. Google will always rank the content it thinks is the most appropriate – that could mean a different platform ranking for keywords you’ve optimized your article for. 

Although the syndicated article will include a link to your website, not every reader will click through. 

Key Takeaway: Content syndication isn’t the best strategy if you’re trying to boost your website SEO. But if you want to increase your domain authority, this strategy may be worth the SEO risk. 

How To Find Article Syndication Opportunities

If you’ve decided this is the right strategy for your business, here’s how to find the best syndication opportunities for your content. 

Find Previously Syndicated Content on a Relevant Topic

Most websites that syndicate content use the phrase “originally published on” or “originally appeared on” at the top of the post. 

This means you can use Google to find previously syndicated content on relevant topics and then pitch the website with your article. 

Head to Google and type in: “originally appeared on” + [your topic]

Results should show syndicated articles with your topic keyword. Take some time to look through different websites and choose the ones with the best domain authority score to pitch. 

Find Websites That Syndicate Content

Plenty of well-known websites syndicate content, but if you’re struggling to find any in your niche, cast your net a little wider. 

For example, you could search for: “originally appeared on” site:xyz.com

This will show you whether specific websites have previously republished content. Ensure the websites make sense for your niche and read up on their terms before pitching. 

Paid Article Syndication

Paid article syndication is an easy way to get your content on some of the largest publications on the internet. It’s not done directly, but you can use services like Taboola or Outbrain to publish your content on high-authority websites like The Guardian. 

This works like a form of PPC advertising. You’ll set your budget for cost-per-click and a target audience. Then, the platform will post your content as a “recommended article” ad on the website. The ad features an image, title, and link back to your website. 

The links don’t carry any SEO authority and are seen as “sponsored content” by search engines. You’ll be charged every time someone clicks to read your article, but it can be a decent way to boost brand awareness if you’re just starting out. 

Self-Syndication

The final strategy to get your content on multiple platforms is self-syndication. This involves republishing your article on open platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, Medium, etc. 

Of course, these links don’t carry as much weight because it’s easy to post links to them. But it does mean getting your content in front of fresh eyes. 

Is Content Syndication Worth It?

Ultimately, syndicated articles can be a great way to boost brand awareness and increase your domain authority. Still, you need to get your content picked up by high-authority publications to succeed. 

But there is a much easier way to get backlinks on some of the leading publications, like Forbes, The New York Times, and HuffPost – and that’s digital PR. 

At Linkifi, we get our clients featured in huge publications, helping to skyrocket brand awareness, establish credibility, and create a winning link-building campaign. Contact us today to learn more.