I'm a huge fan of blog syndication.
I write a post once on my Web Ink Now blog, push the button, and it appears in many places such as my Amazon page, sites like MarCom Professional, the search engines, Newstex Blogs on Demand, and more.
But many bloggers don't understand how syndication works and why it is important. And some are downright fearful of syndication.
The ability to provide blog content to many places through syndication is incredibly valuable. With no extra work, syndication allows you to reach a potential audience of millions of people you would not otherwise reach.
Free ebook
A new free ebook from Newstex called The Truth about Blog and Twitter Content Syndication, helps you to understand what options are out there and what might be right for you.
Disclosure: I syndicate my blog through Newstex and I am an advisor to the company.
Thanks for the info, David. This comes in a timely fashion for me as I launch my new blog (rebelcalling.com) along with an ebook (Blend: Work, Life, and the Evolution of You) at the end of the month. Looking to start a WWR!
Posted by: Paul Peixoto @paulpeixoto | June 18, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Amazing article, and thank you for the link.
One of the things I feel is that Syndication can go both directions. One can syndicate their content out, while many API's allow the content of the social networks, blogs, rss feeds, and more to be added to a website. Thus creating a full circle.
Posted by: HLBryant | June 18, 2009 at 04:00 PM
David - Thank you for your post and contributions to Newstex's ebook - Truth About Blog Syndication. The inspiration for this eBook was your book "World Wide Rave". Today, our first day of launching the ebook, we've already had over 500 downloads and received applications for over 50 new blogs. For us that is a major Rave!!
Thanks again for your support and advice,
Larry
Posted by: Larry Schwartz | June 18, 2009 at 04:45 PM
David - thanks for sharing this. I have found there is significant value in syndicating my content - I consider it as meeting people where they choose to be.
I have just had an approach from an online marketing 'luminary' (a guru in his field like yourself) to collaborate on a project.
We are not connected on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. I know of him but I did not think he know of me - we are in different continents.
No he had not found me through key words and SEO. He came across me through my content being syndicated else where and being listed on a top list for my expertise.
It's an opportunity I know I would not have accessed otherwise.
There are some bloggers I know who have found themselves listed on certain sites such as the syndicated content on AllTop and asked to be withdrawn from the list as they felt it was not attracting people to their site. Information about syndication in this ebook I am sure will be really beneficial to bloggers and content publishers alike.
Posted by: Krishna De | June 19, 2009 at 05:03 AM
Thanks, all, for your comments.
I think of this a little like the way a rock band thinks of airplay. Do you want to be on the radio? Or just force people to play your music on CD only.
David
Posted by: David Meerman Scott | June 19, 2009 at 08:51 AM
Blog syndication is not favored by Google as it gets identified as duplicate content.
If one of the syndication website has a higher PR than yours, it can happen your original content is decreased in importance and will be hard to find by search.
Think twice before you syndicate if you are not a top blogger.
Posted by: Engago Team | June 21, 2009 at 02:43 PM
Engago Team,
Definitely check out the ebook, which describes licensed syndicated content (that's what Newstex offers), which ensures the blogger retains original publishing rights to their posts, so Google rankings are not affected.
Also, licensed syndicated content is distributed through companies like LexisNexis via closed systems such as Corporate research libraries, law firms, Wall Street traders, academic libraries, etc., so it's not distributed via the open Web -- again, not affecting Google rank for the blogger.
Posted by: Susan Gunelius | June 23, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Are those +'share' or +'Add This' buttons effective? How is it different from pings?
Posted by: roundstone | September 02, 2009 at 03:33 AM
Excellent article I just need to put it into practice for myself.
Posted by: Calgary Real Estate | October 05, 2009 at 07:13 PM
Excellent Article, thanks Dave. Syndication is an essential element of web design nowadays.
Posted by: Web Development Guru | February 13, 2010 at 05:24 PM