Content Syndication – How to Make Money From It & Improve Business Goals

Content syndication is a strategic approach where you republish your original content on third-party websites.

The content could be anything from blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, to podcasts.

This strategy serves multiple purposes:

• it extends your reach to new audiences, enhances brand visibility
• drives traffic back to your original site, and
• can significantly improve search engine optimization (SEO) through backlinking

Making Money and Improving Business with Content Syndication

1. Expand Reach and Audience Base: By syndicating content to platforms with a larger or different audience, you can attract new visitors to your website. This expanded reach can lead to increased brand awareness and potentially more customers.
2. SEO and Backlink Benefits: When your content is syndicated on reputable sites, any backlinks to your original content can improve your site’s SEO. Better SEO rankings translate to more visibility and traffic, which can be monetized in various ways.
3. Lead Generation: Syndicated content often targets audiences in the research phase of the buyer’s journey. By providing valuable content, you can generate leads that can be nurtured into customers. Including calls-to-action (CTAs) within your content or bio sections is a strategic way to convert readers into leads.
4. Monetization Through Sponsored Content: You can also make direct income from content syndication by partnering with other brands to create sponsored content. This content is then syndicated across various platforms, providing you with a revenue stream while also promoting the sponsor’s brand.
5. Increased Credibility and Authority: Publishing on well-regarded platforms can enhance your brand’s credibility and authority in your industry. This reputational boost can make your business more attractive to customers, partners, and advertisers.
6. Cost-Effective Marketing: Content syndication is a cost-effective marketing strategy. Instead of investing heavily in creating new content for different platforms, you can leverage existing content to engage new audiences.

Best Practices for Content Syndication

• Choose the Right Partners: Select platforms that align with your brand and have audiences that would find your content valuable.
• Monitor SEO Impact: Ensure that syndicated content is properly tagged to avoid being penalized by search engines for duplicate content. Using canonical tags can help search engines understand where the original content comes from.
• Track Performance: Use analytics to track how syndicated content performs. This data can help you refine your strategy and focus on partnerships that offer the best ROI.
• Negotiate Terms: Work out terms that benefit both parties. This could involve exclusivity periods, the type of content to be syndicated, and how it’s presented on third-party sites.

What Are Some Popular Content Syndication Platforms?

Content syndication platforms vary widely in focus and audience, catering to different types of content like articles, infographics, videos, and more.

Here are some popular content syndication platforms across various categories:

General News and Business

1. Medium: A popular platform for a wide range of topics. It’s especially good for thought leadership pieces and reaching a broad audience.
2. LinkedIn: Ideal for professional and business-related content, LinkedIn allows you to publish articles directly on the platform, reaching your professional network and beyond.

Specialized Content

3. SlideShare (Owned by LinkedIn): Specializes in slideshows and professional presentations. Great for B2B audiences and for sharing detailed reports or industry insights.
4. YouTube: The go-to platform for video content syndication. It’s suitable for all kinds of video content, from educational to entertainment.
5. Vimeo: Another video platform that caters more to professional filmmakers and creators, offering high-quality video hosting.

Industry-Specific Platforms

6. TechCrunch: For technology startups and news. Getting your content syndicated here can significantly boost visibility within the tech industry.
7. HuffPost: Covers a broad range of topics from politics to lifestyle. Their contributor platform allows for wide-reaching content syndication opportunities.

Content Syndication Networks

8. Outbrain: A popular choice for placing your content on top media sites across the web, Outbrain works by recommending your content as related reading on other articles.
9. Taboola: Similar to Outbrain, Taboola places your content on various media sites, but with a focus on using predictive analytics to increase engagement.
10. Zemanta: Focuses on promoting blog posts and articles across its network of sites, using a combination of native advertising and content recommendations.

Research and Academic Content

11. ResearchGate: Ideal for academic and research-oriented content, allowing professionals to share papers and findings with a network of peers.

Niche Platforms

12. Behance: For designers and creative professionals to syndicate their portfolios and creative work.
13. SoundCloud: A platform for musicians and podcasters to syndicate audio content.

Utilizing These Platforms

• Strategy and Selection: Choose platforms that align closely with your content’s nature and your target audience’s preferences.
• Quality and Consistency: Ensure your content is high-quality and offers value to the audience on the syndication platform.
• Engagement and Optimization: Engage with the community and optimize your content based on the platform’s best practices to increase visibility and impact.

Each platform has its unique audience and content preferences, so it’s crucial to tailor your content accordingly.

By leveraging these platforms effectively, you can amplify your content’s reach, engage with new audiences, and drive traffic back to your original site.

How Can I Do Content Syndication for Free?

Content syndication for free involves leveraging platforms, networks, and strategies that don’t require monetary investment but can effectively distribute your content to new audiences. Here are some strategies and platforms you can use:

1. Use Free Publishing Platforms

• Medium: Publish your articles on Medium to reach its vast, engaged audience. You can import posts directly from your blog, which can help with SEO through canonical links.
• LinkedIn Articles: Utilize LinkedIn to publish articles directly on your profile. This is especially effective for professional and business-related content.
• Guest Blogging: Offer to write guest posts for blogs and websites in your niche. In return, request that your content includes a link back to your website.

2. Leverage Social Media

• Share on Social Networks: Regularly share your content on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms where your audience hangs out.
• Participate in Groups and Forums: Engage with communities on Facebook Groups, LinkedIn Groups, Reddit, and industry-specific forums by sharing valuable content and participating in discussions.

3. Utilize Content Aggregators

• Reddit: Submit your content to relevant subreddits. Ensure you understand each subreddit’s rules and contribute value to the community.
• Hacker News: For tech-related content, Hacker News can drive significant traffic. The community values high-quality, insightful content.
• Flipboard: Create a magazine on Flipboard and curate your content along with other valuable resources for your audience.

4. Email Newsletters

• Exchange Content with Newsletter Owners: Find newsletter owners in your niche willing to share your content in exchange for you sharing theirs. This can be a great way to reach new, engaged audiences.

5. Syndication on Industry-Specific Sites

• Seek Out Industry Blogs: Many industry-specific blogs and online magazines allow for content submissions or guest posts. Reach out with a well-crafted pitch.
• Contribute to Online Communities: Platforms like Quora or industry-specific forums often allow you to share expertise and content that addresses specific questions or challenges.

6. Use Content Syndication Networks

While many content syndication networks are paid, some offer free tiers or credits to get started. Look for networks that might offer promotions or free trials.

Best Practices for Free Content Syndication

• Quality Over Quantity: Focus on sharing your best content that provides value to the audience of the platform you’re syndicating on.
• Understand Platform Guidelines: Each platform has its rules and best practices for content. Make sure you’re in compliance to avoid getting penalized.
• Track and Measure Success: Use analytics to track the performance of your syndicated content. Understanding what works will help you refine your strategy and focus efforts on the most effective platforms.
• Engage with Your New Audience: As your content reaches new viewers, make an effort to engage with comments and feedback. This helps build a community around your brand.

By leveraging these free content syndication methods, you can increase your content’s visibility, reach new audiences, and drive traffic back to your site without a significant financial investment.

Conclusion

Content syndication can be a great way for improving your business and generating income.

By strategically selecting syndication partners and monitoring the performance of your syndicated content, you can expand your reach, improve your site’s SEO, and ultimately drive more revenue.