So, you’ve been pouring your heart into your blog, writing killer posts and engaging your audience, but now you’re wondering, “What’s next?” You’ve probably heard the term “blog syndication” thrown around, but what does it really mean, and more importantly, is it worth your time? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Blog syndication can feel a bit like uncharted territory at first, but once you get the hang of it, it can become a powerful tool in your blogging toolkit. Let’s break it down and figure out when and how to share your content, and most importantly, why you should even consider it.
What is blog syndication, anyway?
Before we get into the when and how, let’s define what is blog syndication. Essentially, syndicating your content means allowing other platforms or websites to republish your blog posts, often word-for-word. Sounds a bit scary at first, right? The thought of someone else hosting your hard-earned work can be unsettling. But, when done right, it can drive a ton of traffic back to your original blog and help you grow your audience.
Think of it like giving your content a second life. It’s still yours — you wrote it — but now it’s reaching new eyeballs on different platforms, and those readers might just become your next subscribers or clients.
When should you syndicate your content?
Now that you know what blog syndication is, the next question is: When is the right time to do it? The short answer? Once you’ve got your blog content game strong and want to expand your reach.
If you’re still in the early stages of your blog, focusing on building a solid foundation with unique, valuable content should be your priority. But once you’ve got that flow going and a good library of posts under your belt, syndication can help boost your visibility. Here are a few signs that it might be time to start syndicating.
You’ve built a decent archive of high-quality posts
If you’ve got a few cornerstone pieces or evergreen content (the kind that stays relevant over time), these are great candidates for syndication.
You’re ready to grow your audience beyond your usual traffic sources
Maybe your organic reach through SEO and social media is steady, but you want to tap into new audiences.
You’re getting noticed
If you’ve started receiving some traction or attention from larger platforms, it could be a signal that syndicating your work could lead to even bigger exposure.
How does blog syndication work?
Now comes the fun part: Figuring out how to syndicate your content. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, and there are a few ways to go about it.
Self-syndication
One of the easiest ways to start syndicating is by doing it yourself. This could mean reaching out to other bloggers, websites or platforms and pitching your existing content to them. Some larger websites, like Medium or LinkedIn, make it super easy to republish your blog posts by allowing direct imports of your existing articles.
To self-syndicate:
- Do your research: Look for websites or platforms that align with your niche. There’s no point in syndicating a recipe blog on a tech platform.
- Reach out: Many websites have a “contribute” or “submit” section where you can pitch your posts. Make sure you know their guidelines before submitting.
- Track your results: Pay attention to how much traffic and engagement your syndicated posts generate. This will help you fine-tune your strategy.
Syndication networks
If you’d rather not spend time manually syndicating your content, syndication networks are the way to go. These are services that handle the syndication process for you. They take your content and republish it on various platforms, giving you credit and linkbacks to your original post.
Popular syndication networks include:
- Medium’s Partner Program: This lets you syndicate posts with a built-in audience. Plus, you can even monetize your content.
- Outbrain: This service distributes your content across a wide network of sites to drive more traffic.
- Taboola: Similar to Outbrain, Taboola places your content on other popular websites, helping to grow your reach.
Guest blogging
While not strictly syndication, guest blogging is another way to get your content in front of new audiences. When you guest post on a well-established blog, you expose your writing (and your blog) to readers who may not have discovered you otherwise. The key here is to choose blogs relevant to your niche and that you could offer real value to their audience.
The benefits of blog syndication
Now that you know how to syndicate your blog posts, let’s talk about why you’d want to do it. What’s in it for you?
Expanded reach
The most obvious benefit of syndicating your content is putting your work in front of a whole new audience. When your post appears on a larger site, you expose yourself to readers who may have never come across your blog otherwise. And if they like what they read, they’re likely to click through to your blog and see what else you’ve got to offer.
Boosted credibility
Syndication can also lend your blog an air of credibility. When your content gets featured on well-respected platforms, it signals to both readers and search engines that you’re producing quality work. This can lead to more backlinks, better SEO and an overall stronger online presence.
Increased traffic
Of course, one of the major benefits of syndication is the potential for a traffic boost. When other websites republish your content, they usually include a link back to your original post, driving traffic to your blog. Just make sure you’re syndicating on sites that have a good amount of traffic themselves, or it won’t have much of an impact.
A few things to keep in mind
While blog syndication has a ton of perks, it’s not without its challenges. There are a few things you should keep in mind before diving in.
Duplicate content
One of the biggest concerns with syndicating content is duplicate content — basically, Google doesn’t like seeing the same article published in multiple places. However, most big syndication platforms (like Medium) make sure they mark your syndicated post with a canonical link, meaning Google knows the original source.
Maintaining ownership
Always ensure that when you syndicate your content, you’re retaining ownership. Some platforms might try to claim exclusive rights to your content once it’s published, which could prevent you from republishing it elsewhere. Be sure to read the fine print before you hit “submit.”
Wrapping it up
Blog syndication isn’t as complicated as it seems once you get the hang of it. It’s a fantastic way to grow your audience, build your credibility and increase traffic without constantly pumping new content. When done right, it can help you reach new heights with your blog.
So, is it time to give your blog posts a new lease on life? If you’re ready to expand your reach and share your work with a wider audience, blog syndication might just be the perfect next step!
Mandy is a co-founder of Brilliant Bloggers and Food Drink Life, as well as the creator behind Splash of Taste and seven other high-profile blogs. Her work has been featured in major outlets including NBC, Daily News, Boston Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Odessa American, The Voice and Orlando Sentinel. Apart from being an enthusiastic cook, she is a passionate traveler who has a mission to explore as many countries around the world as she can. She is forward-thinking and always has her eyes open to spot the next big trend and opportunities.