With an impressive 90% of leading marketers using content syndication, it’s obvious this approach isn’t just a passing phase.

Content Syndication acts like a strong engine, pushing your content onto many different platforms.

For a beginner, the term might sound complex, but at its core, it’s like having many doors to one grand room—the room being your prized content. 

New to this concept? Don’t worry! This step-by-step guide is tailor-made to navigate beginners through the essentials.

By the end, you’ll be well-equipped to leverage content syndication for your brand. Ready to dive in? 

Let’s get started on maximizing your content’s visibility.

What is Content Syndication?

Content syndication is the process of distributing and republishing your content on third-party websites or platforms. This can include articles, blog posts, videos, infographics, and other types of digital content. 

The primary goal of content syndication is to broaden your reach, driving more traffic back to your original content or website and enhancing brand visibility.

However, it’s essential to approach content syndication with a strategy in mind. Proper attribution, ensuring non-competitive placements, and avoiding duplicate content issues in search engines are just a few considerations to keep in mind.

Why is Syndicating Content Important?

Maximizing your content’s reach is vital in the competitive digital landscape.

1. Extended Content Visibility: Syndication magnifies your content’s reach, broadcasting it to wider, untapped audiences.
2. Republishing Impact: Each republishing renews audience engagement, reinforcing your brand’s credibility and message.
3. New Traffic Sources: Beyond visibility, syndication actively drives readers back to your site, unveiling more of your offerings.
4. Backlink Opportunities: Syndication can bolster your SEO through quality backlinks, enhancing search engine rankings.
5. Market Expansion: Dive into new markets and demographics by choosing diverse syndication partners, broadening your brand’s horizon.

Harnessing the power of content syndication can be the game-changer in your digital strategy, transforming your content from mere words into influential messages with far-reaching effects.

Steps to Perform Content Syndication

Content syndication is a strategic approach to expand your content’s reach. By systematically selecting, optimizing, and partnering with the right platforms, you can amplify visibility, engage new audiences, and elevate your brand’s digital footprint.

Step 1: Identify Your Goals and Objectives

Before diving into the world of content syndication, it’s essential to have a clear roadmap. And the best way to start your journey? 

Outline your goals and objectives. This step is like setting your destination before embarking on a trip.

Here’s why this step matters:

• Direction: Knowing your goals gives your syndication strategy a sense of direction. It ensures that every effort you make aligns with your desired outcome.
• Measurement: Once you’ve set clear objectives, it becomes easier to measure your success and adjust your approach if needed.

What to consider when setting goals:

• Audience Growth: Are you aiming to increase your readership or viewership?
• Brand Awareness: Perhaps you want to make more people familiar with your brand or product.
• Engagement: Do you want to boost interactions, comments, or shares?
• Lead Generation: Maybe your primary aim is to gather more potential customer details.

Remember, content syndication isn’t just about spreading content; it’s about reaching the right people with the right message. By identifying your goals and objectives upfront, you’re setting the stage for more targeted, effective syndication efforts.

Step 2: Choose the Right Content for Syndication

With your goals set, the next step is to sift through your content library. Not all content is created equal, especially when it comes to syndication. Picking the right pieces to share is like choosing the best outfit for an important event.

Here’s why this selection is crucial:

• Relevance: The chosen content should resonate with the new audience. It’s about matching their interests and needs.
• Evergreen Value: Content that remains relevant over time, like how-to guides or tips, often does well in syndication.
• Quality Over Quantity: It’s tempting to share everything, but it’s more beneficial to syndicate your best-performing and high-quality pieces.

Factors to consider when picking content:

• Performance Metrics: Look at past content metrics. Which articles or videos had the highest engagement or traffic?
• Feedback: Which pieces have received positive comments or feedback? These often indicate audience appreciation.
• Completeness: Ensure the content is comprehensive. It should stand on its own, even when read by someone unfamiliar with your brand.
• Shareability: Think about whether the content has elements that make it share-worthy, like compelling visuals or intriguing data.

Selecting the right content ensures you’re putting your best foot forward. By offering value and relevance, you’ll enhance the chances of your syndicated content making a lasting impression.

Step 3: Select Suitable Syndication Partners

Once you’ve handpicked your content, it’s time to choose where it will shine. This step is akin to finding the right stage for a talented performer. Your content, no matter how exceptional, needs the right partner to ensure it reaches its intended audience.

Here’s the significance of this selection:

• Audience Match: It’s essential that the syndication partner caters to an audience that aligns with your target demographic.
• Credibility: Associating with reputable partners enhances your brand’s trustworthiness and image.
• Mutual Benefit: A good syndication relationship is a two-way street. Both parties should see value in the partnership.

Things to consider when seeking partners:

• Audience Insights: Does the potential partner’s audience align with your target market? Check their demographics and engagement levels.
• Reputation: Look into the partner’s standing in the industry. Positive reviews, awards, or recognitions can be good indicators.
• Content Fit: Assess if your content complements their existing content. It should add value without being repetitive.
• Terms of Syndication: Before finalizing, understand the terms. Will they provide backlinks? How will attribution work?

Finding the right syndication partners isn’t just about broadening reach; it’s about ensuring that your content lands in places where it can truly make an impact. 

Step 4: Establish Syndication Agreements and Guidelines

With potential partners identified, the next pivotal step is laying down the rules of the game. Think of this as setting boundaries in a new relationship. Both parties should be clear about expectations to ensure smooth sailing.

Here’s the importance of having clear agreements:

• Protection: Having a well-defined agreement safeguards your content from misuse or misrepresentation.
• Clarity: It ensures both you and your partner understand and respect each other’s requirements and limits.
• Consistency: Guidelines ensure your brand is represented consistently, maintaining its identity and integrity.

Key elements to include in your syndication agreements:

• Attribution: Detail how your brand and original content will be credited. This is crucial for brand recognition and SEO benefits.
• Duration: Specify the time frame for which the content can be syndicated. Do you want it up indefinitely or for a set period?
• Modification Rights: Decide if the partner can modify your content, and if so, to what extent.
• Distribution Channels: Identify where the content can be shared. Is it exclusive to their website, or can it also go on their social media?
• Performance Metrics: Discuss if and how the partner will share metrics like engagement, views, or conversions linked to your content.

Setting up comprehensive agreements and guidelines might seem tedious, but they’re foundational. With them in place, you’re poised for a harmonious and effective syndication journey.

Step 5: Optimize Content for Syndication

Having pinpointed your content and partners, it’s time to give your content the final touch-up. Think of this as prepping a dish for a potluck; you want it to stand out and suit the event’s context. Tailoring your content for syndication ensures it resonates well with the new audience and platform.

Here’s why optimization is key:

• Adaptability: Every platform has its unique audience and format. Your content should feel native and not out of place.
• Engagement: Tweaks can make your content more captivating, prompting higher interactions and shares.
• Searchability: Proper optimization can enhance the content’s visibility on search engines, amplifying its reach.

Steps to optimize your content:

• Format Adjustments: Adapt the content to suit the partner’s platform. This could mean changing the layout, using different visuals, or adjusting the content length.
• Keyword Integration: Incorporate keywords relevant to the new platform or audience to boost search engine ranking.
• Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Update or add CTAs that guide the new audience towards desired actions, be it signing up, reading more, or making a purchase.
• Internal Links: Ensure that links within the content lead to relevant and active pages on your website, enhancing the user journey.
• Feedback Incorporation: If you’ve received noteworthy feedback on the original content, consider making refinements.

Optimizing content for syndication is like fine-tuning an instrument. With the right adjustments, your content is primed to perform beautifully, no matter where it’s showcased.

Step 6: Monitor and Analyze Syndication Performance

Once your content is out in the world through syndication, the journey isn’t over. It’s akin to setting a ship to sail; you must keep an eye on its course to ensure it reaches its destination. Monitoring and analyzing how your content performs post-syndication is essential to gauge its impact and refine future strategies.

Here’s why tracking performance is indispensable:

• Insights: Monitoring provides a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not, giving you invaluable insights.
• Adjustments: With real-time data, you can make necessary adjustments to your content or syndication strategy.
• Value Check: It helps in determining if the partnership is yielding the desired results and value for both parties.

Steps to monitor and analyze performance:

• Traffic Metrics: Track the number of visitors, bounce rate, and time spent on your content. Tools like Google Analytics can be handy for this.
• Engagement Indicators: Measure likes, shares, comments, and other interactions to gauge audience involvement.
• Lead Generation: Monitor how many new leads or subscribers you’re gaining through syndicated content.
• SEO Impact: Keep an eye on your content’s search engine ranking to ensure that syndication isn’t causing duplicate content issues.
• Feedback Loop: Maintain open communication with your syndication partner to receive feedback and performance stats they might have.

By keeping a vigilant eye on how your syndicated content is faring, you’re not just gathering data; you’re gathering insights. These insights are the stepping stones for future content strategies, ensuring your efforts continue to bear fruit.

Step 7: Maintain Relationships and Optimize Strategy

Once the groundwork of syndication is laid and in motion, ongoing maintenance takes center stage. 

Cultivating strong relationships with your syndication partners and continually refining your strategy are the cornerstones of long-term success.

Here’s the significance of this ongoing effort:

• Sustainability: Good relationships foster trust and pave the way for future collaborations, ensuring a sustainable syndication strategy.
• Adaptability: The digital landscape is dynamic. Regular strategy optimization ensures you remain relevant and effective.
• Feedback Integration: Continuous interaction with partners provides insights that can be vital for future content creation and syndication.

Key actions for maintaining and optimizing:

• Regular Check-ins: Touch base with your partners periodically. This not only strengthens the bond but also helps in understanding any evolving needs or challenges.
• Performance Reviews: Revisit the performance metrics periodically and discuss them with your partner to identify areas of improvement.
• Content Updates: As your content evolves or new trends emerge, share updated or fresh content with your syndication partners.
• Feedback Channels: Create open channels for feedback, both from your partners and the audience, to inform your strategy.
• Stay Informed: Keep an eye on industry trends and best practices in content syndication to ensure your approach remains cutting-edge.

In content syndication, building and nurturing relationships is as crucial as the content itself. By maintaining strong ties and a finger on the pulse of your strategy’s performance, you set the stage for ongoing success and growth.

Top 10 Content Syndication Sites

These sites can help amplify your content’s reach, targeting diverse audiences and niches:

1. Outbrain: A popular platform that recommends your content on top media sites, boosting its visibility.
2. Taboola: Similar to Outbrain, it showcases your pieces alongside related articles on major websites.
3. Zemanta: A content promotion tool that places your content in relevant online spaces, ensuring a targeted reach.
4. Medium: A thriving community of readers and writers, where you can republish and gain a fresh set of eyes on your content.
5. LinkedIn Pulse: An excellent platform for professionals, here you can share insights and articles relevant to your industry.
6. SlideShare: Perfect for visual content like presentations, it allows users to share and discover slide decks on various topics.
7. SlidesAI: It is a top presentation tool that provides an engaging and interactive platform for creating visually appealing slides, SlidesAI empowers users to craft professional presentations with ease.
8. Scoop.it: A content curation platform that lets you gather, present, and share content on specific themes.
9. Business2Community: A space that welcomes contributions on business practices, trends, and insights, making it ideal for B2B content.
10. Contently: This platform bridges brands with professional content creators, ensuring quality content that’s syndicated efficiently.
11. Quora: While primarily a Q&A platform, Quora’s blogs feature allows users to publish and syndicate content to a curious and engaged community.

Exploring these sites can give your content a significant boost, placing it right where it needs to be to capture attention and engagement.

Conclusion

Content syndication is a powerful tool in the digital landscape, offering brands and writers a pathway to reach wider audiences and amplify their message. 

For beginners, diving into this realm can seem overwhelming, but with a step-by-step approach, the process becomes manageable and rewarding.

By identifying goals, selecting the right content, forging beneficial partnerships, and continuously refining strategies, you set the foundation for a successful syndication journey. 

And remember, like any strategy, it’s all about learning, iterating, and optimizing. Embrace the opportunities content syndication offers, and watch your content’s impact grow exponentially.

Frequently Asked Questions

Marketing Analytics: 8 Best Ways to Track Your Online Marketing Activity

2 years ago by erika 11 min read No comments

Do you know how profitable your marketing campaigns are? Have… […]

Read More… from Marketing Analytics: 8 Best Ways to Track Your Online Marketing Activity