Short answer: Article submission means publishing an article on another platform with a link back to your website. The old article directories, where anyone could post anything, lost their value years ago because they filled with low-quality content. In 2026, the article submission sites that still work are publishing platforms with real readers, such as Medium, LinkedIn Articles and Substack, plus guest posts on relevant blogs. Expect visibility and readers more than ranking power.
Many SEO training sheets in India still list hundreds of article directories. Most of those sites are dead, full of spun content or ignored by search engines. Here is what to do instead.
Why Old Article Directories Stopped Working
- Anyone could publish, so quality was poor.
- The same article appeared on dozens of sites, creating duplicate content.
- Links existed only to manipulate rankings, which Google’s link spam policies target.
- Readers stopped visiting, so the links brought no traffic either.
Curated Article Submission Sites List
| Platform | Best for | Link value |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Thought leadership and tutorials | Mostly nofollow; good reach through publications |
| LinkedIn Articles | B2B, professionals, agencies | Nofollow; strong professional reach |
| Substack | Newsletters and regular writing | Builds an email audience |
| Hashnode and DEV Community | Developers and tech writing | Active tech audiences; supports canonical links |
| Quora Spaces | Expert answers and short articles | Nofollow; good question-driven traffic |
| Vocal Media | General storytelling | Moderated publishing platform |
| Guest posts on relevant blogs | Real editorial links | The strongest option when the site is relevant |
Policies change. Check each platform’s current link and canonical settings before relying on it.
How to Submit an Article the Right Way
- Write something useful and original, not a copy of your blog post.
- If you republish, use the platform’s canonical link setting, where available, to point to your original.
- Add one natural link to a relevant page on your site, not five keyword-stuffed links.
- Use a complete author profile with your photo, bio and website.
- Share the article with your audience so it gets real readers.
- Track referral visits in Google Analytics.
Article Submission vs Guest Posting
Article submission is self-publishing on an open platform. Guest posting is writing for someone else’s site where an editor approves your work. Guest posting usually earns stronger links. Learn the method in guest posting for backlinks.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Publishing spun or AI-rewritten copies across many sites.
- Stuffing exact-match anchor text. See anchor text types.
- Submitting to directories that accept everything without review.
For the full picture of which submission activities still help, read our off-page SEO submission sites guide.
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Write Content That Earns Links
The SEO course in Faridabad at AdifySkills teaches content and outreach on real websites.
Key takeaways on Article Submission Sites List
- Anyone could publish, so quality was poor.
- PlatformBest forLink value
MediumThought leadership and tutorialsMostly nofollow; good reach through publications
LinkedIn ArticlesB2B, professionals, agencies - Write something useful and original, not a copy of your blog post.
- Article submission is self-publishing on an open platform.
- Publishing spun or AI-rewritten copies across many sites.
- The SEO course in Faridabad at AdifySkills teaches content and outreach on real websites.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Is article submission still useful for SEO?
Classic article directories are not. Publishing on platforms with real readers and guest posting still help.
Are Medium backlinks dofollow?
Most Medium links are nofollow, but the platform can bring readers.
Can I post the same article on many sites?
Avoid it. If you republish, use canonical links and adapt the content.
How many links should an article include?
One or two natural, relevant links are enough.
Related Reading
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