Article directories are the key to getting your article in front of editors, bloggers, and newsletter publishers who are in need of high-quality content for their audience. There are literally hundreds of possible directories, some large and some small, some targeted and some general. To save you some legwork, here’s an overview of the ten largest online article directories, and details on their submission process.

1. EzineArticles.com

Ezine Articles is by far the largest and most popular article directory. Ezine Articles is one of the oldest article directories, and its age serves it well. Since its inception in 1999, millions of users have logged on to submit and download articles. There are more than 30 parent categories with dozens of sub-categories on every imaginable topic. Don’t let the size scare you; this is one of the first stops when editors need content, so your chances of being picked up are high. And the sub-categories and search functions make it easy to target articles. Submission is free, although you are allowed ten article submissions to start. Further submission credits are awarded, based on quality.

2. ArticlesBase.com

ArticlesBase.com has one of the highest site traffic rankings from among article directories, and it boasts more than two million articles. Front page listings include “Editor’s Picks,” highlighting six of the most popular articles, and “Latest Free Articles,” which is updated frequently. Writers can find Article Writing Tips and an Author Spotlight which showcases the talents of various writers. Submission is free.

3. ArticleSnatch Article Directory

ArticleSnatch offers a huge selection of free reprint article categories including several less-common sub-categories such as Humor, Language, Philosophy, Poetry, Ethics, and so on. These well-defined sub-categories make it easier to categorize your articles according to your specific niche. Submission is free.

4. GoArticles.com

More than 185,000 authors have submitted more than two million articles to GoArticles.com since it was founded in 1993. As part of the Jayde Online Network, GoArticles.com considers itself “The Web’s Largest Free Content Article Directory.” Whether that’s true or not, it is one of the largest and definitely a place to submit your articles for potential publication on other sites. Submission is free.

5. ArticleAlley.com

Article Alley offers dozens of categories, including automotive, business, dating, fashion, and music. Submission is free.

6. Article Dashboard

Article Dashboard has one of the largest category listings for free reprint articles online with thousands of available articles. What really sets this site apart, however, is their free Article Dashboard software. The software allows users to start an article directory of their own at no cost. Submission is free.

7. IdeaMarketers

While IdeaMarketers is one of the top-ranked article directories, they are much more focused on quality than similar sites. Not only is the layout more professional than many other directories, but IdeaMarketers offers a Bid-For-Promotion System that lets writers pay for more prominent placement of their articles, which can dramatically increase the number of times an article is published. Basic submission level is free.

8. Amazines

Amazines is one of the oldest article directory sites with hundreds of thousands of free articles in a multitude of categories. In addition, they also offer a huge free ezine directory, blog directory and article feeds that webmasters can use to add automatically updated content to their sites in minutes. Submission is free.

9. Article Rich

Article Rich is a clean, easy-to-navigate article directory that’s been online since 2005. Boasting over 360,000 articles by more than 75,000 authors, the site includes a number of popular categories. In addition, the front page highlights 20 featured articles as well as two featured authors, adding the potential for greater exposure for you and your articles. Submision is free

10. SearchWarp

Another long-time Internet resident, Search Warp allows a variety of topic categories. But unlike some of the other article directories, they don’t accept what they consider to be “high-spam topics” or those promoting such concepts as gambling, casinos, pharmaceuticals, prescriptions drugs, lending, mortgages, credit cards, SEO, affiliate marketing, network marketing, MLM, and several other taboo subjects. Submission is free.
There are many more article directories available online, but consistently submitting your site to these top 10 article directories will ensure you a tremendous amount of exposure and help build your online reputation as you attract targeted traffic to your website or blog.