So here's my question. This isn't about duplicate content. Google has told us that as long as it's not duped on your own domain, you are fine. I've proven this by submitting my own article to my blog first, and then six months later when I found out about article marketing, I submitted the very same article to 10 directories. The thing is, I used the resource box to link to the main site and then to a similar article. So that boosted the similar article in the serps, but I don't have any data about the article I submitted around. My question is, if you use the same article on your blog first then on several other directories, can you outrank those directories with your own blog? Or will they forever outrank your own blog? If you can defeat the directories, how difficult is that, considering it's a low competition phrase?
Good question and it is one I am testing as we speak. I do not have an answer yet, but hopefully soon. If I get an answer, I will post it on DP...