Why should I submit my unique article to an article directory when I can startup my own Squidoo lense based around that article? Which do you think has a better SEO advantage?
Squidoo becomes outdated. Still article directories are giving descent traffic. So better go with Article Directories!
The advantage of a Squidoo lens is that you can update it afterwards, plus you get a share of the revenue.
Short answer is try BOTH! Long answer is depends what you want to achieve. If you want lots of backlinks then submit to article directories. If you want social media presence that'll look good on your web profile then go for Squidoo. Still, I would go for both.
They are two very different tools. Why are you trying to compare them on equal grounds? Squidoo is for marketing or pitching a product. It is the end goal for your other marketing efforts. You want traffic to end up at your lens so you can sell stuff. Article Marketing is strictly for mass distribution and establishing backlinks that LEAD to your Squidoo lens or other site. Use the right tool for the right job and you'll get good results.
Well, if you have a unique article it's better to just submit it to one website for proper SEO ethics. If I got 3 or 4 times as much traffic from creating a Squidoo lense then why would I waste my time submitting to article directories? Just an example.
Do both and go further by adding 3 bloggs linked to your main site and also have 3 lenses linked to your main site. Your traffic and page rating will go wild.
I normally take couple of articles together and put some images to make a squidoo lense. Though I don't know how effective it is.