I know that unique content on your site is the major first step in developing a legitimate, search engine optimized site. I have many copy written, unique articles on my site which aids in my unique content goal. However, here is my question: By submitting these articles to article directories, does that in turn make my content, although it legally is mine, non-unique because now my content is being reproduced all over the web? Is it better to submit articles that I do not put on my site? or does it not matter? Thank you for any advice.

I searched the Daniweb archives for some info on this and did not find an answer to my specific question, so I do apologize if this question is redundant.

Don't bother. Article submissions are dead. Thanks to duplicate content being filtered out by Google and possibly the other search engines those articles being republished on other websites will be virtually worthless. They won't be found in searches and thus will generate little traffic to send to your site. They will have little to no PR as no one will be finding them to link to them so you won't be getting any PR. Since they are filtered out as duplicate content links from them have virtually no weight whatsoever.

If you are going to write articles your best bet is to make them high quality and publish them on your website only. That way you get all of the credit (i.e. links and PR) and make yourself look like an authority on the topic your website is about.

Stymiee, Thank you so much for your input. You always have wonderful information.

I agree with stymiee, best to use your article to your site or blog rather than throwing it to garbage.

yeah,article content should be unique.Keyword rich and check the keyword density too
If we copy the content from other site,google spam your site ,sometimes it will be banned your site. Do article submission in ezines article,it is frequently cached .and there are other article submission sites too.
Please avoid duplicate content.

When doing article Submission, try using different anchor text, titles and variation of content. This will help you gain good PR and traffic too.

i have noticed when i keep my articles on my site, i rank better for them. i tried to write articles and submit, then the article was ranking higher than me. for my own article!

Maybe the page you submitted your article is of Higher PR than yours??

I have the articles on the site but no rank to be found! I am at a lose, lol

nope its better to put your articles in your own site.you could better submit to social bookmarking sites.this will generate links and traffic.