1. Search engines don’t buy things. Readers do.

Having many versions of the same article, all saying basically the same thing will tend to turn off readers no matter how high up in the search rankings they may be. Turned off readers, like search engines, won’t buy.

2. The Sandbox is irrelevant

Whether an article gets listed from a particular article directory or not, its still considered a back link.

When that back link comes from a spun article, it counts as a single “yes vote” for that particular article. But if that back link, even if its in the sandbox, is for an article submitted to other directories, the “yes vote” is added to the weight of the listings that article does get which brings it that much higher in the listings.

Now you may be right about a spun article having more of an effect on the search engines. But the result is, you have more listings but a much lower ranking.

Article submission should be viewed the same way as building a web page. You wouldn’t create a 1000 versions of the same blog would you? No, you’d create one blog and build it up with strong content and get 1000s of solid back links for it.

Likewise, building 1000s of back links for one article builds its weight and credibility. In turn, that article with all its clout, pointed at your one blog becomes a serious force for content popularity.

The old saying applies . . .

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” The chain, in this regard is what gets your readers to visit your site. Strong articles with credible ( and readable) information will do the trick.

For example, on one hand you could submit one article to 500 article directories, but in this case, most of them won’t get picked up by the search engines - after a few of them being discovered by them, the rest will end up in supplemental results, which has little bearing on search engine rankings.

On the other hand, if you submit spun articles, more of them would be counted as unique (in theory) by the search engines, resulting in a larger effect on search engine rankings.

Personally, I have done both, and lately I do use an article distribution service that allows spinning. I know that spins don’t always turn out perfect, but I can live with that consequence - basically, I see spinning as a way to leverage my time when it comes to link building.

I am a little sleepy - I hope that makes sense.