Are paid article sites value for money

[desktop_nev]

As a SEO beginner I am still unsure of the best way to build links.

I have a article which I'd like to distribute, I've used sites like ezinearticles.com however I feel this is too general so I've targeted some sites which are associated to the industry. Many of the sites I've discovered charge a hefty fee. Before I take the plunge and spend money (I'm a Yorkshireman) I'd like the thoughts and opinions of SEO experts.

Is this common practice or are there better, more cost effective ways?

Thanks in advance,
Neville

[EGOL]

I have the opposite opinion.

If I have a great article they would have to pay me to publish it on their site.  But they probably would not be willing to do that because I would be asking a stoopid price for publishing rights.

I want that great article on my own site where my visitors can read it, where it will pull search traffic to me and where I will enjoy any likes, links tweets, shares, etc.

(Some might ask... "What if the article is crap?"... If it's crap then only a crap site will republish it.   That is a huge waste of time!)

Lots of people will disagree with me and maybe a few of those people can get their articles place on CNN or the NYT  or  the LAT.    If they can do that they have a good thing.  But if you are getting $4 articles and having them published on pissantdaily.com then I think you are wasting your time.

[jesse-landry]

+1 to Egol. Drop that article on your blog located on your domain and promote it socially and get people reading it. Forget sharing your article and spreading it out.. Duplicating it is a bad idea anyway.

If it's great it's going to draw attention. Make that attention point to you.