Most of us get upset when someone steals our words and passes them off as their own. Some folks get their panties (or undies – probably unwashed with holes in them) in a bunch if someone uses a picture they took, even if they get a link. If you don’t want your ideas or content to be stolen, the only preventative is to not publish it. In my opinion, once it’s on the web, it becomes less yours anyway. Even if it is yours, it’s not that important. However, I avoid using other people’s ideas as often as possible. Really, the only way to write originally is to write fiction, poetry, about your cat, your opinion—everything else comes from someone else; otherwise, you wouldn’t know about it in the first place.
Indirect Plagiarism
Plagiarism is usually defined as stealing content word for word and passing it off as your own. But there is another type of plagiarism I call indirect plagiarism. This is where a site owner writes articles about things already written in thousands of other articles.
For Example:
200 Super-Awesome-Killer Twitter Tips: If you write an article about Twitter Tips, it is already pre-plagiarized and thus 100% unoriginal (even with whipped cream & cherries).
50 Ultra Bad-Ass Blogging Tips: There is no such thing as an original blogging tip.
Where do you draw the line on writing things already written? I know one money blogger who has started like 40 other blogs and rehashed the same articles from his own and thousands of other sites—and people actually read it! Is it plagiarism when you write the same crap other people write? Sure you title the post something different or reword the same information a hundred different ways, but is it really reformulated thievery? Here are some articles I generally don’t read or write about:
- How to comment on blogs
- How to get tons of comments on blogs
- How to make money on line
- How to write better articles
- How to use keywords
- How to increase traffic
- How to gain Twitter followers
- How to use social networking
- How to improve your life with the Law of Attraction
My blogging tip is to not write blogging tips. It’s much like McDonald’s commercials: we get it, you are the fast food restaurant that makes hamburgers. My Twitter tip is to never write Twitter tips.
Final Word
Now, having said all this, what can we do to make an article more original? Does it even matter? I’ve seen thousands of bloggers create successful blogs writing the same exact information already written on thousands of others. I consider myself much more of a writer than a blogger, so I tend to read the sites of writers, or deep thinker oriented blogs (they have no problem being highly original).
If I open a hamburger restaurant, am I just a copy-cat plagiarist burger peddler? What makes people eat at the most popular chains anyways? I’m sorry, but McDonald’s makes terrible food and people still pour in like flies. The same is true of the biggest most popular sites (mostly). Their articles are uninspired. I can write a better one myself and so can you. I can read a better one on 50,000 less popular sites. I can cook the best hamburger in my own kitchen. Some of the most original sites are silly comedy sites!
Here are my ideas on how to have a more original site:
- Add personality to every article
- Be less professional and more real
- Don’t automate anything (like email marketing): getting an email from a big site is like getting a Christmas card from an insurance salesman—it goes straight in the trash.
- Add your opinion to every post (no matter what it’s about)
- Take chances and write something different than your normal fare
- Become a better writer. This will do more than anything else and make your articles taste better than the flavorless industrial articles.
There’s nothing worse in my Internet travels than to read articles which are basically reworded copies of others. It may not be plagiarism per se, but it’s almost the same thing when you really think about it. It’s extremely unoriginal.
- What say you?
- What do you do to make your articles more original?
- When you come across 95% of all sites does it feel like déjà vu?
- My main goal in blogging is for people to read my fiction stories and interact with lots of cool people. What’s yours?
#1 by Mitchell Allen at March 15th, 2009
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Bobby, you scalawag!
There are many original blogging tips yet to be unearthed.
You are the creator of at least two.
(The readers are encouraged to hunt through the 2007 archives to find both of these wondrous gems!)
I have a blogging tip: eat a Quarter Pounder and drink three milkshakes. Then sit at the computer and see how many sentences you can type before you barf all over your keyboard.
Here’s the tip: THE LAST SENTENCE YOU WROTE BEFORE YOU HURLED IS YOUR BEST! Now, expound on it before the keys get all sticky.
Your thoughts on plagiarism made me howl with laughter. “…you wouldn’t know about it in the first place.” That is priceless!
My main goal in blogging is to get my ideas out there for others to plagiarize.
I started the Internet Marxist Propaganda and I’m waiting for publishers to catch on.
Lately, I only reach the web via Twitter suggestions. My home page is set to mentalfloss.com and that’s all new enough to keep me busy.
To make my articles more original, I use the word Mitchell in strategic places. I caught one pilfering blogger that way.
Anyway, I’m glad you’re out and about on the info superhighway, spray-painting your handle on the minds of your readers.
Cheers,
Mitch
#2 by Revellian at March 15th, 2009
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Hey Mitch! That’s a great tip, but if I get any more vomit on my keyboard, it will be completely unusable. I actually think it’s OK to write about stuff everyone already knows as long as you inject lots of useful opinion and make it entertaining. For the first time ever, I actually spent 30 minutes adding twitter followers, and checked out the sites of those particular users. They are all the same. Most are like copies of Problogger’s site. Even his site has become a mockery of itself, but he’s doing what he does and never ventures outside of what earns him the most money (of course I don’t blame him and his site is useful every now and again).
I agree with your blogging goal. To be plagiarized in blogging is the highest compliment. We should all dream of being copied
#3 by Melissa Donovan at March 15th, 2009
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Just last month I was the victim of indirect plagiarism. A girl wrote me to let me know she was linking to my site and days later she published an article that had the exact same content and structure as one of my recent articles, which happened to include a link to her website. Uh, hello.
On the other hand, I’ve written posts and then found posts on other blogs in a similar vein afterwards. Recently I was actually working on a particular article only to discover one of the A-list bloggers beat me to the punch. I canceled the post. It happens.
I just focus on publishing content that I think my readers will find useful. Since my site is primarily creative writing tips, it’s my goal to collect the best insights for creative writers and share them all in one place. So far, I haven’t found another blog that’s doing the same thing.
#4 by Revellian at March 15th, 2009
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Hi Melissa! Well, I think it’s fine to write articles similar to others, it happens a million times per day. I had something similar happen to me where a person asked me if it was OK to link to my article (which I of course don’t mind nor require permission), but they cut and pasted 80% of it hahaha. At least they put it in quotations.
You have a great site and above all, are very committed to your readers which is nice. I write some “writing creativity” posts, and I try to make sure they are different from others. Just because an A-lister beat you to the punch doesn’t mean you shouldn’t publish it. This very article was plagiarized from several others I wrote last year, but I like the message so I keep writing it in different ways. I honestly don’t read many A-list blogs, so if I write something similar to them, it is purely coincidence. A-listers steal from less popular sites every day and take credit for other people’s ideas
#5 by Selma at March 15th, 2009
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I can’t stand those rehashed sites. Drive me mad. I just won’t read them. I think it’s important to be true to yourself, particularly when you write. Write about things that mean something to you, not about things you think will drive more traffic to your site. I don’t see the point of doing it any other way unless you actually want to be a mindless drone bent on search engine optimization. Quality always shines through, I think!
#6 by Svasti at March 15th, 2009
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Well, I pretty much mostly write about my own inner reflections, spirituality and experiences. Occaisionally I’ll write about other stuff – like the recent bushfires in my country. And then there’s the odd bit of original poetry or prose that’s an artistic expression of what’s going on for me. So… generally I can’t imagine writing about the same stuff other people write about. Except through complete accident or where they’ve also had similar experiences.
#7 by Revellian at March 15th, 2009
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@Selma: To be honest, I have never written any article with an audience in mind, I just write whatever I feel like on any given day. The only thing positive I can say about the droves of cookie-cutter seo/marketing sites is that many take in a staggering amount of money, so I can’t hold it against them. On the other hand, a lot of writer oriented blogs (with writers who want to be published) have too much “artistic integrity” and deprive themselves of success by not learning anything about marketing. But yes, quality and passion are what I like most!
@Svasti: You definitely don’t fall into the category of plagiarism-bent blogger I’m referring to. I write posts like this to poke fun at marketing sites and get under their skin lol
#8 by Miss Moneypenny at March 15th, 2009
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Hi Bobby!
@ “the only preventative is to not publish it,” Well said and so true… based on my travels throughout the Black Holes of Google’s Blogging empire which also indirectly includes WordPress and other Blogging Platforms, there seems to be very few original writers online.
For comical Originality, I really, really, really enjoy photoshopping interesting subjects like U!!!
U should see some of my Revellian comics that are locked up in my Photoshop closet screaming to be let out! 
#9 by YogaforCynics at March 15th, 2009
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Original blogging tips:
In promoting your blog, nothing beats walking into the busy computer room of a large library (preferably with 25+ computers, all in use) in a ski mask with an automatic weapon. Just hold up that rifle, tell ‘em your blog URL and watch your stats rise….
Almost as effective is going to college drinking parties in the early morning hours and tattooing your URL on the foreheads of passed out undergrads.
If you’re writing a personal blog and concerned about whether you really want your dirty laundry displayed to the world, try writing your posts in a made-up language.
If you can’t come up with original content, try finding an original combination of unoriginal content. For instance: Bible verses and bestiality porn.
For more comments, try insulting the beliefs, racial backgrounds, nationalities, genders, and sexual orientations of your readers.
Now just try and tell me you’ve seen those tips elsewhere….
#10 by Revellian at March 16th, 2009
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@Debbie: I often crack up when I see sites sport a “creative commons” license on their home page for protection. It is absolutely useless and unneeded and of course no thief will pay attention to it. I am nervously wondering what kind of sick comics you’ve created with that picture of my uncle Ray? One day, I will let people see what I really look like, but I’m only 11 years old, so I may get in trouble
@Yogaforcynics: Hmm…yes, those are great blogging tips—especially for Christian teenagers wanting to start their first clandestine blog. The next time I rob a library by gun point, I’ll be sure to yell out my url instead of just taking their wallets & library cards
#11 by meleah rebeccah at March 16th, 2009
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I agree. You are MUCH more of a WRITER than a BLOGGER. But either way, I dig your words.
#12 by Melinda at March 16th, 2009
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Hi Bobby,
Plagiarism is a hot button issue with me–because it is so rampant in academia right now. With the advent of the Internet and lightening quick access to all kinds of information–it is just so easy for people to find material and pass it off as their own.
As a matter of fact, I just graded a student’s paper (one who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer) and he literally cut and pasted an entire paper from an Internet source–only *silly him* because he accidentally cut and pasted the URL inforation, which was located at the bottom of the paper. I clicked on the link he so helpfully provided me and Voila! There was his entire paper, word for word.
I would not be surprised if we actually started to see lawsuits concerning intellectual property on the Internet. It’s been so uncontrolled but I have to think that’s going to have to change soon.
This was an interesting and inforative post, Bobby–and I promise not to plagiarize what you wrote.
Melinda
p.s. Abbey Hoffman–an old Yippie in the 60′s who turned yuppie in the 80′s wrote a very entertaining book called “Steal This Book” — I think you would find it pretty interesting!
#13 by Lulu A at March 16th, 2009
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“f you don’t want your ideas or content to be stolen, the only preventative is to not publish it. In my opinion, once it’s on the web, it becomes less yours anyway.”——–you are right about this, some people complain because they think somebody else’s stolen their hm creative ideas? ( that’s what they often say, hehe.) SImple rule I have to make myself ” Don’t publish unless you want others to read.” and other similar rules related to blogging or publishing photos or articles online.
Honestly, it is sometimes hard to find ideas what to write. One of the sources of my writing is through travel experiences; these may also be written already by some, say, backpackers, or lonelyplanet teams. But at least, I will share my own experience, and I hope that can be a helpful source for those who wish to travel to the same place as I have traveled to.
I feel uncomfortable writing something pointless, but sometimes my desire to write is unbearable, only that I lack of ideas sometimes ( sigh)
When commenting, there is a time when I really don’t know what to say, but hey I will say that ” I don’t know what to say.” then something magical coming, all of sudden I can say something, hehe. Okay the point is I am trying to be critical to myself.
This is a nice post Bob!, I think if you ever read one of my blogs, I am even inspired by you.
Thanks Bob for making me think and think! good for the brain, hehehe
#14 by Miss Moneypenny at March 16th, 2009
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Before I fall asleep, a quick note… I was also misled by the “creative commons” license and I quickly learned that Digital Desperadoes will ignore all measures to protect blog content which is one major reason why I post infrequently at New England Lighthouse Treasures.
It is very disheartening to write original material for free so others can steal it for online advertising profit while Google rakes in billions of dollars in profit… better stop here before I start ranting!
#15 by emila at March 16th, 2009
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Hey Bobby! Great tips!!
Guess what? The mail that I sent you last xmas was sent back to me (return to sender)! I dunno why they didn’t just put it in your mailbox as it was just a normal mail, not the registered one.
#16 by Revellian at March 17th, 2009
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@Meleah: Thanks so much! I dig your words too:)
@Melinda: One of the things I am in 100% agreement with Obama is his position on net neutrality (meaning there is no regulation of Internet information, and that the government must stay out of its freedom). The day the government steps into governing the Internet (which I hope never happens), it will be ruined. So I believe nothing on line is “intellectual property” per se, and therefore cannot be protected. It is up to individuals, family, and teachers to teach why it’s wrong to plagiarize, not the government. I think it’s nice to be copied and stolen from, it means you’ve written something useful to someone lol:)
@Debbie: Yeah, I’d say 99% of all actual plagiarism is committed by marketing, SEO, make money on line and other similar sites—because they are all the same. That’s why I don’t read them. The “money making crowd” will steal anything on line for their own gain; however, I don’t want the government getting involved—it will ruin the Internet:)
@Emila: I know Emila, I sent you an e-mail about it, did you read it? I never got it, but just knowing you sent it made me smile!
#17 by Revellian at March 17th, 2009
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Hi Lulu! When you write your own experiences, it is original because they are YOUR experiences! There’s really no need to try and write something groundbreaking or having an “important” point. Having said that, I am way too hard on myself in writing an article too. I’ve already written about so many subjects, it becomes almost impossible to write something I haven’t already written about or that others haven’t written about. The most important thing is to add your own insights and personality, and you do that very well!
#18 by floreta at March 17th, 2009
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i think i’ve touched upon “originality” in comments here before. i don’t think there is such a thing as a completely original thought. but with that, you are right that bringing out your own personality and “style” to your blog will give you more original content. i would rather have a smaller group of dedicated followers than be a post-mill of lots of “fast” traffic. i do have to admit i could do more about writing something out of my normal fare.. i have lots of ideas i haven’t tackled yet.
#19 by Revellian at March 17th, 2009
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Hi Floreta! Around every six months, I tend to have an almost entirely different group of followers because most bloggers quit after six months. I know at least 200 bloggers who regularly came here last year, and now their blogs have been deleted or abandoned—some come back sometimes too. I would rather have 5 consistent readers who become real friends than 500 strangers.
For me in writing fiction, I would rather have an extremely distinctive style (phrasing, unique descriptions and voice) than to have complex plots. Anyone can write a complex story, but few can write with a unique voice
#20 by Sueblimely at March 18th, 2009
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Rehashing content – here lies the problem with my blog. Because I do not like to rehash content I find it hard to come up with topics to write about! Sure I can add my own distinct stamp to it but it would still be covering topics that have been written over and over. It is partly to do with the nature of blogs – new posts rate higher in search engines, older ones get lost. Even the “top blogs” in my niche of blogging repeat content over and over, albeit in different words.
As far as the “50, 100, best, top, killer” type of headlines – they seem to work. I have tried to write them myself but can never justify the inclusion of that many and don’t want to add fillers for the sake of it.
I am always on the look out for new applications and social networking sites but will not write about them until I have tried them out myself and think them of use. By that time of course they are old news, they would have been reviewed over and over again by those who know only what they have read not experienced. They just want to be the first to get the news out.
#21 by Revellian at March 18th, 2009
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Hi Sue! New posts rate better in search engines? I suppose that’s partially true if droves of bloggers write tons of new posts relating to said subject (like blogging or seo tips).
It’s just the nature of your niche like you said. There’s a lot of competition for keywords & phrases in that niche! I think because so many bloggers write about those subjects, it’s inevitable that content will become rehashed, but that’s OK because millions of new readers come along who’ve never read it, and maybe their first experience will be at your site. While the information may not necessarily be new, it’s new to new bloggers, and thus the niche continues to thrive.
I’m far too unprofessional to write a “professional” blog and will inevitably offend someone hahaha! Unlike most bloggers writing fiction, I actually do understand SEO and how to get articles on page one google results (even with my low pagerank 2). But I have tons of outgoing links to low ranked sites, which hurts my pagerank—but I don’t blog for rank.
Honestly, your blog is every bit as good in your niche as any of the top blogs . . . probably better because you actually interact with readers and reply to comments (something rare in your niche!)
#22 by Lidian at March 25th, 2009
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I was so glad to read this – this is something that I think about every time I write a post. I really don’t like writing about historical (or any) topics that have been done many times so either write about things I know haven’t been done before – or at least try to add new research to an older topic.
And I’m tired of all those blogging tips, too. The point of blogging for me is to develop as a writer – my blogs are my portfolios.
#23 by Revellian at March 25th, 2009
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Hi Lidian! It’s impossible to write about something that’s never been written about before, but the personal touch goes a long way to breathing new life into any subject. Blogging has helped my writing skills, but I admit I’m quite burned out on blogging. I blog much less these days, and doing the whole entrecard clicking is something I just don’t do. Are you writing a book?
#24 by teeni at March 28th, 2009
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My goal is to interact with cool people too and that’s why I’m glad I met you!
Also, though, to answer your question, I do try not to read blog posts on subjects that are totally overdone. They are boring. I try to keep my blog content original by allowing my imagination or current mood to dictate what I blog about. I try not to let other blog subjects or the newest hot blog topic dictate my posts. I’m such a rebel. LOL.
#25 by Revellian at March 31st, 2009
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Hi Teeni! You definitely have a strong readership and what makes your site special is your devotion to and interaction with your readers. Basically, you can write about anything and attract readers. I’ve changed my views on blogging so much lately, I just can’t keep up with all of it. I’m really not that outgoing and am difficult to become friends with. But I’ve always felt a connection with you and you’ve been one of my very favorite people since I first met you. I think you are great!