Revellian

Thoughts and Fiction of Bobby Revell

Posts Tagged article marketing

How To Steal Blog Content: Ethically

Jun 24

Posted by Bobby Revell in blogging ethics

Is it possible to steal blog content ethically? The answer is yes, but if you follow these guidelines, you will be forced into actually thinking, thus creating your own original content. Don’t get the wrong idea from this article’s evil title! This is more about being influenced by other content and learning, not stealing. There are many different types of bloggers, and blogging means different things to different people. This is basically my personal blog and is not niche related, but I do apply some seo tactics to gain search engine traffic.

The thing is, unless you are just writing original poetry, fiction, creating your own art and so forth; your blog is not original (not 100% original). It is impossible to be 100% original because everything we do is influenced by things others have already done.

Let’s take a look at some particular blog models:

The News Reporting Blogger

Many bloggers re-report the news. Some are into politics, entertainment, trends and so on. If you are not the person who actually broke the story, you are stealing (according to the AP). A recent hot topic is media giant The Associated Press and their republishing guidelines. Take a look at it:

AP republishing guidelines

AP republishing guidelines

I do find the AP’s republishing guidelines to be ridiculous – those prices are a bit high. Every major news source (like CNN, Fox and others) has permission from the AP to use their stories, but they pay for it and give them credit. If I announce that comedian George Carlin died on my blog (like many did yesterday), I obviously heard it from somewhere – does that make me a thief? I don’t think so, but if it were up to the media corporations, you would be fined and charged with a crime.

In my opinion, the AP should be thanking and paying us to get their info out there! (as long as we give them credit)

If you put a picture of Britney Spears on your blog, but didn’t actually take the picture yourself, are you a content thief? In some people’s eyes, yes you are. Here are some basic ethical guidelines for using other people’s content.

  • If you use a picture from someone else, make sure you at least link and give credit to the originator. In blogging or Internet terms, links are good and you want lots of them – especially one way links to you. How many uncredited pictures do you have on your site? I have 12.
  • If you quote another blogger, give them a link and full credit.
  • Never copy and paste entire paragraphs from another blogger or site owner – it’s rude and wrong. Hell, I’ll drive across the country and burn your house down for doing that (ok, maybe I won’t…haha)
  • If another site owner has pictures which are clearly marked as their property, do not steal them and put them on your site. If you like it that much, ask them for permission. Some authors are really touchy about it.
  • Most bloggers like links and like to be quoted. If someone lets you know they didn’t like you using their information, remove it and apologize. You can quote me for free as long as I get a link.
  • Just give links and credit every time. I have been thanked for using other people’s quotes and pictures, but I give links and credit. I have never been asked to remove a link or picture.
  • Feel free to link to this post. I’d like it if you linked to all of my posts:)

The Money or Affiliate Marketing Blogger

This is where the most stealing happens of all blog types. I personally may or may not have other blogs in this niche that are not associated with this blog. I don’t want Google or anybody else knowing what I do or what I own. While some consider that in itself to be unethical, I think of it as being smart.

Here’s how I would go about creating content for this niche: Don’t steal outright. If you went to school, you should know how to write a book report. If you read ten articles about using adsense from other sites, you probably learned something from them. You can create your own unique blog post from those ten very easily. Read them, learn and add some of your own ideas – don’t just cut and paste. Don’t just change a few words, change it completely and make it your own. Check out my post on article marketing for a more in depth look into doing this.

It’s much like writing a song. There are thousands of hit songs that have the same exact musical chord progression on all of them. The songs are all different, but the general backbone is exactly the same. If someone had copywritten the D-C-G chord progression, thousands of number one singles never would have happened. Originality is your job. It is impossible to write a 100% original make money blogging post, but you can give it your personality and spin – that’s what gives you credibility and originality.

Now, blatant stealing happens every second on the Internet, but if you are at least honest, give credit and a link, you are doing better than 99% of everyone else. If you bitch too much about stealing and protecting every word you write, you are asking for congress to meter the Internet – we sure as hell don’t want that.

When you publish anything on line, it’s like putting a brand new Sony Playstation out on the street corner and not expecting anyone to steal it. They will steal it…period. Welcome to the Internet.

Having said that, I still don’t want new protection laws and Internet rules. If big corporations had their way, there would be two separate Internet’s: The fast lane for paid businesses, and the slow lane for everyone else. What big corporation wouldn’t want to actually own the Internet? Let’s hope that never happens and we retain net neutrality (click the link to see how you can help preserve our rights). Basically, you have to take care of your own backyard. If some scraper site republishes an entire post from you, take a look at the ads on their site. I recently had it happen to me. I reported an adsense violation to Google, and the site was removed in less than a week. So take care of your own content, give credit for every picture or quote you use and just be a good blogger…it’s not that much to ask for.

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51 Comments

What Makes a Great Blog Article

May 31

Posted by Bobby Revell in blogging, blogging ethics, blogging tips, writing

Hello folks, I know I’ve been taking quite a long blogging break, but it’s not because I haven’t been writing. I actually wrote 17 new articles, but after reading them, I’ve decided to wait for the right moment to publish as most of them were created out of emotion and cynical anger. It got me thinking about what really makes a great blog article – not to you, but what makes a great article to me; after all, anything any of us write is just a matter pf personal taste and opinion.

If a post gets tons of comments, does that mean it’s good? Absolutely not. If a blog has 35,000+ subscribers, it must be really good…right? Hell no. Some of the best articles I’ve ever read have few if any comments at all. Some of the best posts written often go unread. If a person becomes president, they must be really smart as well as a truly great reader…right? Haha…of course not, just look at George W. Bush (I couldn’t resist a jab at George). I’d go as far to say many famous people are undeserving of fame, but that’s another story. Am I saying the highest rated blogs aren’t really that good? In many cases…yes. And here’s my favorite: If a blogger makes a million dollars per month blogging, does that mean they’re good or can help you do the same? Don’t be silly…the answer is almost always no. Then again, I don’t read money blogs very often – they are boring and unoriginal for the most part.

If there is one thing I can say in all honesty, is that my blog is very original and I write from a very opinionated stance; however, it is usually to incite good commentary and to make people think. Many bloggers do what I call re-reporting the news, where they report general stories most of us have already read. If you are doing that, I recommend adding your own personal opinion, particularly if you are emotionally invested. Using news sources like the Associated press, Reuters or many others to get stories is a good idea, but only if you have something to add to it. I approach blogging like this sometimes.

Here are some general points to add zest, fire and passion to your articles:

  • Get mad about something. It’s ok to to passionately express anger, but don’t do it to personally hurt someone.
  • Take a position on an issue and defend it. I’ve often taken a position I disagreed with and argued for it. Why would I do that? To learn. I often find myself changing my entire outlook on a given subject.
  • Don’t be afraid of insulting or offending others (or even yourself)…be brave. I love it even more if someone proves me wrong – that’s when I truly learn something.
  • If a subject seems taboo, tackle it head on. I have a love/hate relationship with religion and politics, so they are my hot button topics. Don’t be afraid to learn about any opposing viewpoints, especially if they really offend you!
  • Reevaluate yourself everyday. Reevaluate your most proudly held opinions…you may learn something new. I do this every day. Change and adaptation are the cornerstones of this technological society.
  • Don’t be afraid to learn and succeed even if it means you change as a person. Take yourself out of your own comfort zone. A meaningful and great article is more likely to happen this way.
  • Above all, try to do something beneficial for humanity and society, not for yourself. This defines true greatness in all areas of life.

The Democratizing Effect of Blogging

Those of you who know me well, know I’ve written much on the effect blogging has on humanity. It is the most powerful form of communication…period. The reason why, is because it is written, rather than seen or heard. It’s amazing how well you get to know people through blogging. When you meet people in everyday life, you usually don’t get to understand a person as well as when you read what they have written. Blogging is a pure expression of freedom. If you are blogging, you are free to write – so take advantage of it. One day, every human being on Earth will be represented on line by a blog or website.

Try Something New

This has to be my number one good idea. Write about something you’ve never tried before. When I started blogging, I really didn’t have any solid political opinions. I wrote about it anyway, and in the process have learned much as well as developed new opinions that seem to change like the wind. I’ve read over fifty political books from differing sides because of my new found interest! I believe if you have an opinion about something and stagnantly stick to it, you don’t learn anything. Right now…go write a post about something you have never attempted or tackle something serious. It will be great…I promise.

I want to thank everyone who has been visiting during my break, it’s amazing how great people can be. I must return the energy to you. Now…excuse me while I go read a ton of blogs and leave a ton of comments.

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25 Comments

Growing Your Blog The Right Way – Part 1: The Basics

Mar 5

Posted by Bobby Revell in blogging tips

I don’t write many blogging tips articles anymore because I really don’t see the point. However, I do have some things to say which are more about blogging philosophy rather than actual pointers. This is the first in a series and I’ll be turning out an E-book from it and many of my past articles. I dedicate this series to my good friend, Brown Baron, who recommended my doing this. He came up with the title a while back and it will also be the title of my E-book.

Social Networking Sites Do Not Beat Hard Work

There are so many social networking sites and new widgets that arise, it can drive a person to the edge of insanity. I get really bored with most of them and can’t seem to gain a real interest. The first thing I ever joined was MySpace and I no longer use it. I like Facebook more but I just can’t keep up with the thousands of participatory requests I get. I am just too lazy! They don’t really help your blog anyway but can be fun sometimes (they are good for specialized areas such as podcasting or video).

We often forget that it is the act of blogging itself that defines social networking!

Reading and commenting on many blogs and doing this type of basic hard work will take most blogs higher than anything else. This depends on why you blog. If you are blogging only for money, then you have much different goals than I do (making money is about getting, not giving).

If you are writing a lot of assorted subject matter like me or have more of a personal site, then working hard is the key! Working hard is the answer for any blog’s success but you must have some focus. I’ll get into all this in future installments of this series.

Joining every new thing is not going to help you that much. I know we want a quick solution to gaining some degree of success but building on excellence and quality comes from effort and perseverance. I recommend to forget shortcuts and just put in the hours.

Question: I write stuff I believe is important and I really need to get my information out there. I’m not interested in money, but more in getting my hard work read. How can I grow my blog in that way?

Answer: There is no single, easy answer. There are some things you must do to grow your blog:

1. Read lots of blogs – especially those with related information. You want and need varied readers – so don’t limit yourself to just one niche. You get tunnel vision and miss out on lots of new people. Become their real friends and stick by them.
2. Comment on all the blogs you read. Subscribe to all comment feeds and make sure you read every reply. Go back and comment again when called for. Conversational commenting is a powerful tool and no extra widget or social site can replace it. This builds friendships and dedicated readership.
3. For crying out loud…reply to your comments. When you leave a comment and the author just ignores it; it makes many people not want to leave any. However, I know many people who don’t reply and it usually doesn’t bother me; nor does it keep me from commenting. Many people do take it personally though.

I could write a thousand tips, but the above three are the most important!

My favorite Way to build Steady Traffic

To be perfectly honest, I do absolutely nothing for my own traffic. Actually, I purposefully reduced it as I had trouble giving all my readers lots of personal attention. I prefer to keep a manageable pace as I like to really get to know people. That in itself has it’s pitfalls and I have lost readers, but I cannot dwell on negativity and neither should you.

There are two sites that have provided me with most of my traffic: MyBlogLog and BlogCatalog. These two blog networking sites are by far the most powerful tools and nothing comes close in my opinion – especially for people just starting out. Work these two sites and you’ll build a base of readers. It is up to you to go seek them out and make it happen. I’m really just starting to get into BlogCatalog and it is truly fantastic. So get off your rear and do some real work!

Link Chains Provide The Worst Kind of Traffic

Participating in link chains are really a poor way to go (I used to think differently…it may be alright if you are suffering from no traffic at all). It may temporarily pump your Technorati authority up, but in the end, it’ll drop down to where it is naturally supposed to be. Besides, there are much better ways to make friends. Personally, I don’t want hundreds of readers hellbent on their own stats. I’ll be writing a scathing article about link chains soon and it should offend lots of people. Having said that, I am still not above it and may participate in one if I feel the need to.

That’s all I do for my blog…nothing more. I feel like I’m publishing redundant material in this article; however, when I go out and read, I see so many sites that don’t do these things. I’ve come to the point where I don’t think about expanding or gaining traffic. It is just a byproduct of my blogging efforts and community involvement.

The point is, blogging itself and community participation are the strongest tools available. This is why I largely ignore most new gimmicks and shortcuts. In blogging, the simplest methods are always the best.

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44 Comments

How To Get Explosive Results For Your Blog

Sep 6

Posted by Bobby Revell in blog marketing, blogging

After reviewing the site Article Marketer.com I have come to the conclusion this is one of the best overall ways to get your work noticed and to build a massive chain of incoming links. One of the most important ways to get ahead, no matter what you blog about is to have tons of links pouring in on each of your posts. Sounds nice huh? You can join and use it free! That’s the best part, though you can get the paid service which gets you an astonishing amount of links.

Most of my readers are either newbies or people who are not tech oriented so I am bringing this to you guys. The idea is that you write a post. Make sure it’s actually about something too! Then you rewrite the article changing it up so it becomes a new article. They both are about the same thing but you want it different enough so it’s not just a copy. They may reject it. The article you submit can contain an html link which is very cool. When I wrote my first they had two text boxes, one for your html link and one plain text. What they are doing is submitting it for you, and it’s set up to be accepted everywhere. A lot of folks have heard of or used Ezine before, and it is no comparison at all. Article Marketer is the biggest and most popular site of it’s kind on the web. They are the best. There is no doubt in my mind this program will get you results. I am going all out for this but I will remain patient and not get too over excited. This is something you work steadily and continually. I will be publishing all of my results even if articles are rejected. That’s how you learn, by making mistakes. The html below is basically what you will use as your link (or something very similar).

Bobby shows people all about <a href="http://revellian.com/">blogging
for money</a> by writing articles about
<a href="http://revellian.com/2007/08/21/reality-niche-this/">
article marketing</a>
and other topics.

If any of you have any problems whatsoever, I will gladly help you get it right. There is no such thing as a stupid question, so please don’t hesitate to ask. There are two links built in: one to your site, and one directly to your post. Simply replace my url with yours. You could rewrite some of your best older posts and raise them from the dead. With the free account your article will reach 14,488 people at 32 sites – that is a lot of links. The reason I’m writing this is so many of my readers don’t read tech blogs and they would like to succeed with what they write about. This is the best answer for you. It will boost your page rank and get your work out there. A lot of you aren’t interested in money necessarily but the tactics of money bloggers will work for anyone no matter what you blog about. Click the banner below and get started now! They will help you get it right. Their tutorials and guides are amazing and will help any writer!

If you are interested in becoming an affiliate to help promote the program and make money click the link here: Become an affiliate

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31 Comments