Worried About Being Accused Of Copying A Site?

Posted on April 19, 2009
Filed Under Earn money online

John asks: I’m an SBI owner and have a travel/destination site and now want to build a product review site. Reverse engineering makes perfect sense to me and my only problem is how to avoid “copying” the site.

I’m not talking blatant cut and paste but the more subtle grey areas. Suppose I wanted to do a vacuum review site (I don’t, just an example) then a review of SuperDuper123 will be very similar as its major plusses and minuses are the same, the keywords will be the same etc.

Is it all down to voice etc. or have I missed something? I would hate to reverse a site then be accused of cheating or am I’m being over cautious?

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To keep things very simple, my answer would be: use different words.

If you use different words, or in other words , create unique content, then no one can rightfully accuse you of cheating.

Of course, don’t copy the HTML of the template – that would be copying too. (Unless the template is a free template or can be bought and is sold to many customers!)

If you choose the same keywords, that’s not copying, that’s keyword research. If you’ve learned SEO from the same source, then it’s very likely that you will choose most of the same keywords in a niche and build the site structure in the same way.

All cars have 4 wheels and all houses have 4 walls. (I am exaggerating to make my point…)

A website on vacuum cleaner reviews following sound SEO will definitely have almost the same structure as my site.

The real worry here is then copying the content. Don’t do it.

If you write original content, then you are not copying anyone. The key here is that you are legally safe.

The next question is whether you can handle the emotions when someone accuses you of copying their site, but they are not legally right. (And cannot win a legal case against you.)

Can you handle that or are you afraid even of that confrontation?

How about people emailing you and telling you that your site sucks, that it’s just made to earn money through advertising and that the English of your articles is terrible?

If you cannot handle that, then don’t start a website.

There are all sorts of misguided people (I tried to find a really mild word to describe them. ) and sooner or later someone is going to send you a message and you’re going to suffer because of someone’s opinion.

If you KNOW that you are doing the right thing, then you’ll be able to sleep well. But if you KNOW that you are taking shortcuts, then your conscience will start bugging you.

I protect myself legally by getting real unique content and from my conscience (and not really from someone else’s OPINION) by doing things right so when a misguided person sends me a criticizing email, I know they’re wrong.

I can forget about that in a minute and live a calm and happy life.

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Comments

14 Responses to “Worried About Being Accused Of Copying A Site?”

Henri on April 19th, 2009 3:57 pm

What do you think about re-writing content?

I know many cheaper freelance writers just re-write content that is already available on the internet.

It can sometime seem like copying with just a change of words.

[Reply]
Tomaz Reply:
April 20th, 2009 at 12:36 am
The only time I would consider rewriting is when submitting articles to other sites (ezinearticles.com, hubpages.com, …).

If you’re in this for a serious business and want to be treated as an expert in your niche, then rewritten articles from someone else’s work have nothing to do on your site.

It eventually comes down to this: which lines are you prepared to cross to earn more money.

Working hard on something and doing it right AND earning money is 100x times more satisfying then just earning money exploiting the loopholes of the current Google’s algorithm.

[Reply]
Melody on April 19th, 2009 8:22 pm

Word of advice, if you’re ever going to create a website that’s going to lead to redundant articles about your topic..then just don’t do it..save the online world the misery..

[Reply]
Henri on April 20th, 2009 1:36 am

I might have worded my question a bit badly! Ofcourse I deliver my own unique content on for example my colon health advice website. I write it from my perspective and my experiences!

Great article and thanks for the replies guys!

[Reply]
Dian on April 22nd, 2009 10:23 am

Tomaz,

I wonder how you hire a writer and still make sure that your web articles are unique. Surely, writers won’t research the topic as depth as you would’ve done, considering the cost per article.

I’m doing appliance website right now, and gosh …. even when reviewing one brand I visit several websites to ensure I produce helpful and unique articles. In fact, I cannot shortcut because my conscience won’t allow it.

I know I need to hire writers if I want to move faster. But I hesitate because my concern on content. They can just rewrite an article from a website, right ?

Thanks,
Dian

[Reply]
Tomaz Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Dian,

At first it’s tough to make sure unless you run your article through copyscape. I suggest you keep looking for a writer which you trust.

My current writer has other writers working for her and she checks their work in copyscape just in case and often corrects articles slightly because by now she knows what I want.

This develops through time I believe. I pay well and pay on time and she knows I request many articles. That’s good business for her and if she wants to keep it, she will go the extra mile (extra word? ) to provide good articles.

[Reply]
Dian on April 23rd, 2009 9:16 am

Thanks, Thomas.

Would you accept if your hired writer just simply rewrites the article without further research? I myself have to look at several articles on a particular subject (e.g. review on brand X) along with customer review in e.g. amazon, eopinion, etc before writing my own version of articles incorporating those.

Also, is it possible for you to write posts on outsourcing. I know I need it and in position to be able to pay it from website money. But I’m worried that I’ll just wasting my time if I have to run each article through copyscape and ensure taht the articles are worthy enough, KWIM ?

Or may be I just let thing not to be my ideal, as long as articles get done ?

Thanks

[Reply]
Tomaz Reply:
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Dian,

If I had a big content site that aims to be an authority on the subject, then no, I would not accept rewritten articles. I would only accept those for some blogs that I might run besides my main site from which I would link to my main site.

It’s really about setting high standards for your writers and paying them more than the rest. They need you more than you need them.

The competition for good paying customers is fierce and you have to be a good customer in order to get good articles.

Will write an article on outsourcing soon!

[Reply]
Jin L on April 24th, 2009 5:36 am

hello, it sounds like you’ve made an open invitation for other people to make vacuum cleaner sites

What if an avalanche of people make a vacuum site? do you not mind other people going into this niche?

J L

[Reply]
Tomaz Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 6:48 am
J L,

I wrote once before about worries and competition online.

[Reply]
Dian on April 26th, 2009 7:51 am

Tomaz, this is a question about voice. You use professional voice for your appliance review site whereas your tennis site shows your personal passion.

SBI recommends to build a more personal website (i.e. website with a passion). I’m new in appliance review site business, and am writing it using professional voice.

However, I have a bit of difficulty mentally on adjusting from being quite personal to being professional. How do you get pass the personal voice into professional voice ?

My concern though with appliance review site … if I put my personal voice, is that the website won’t be respected. Besides, I concern that it’ll look like a joke if I write appliance review with passion. With appliances … you can’t really fall in love with them, can you ?

Do you notice the difference in people’s comment/reaction for your passion vs appliance review sites ?

I’m only on page 10 of my appliance review site at the moment, and am doubtful about the voice, i.e. whether I would like to turn around and use personal voice vs using professional voice like you.

I would be interested in hearing your thought.

Thanks
Dian

[Reply]
Tomaz Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Dian,

I think you need to be realistic; if you are really reviewing the products (which you probably don’t and I don’t also), then you can use a personal voice. It means that you know what you’re talking about.

But if you are reviewing products by researching online and compiling a review based on that data, I suggest you use a more formal tone.

I do notice the reaction from people about my personal, passion site; they really like it and often email me how it helped them. For my vacuum site, people click on something and go away from my site and through those clicks I earn money. These visitors are not that interested in how nicely you wrote the article, but they want to know where to buy their vacuum and whether it’s a good one.

In other words, they don’t care that much about your voice. And I also think that you shouldn’t exaggerate your writing with a personal voice if you’re not really reviewing the products.

[Reply]
BLOGERCISE on April 27th, 2009 6:13 am

I think the key to building a long term sustainable site, something I have always promoted, is to absolutely find your own voice and give your own thoughts and opinions.

Remember that you are competing against a large number of sites doing just the same as you and there is little chance of you getting anywhere by copying.

I also would not copy content for moral and legal reasons, but more than that, there is just no point as you will never build a long term site like that.

You will get small amounts of long tale traffic or maybe PPC will get some sales but unfortunately there is no short cut in this game. Get writing and enjoy the creative process . If you don’t enjoy it then find something new to write about!

[Reply]
Dian on April 27th, 2009 7:09 am

Thanks Tomaz.

It really helps. I do not the products in hand (obviously). So, yes, it’s not a good practice to inject emotion on to it.

I do research each product thoroughly through various sites and incorporate customer comments and also ‘translating’ technical details often found in vendor’s website to something which makes people understand more.

Getting comments from passionate people from my ‘passion’ website is so fulfilling …:). But again, you’re right.I should use a formal tone.

Thanks again. YOu put things in perspective.

[Reply]