Forum Moderators: not2easy
However, I recently noticed that the individual writes similar articles and posts them at his own blog ...usually before I post the content to my site.
The articles are not written exactly the same as those submitted to and paid for by me....but they are close with a lot of similar phrases though they may be worded somewhat differently. Another change is that articles submitted to me are written in the third party whereas the articles for his blog are first party.
I'm sure this is being quite done innocently.
However, I'm wondering if I need to be concerned. I don't want to be penalized by Google for duplicate content if, indeed, this is considered duplicate content.
Any insight and advice would be sincerely appreciated!
I'm sure this is being quite done innocently.
I doubt it. It is a common trait of freelancers to rehash their own work and sell 'variations', especially when touting that article to many potential buyers.
Sites or magazines want fresh content, of course, and don't want to be in the situation where the article they've recently paid for turns is published elsewhere.
To avoid this, freelancers will write different versions of the same article - possibly tailored somewhat to the buyer's specific audience, or just altered from first person to third.
The question is whether the intentions are nefarious or not.
You need to raise this issue with the writer. Say exactly what you have here. Beyond that, you need to bring in the issue of exclusivity.
How do you work with the writer? You commission them to write specific pieces, or they approach you with article ideas, sometimes with drafts of articles?
If the former, you should be very concerned over the issue of exclusivity. If they are writing articles for their own use - based on the ones you've commissioned - then I would be somewhat annoyed.
If the latter, and I suspect it is, then the writer will state that you are getting unique content. The related articles are not the same, and they have to make a living - it's what freelancers do, right?
This is a difficult position to argue against and the only weapon in your armoury is exclusivity. Change the nature of the relationship; you commission, they write on a specified topic with an agreed theme. The structure, content and phrasing should not be used elsewhere.
As part of the 'new deal' ensure you state your terms: that upon payment the copyright to the article is yours. If they 'repeat offend' then you're possibly in a stronger position legally, certainly morally, although that's of little comfort.
The point is that you're looking to pin them down to what is acceptable and what's not. It's their clear choice whether they want to play ball or not.
If they insist that writing other articles based on variations of the same specific theme using identical sources for material and with identical approaches, then I would seriously question the respect the writer has for you and your projects.
If they cannot appreciate your concerns in this matter then it's likely you will not be able to convince them otherwise.
If this is the case you have two choices, and I reckon you can work out what those are...
A busy freelancer may take the opposite stance and say it is their right to reuse freely the ideas they have come up with. In some respects that is true.
However, it depends on what sort of relationship your freelancer wants with you. A professional one will appreciate your concerns and seek to find middle ground at least. Again, if not, you're back to those two choices.
As to whether duplicate content is an issue, I doubt it.
Syzygy
[edited by: Syzygy at 7:27 am (utc) on April 9, 2009]
I'm relieved to know that duplicate content will not be an issue with Google, and that I won't be penalized for it. That was a MAJOR concern for me.
I know there is nothing new under the sun. The subjects both he and I write about have been written about for ages by others.
However, that doesn't mean that I don't want fresh content. I do. I've paid others for articles and this has never happened. If they have their own site, they simply wrote a brief summary with a link to the article at my site.
How do you work with the writer? You commission them to write specific pieces, or they approach you with article ideas, sometimes with drafts of articles?
I doubt he is a professional freelance writer, though he does write for one other site that I'm aware.
His profession and the business he runs is in the same field as he writes. For example, it's like a professional mechanic who also writes about fixing cars.
Our relationship is very informal; no contracts or anything.
I don't run a huge site; just a small to mid-sided one writing about a popular subject that I've loved and been involved in for decades.
I suggest articles and the writer has suggested some to me. Neither of us have discussed exclusivity though, as mentioned, I certainly did not expect almost the same article to appear on another site, even his.
I will contact him and believe it can be worked out. Will post the results here.
If there is anything else I need to know, I'd appreciate hearing about it.
Again, thank you.
Great - problem resolved and all with a happy ending! Here's hoping your working relationship becomes stronger as a result.
Syzygy
Paraphrasing is all but impossible for a computer to identify accurately, and hey - you'd find only a handful of news sites in results if machines got really good at it ;)
If there's a blatant duplicate of your content, then a search engine is forced to decide which duplicate to use - perhaps, not in your favour.
The solution to every duplicate content issue is to get SEs to count your copy. I like to see SEO as "don't make search engines think" :)
Duplicate content doesn't need to be scary ;)
