Using other people content

by erikme
15 replies
Hi there,

I was wondering: If you build your own email list, what prevents you from stealing
high quality content from around the internet and sending it to your list recipients
The chances you are going to be sued are slim to zero...
And there is no duplicate content problem like when doing SEO

What do you think about that?

Regards,
Erik
#content #people
  • Profile picture of the author neshaword
    Erik, I think you’re right. This is a different situation compared to web content. Who’s gonna complain? Yet, there are some things you should be fully aware of. If you’re â€Å"borrowing†some very popular pieces of content, then some folks may recognize the wording and point a finger. This can damage your goals you’re trying to achieve with your email campaign. Honestly, this is a pure theoretical speculation. This isn’t a Good Karma strategy, but in this particular case the â€Å"law†is on your side.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10741806].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
      Originally Posted by neshaword View Post

      This isn’t a Good Karma strategy, but in this particular case the â€Å"law†is on your side.
      How is the law on the side of a thief? That's just crazy. Copyright applies wherever the protected content is and whenever it's accessed or shared. This isn't about good or bad karma, this is about being a thief and having to pay fines.

      Mark

      PS I assume you first write in a word processor and then copy and paste over. When you do, it brings a bunch of garbage in which makes it hard to read your posts.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10742692].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author neshaword
        Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

        How is the law on the side of a thief? That's just crazy. Copyright applies wherever the protected content is and whenever it's accessed or shared. This isn't about good or bad karma, this is about being a thief and having to pay fines.

        Mark

        PS I assume you first write in a word processor and then copy and paste over. When you do, it brings a bunch of garbage in which makes it hard to read your posts.
        Mark,

        I usually write directly, as I am doing it right now. My trouble is, when I am writing my first comment I don't see additional options. And, I hit Enter, instead of a new line, my comment flies away.

        Any help with that? Thx in advance.

        P.S.
        There's no "law," what I mean, if no one is complaining, then he can get away with it. I didn't want him to think, here's a writer wants to get the next client. If you want to risk the entire campaign for 50 or 100 bucks, then good luck with that.

        Cheers,
        Nesha
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10743446].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    DON'T ever do it. You never know who the person is that you stole from and what they're willing to do to correct the problem.
    Write your own material or hire somebody to do it for you.
    Signature

    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10741821].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rob Whisonant
    That is a great way to DESTROY your reputation. What you could do is curate the content to your readers. Mix in some of your own articles and some curated content linking to the original article so they can read the entire article. This helps with making you the expert and not the thief.

    Re's
    Rob Whisonant
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10742602].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gingerninjas
    I know this is just a conversation starter, however I have no idea why you would use someone else's content.

    If nothing else you product and service hopefully has unique FAB's so there is no point in using someone else's content.

    Personally, I understand using some great email campaigns as references and reviewing their style however you are being paid to create amazing content so that is end goal.

    Avoid the tempation of grabbing someone else's content, it'll come back to bite you.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10742632].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Macklin
    It's not a good idea to use another people content for email marketing. You should try to create your own content. Try for it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10742687].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MerryQuigley
      Originally Posted by Macklin View Post

      It's not a good idea to use another people content for email marketing. You should try to create your own content. Try for it.
      I am completely agree with all these points of view! What more I want to say that if you can't create an original content, you can try to use services of copywrites or rewriters, it will be better for your site and traffic at first of all. Thanks.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10754838].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TomAndrews
    Never, ever, ever steal content.

    Plus, as well as being a con-artist (it's blunt, but it's true - after all, you're tricking your email list into believing that you've written the content when you haven't), you're also making things a lot harder for yourself.

    How so?

    Because if you write like yourself, with your own unique personality, then I almost guarantee you'll make a lot more money with your emails.

    But, yeah... Whatever you do, don't swipe.

    Tom
    Signature

    Let's connect on Facebook because it's always good to meet fellow marketers. Send me a friend request: https://www.facebook.com/tom.andrews.7927

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10743627].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wordsandthebees
    Possible, yes. Advisable, no.

    Using someone else's content will see your reputation ripped to shreds if anyone ever noticed, and you can bet your last dollar that your email recipients won't only be on your list so they'll definitely notice somewhere along the line.

    Do you mind me asking what your product is? I think it's much better to let your own personality shine through in your comms and stealing content won't create an authentic relationship that you need for your business to be a success.

    Copyscape Premium offers protection for online content which I don't believe extends to emails so you should be safe from a legal perspective. Morally though, I wouldn't advise it!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10746214].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author trobo
    Yes, as others have said, you should never do this.

    Always write original content, and this applies to emails as well.

    It's alright to expand on ideas and add to them to make them better, but always write in your own words and never copy someone else verbatim.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10746917].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author FinishMyGoals
    I would read at least 3-5 top content that gives extreme value, and then with those thoughts fresh in my mind combined with what I think, write content. I would look at other's work as an outline to give you ideas, and reminders of what you want to include.
    Signature

    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10752182].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    What stops you from stealing is the quality of YOUR character and your own personal code of honesty and ethics. NO one here can set that compass for you.

    You know it's wrong - or you wouldn't ask. As usual, most here will say "don't be dishonest" - others will say "probably won't get caught".

    Which of the two would YOU trust to work with?
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Please do not 'release balloons' for celebrations. The balloons and trailing ribbons entangle birds and kill wildlife and livestock that think the balloons are food.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10754842].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author John Cho
    You could do a summary of someone else content and put your thoughts into it in the email.
    Also make sure you put a link to the original article.

    But don't copy and paste the entire thing. It's not right.
    Signature

    Learn how I built a 14k email list and monetized it.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10781603].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nouka
    I used to have lots of duplicate content in ecommerce product description. So i normally use canonical tag for the duplicate content of my ecommerce website.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10784246].message }}

Trending Topics