How unique should a 'unique' article be?

10 replies
Hi

I have recently received some articles that I had outsourced. This was the first time I have used anyone from outside the forum. I opted for posts for my blog of about 250 words as I wanted to see the quality of them.

I was reading through one of them and it seemed very familiar. Upon further checks I discovered to my amazement that it is very similar to an article which I had written not too long ago and which is already on my blog.

I ran the article through Dupe Pro and it is 65.4% unique when compared to my own article.

Is this coincidence, a re-write of my own article or what? I don't think I'd feel happy using it on my blog when although the wording is slightly different the sequence of information is in the same order.

It seems strange to receive an article which is so similar to my from a total stranger who had a wealth of keywords to have chosen from. Should it not have been at least 99% unique compared to my own.

What are your views on this?

Best wishes

Mary
#article #unique
  • Profile picture of the author Jon Alexander
    he probably wrangled it from your original. Sounds like he didn't do much of a job - he should have been above 70% difference minimum. I'd ask for a refund, or a re-wrangle.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Gallivan
    Thanks Jon, I think I'll do just that!

    In fact 3 of the 10 articles aren't what I would class as 'articles' at all. I 'll have to check them all more carefully before I write to them.

    Best wishes

    Mary
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      65% is absolutely unacceptable in my opinion. In fact, it should be 100% original or do not pay. I recommend running your articles (everyone of them) through articlechecker.com and it will let you know how original it is pretty quickly.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
        Originally Posted by Marhelper View Post

        65% is absolutely unacceptable in my opinion. In fact, it should be 100% original or do not pay.
        As a well-published author and editor and contributing editor to two national magazines, I really have to say that -- unless someone is computing uniqueness in a way that is completely foreign to me -- 100% unique articles are impossible to achieve, unless you write them in a completely made-up language.
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        • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
          I believe it was Solomon who said, "There is nothing new under the sun."

          I agree that a completely unique idea or concept is near impossible but the layout, sentence structure, etc... should be totally original.



          Originally Posted by faxinator View Post

          As a well-published author and editor and contributing editor to two national magazines, I really have to say that -- unless someone is computing uniqueness in a way that is completely foreign to me -- 100% unique articles are impossible to achieve, unless you write them in a completely made-up language.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Piteo
    Marhelper is right, absolutely unacceptable.

    It's also important to specify to the freelancer in advance that you want completely original, unique content. You will not accept spun, machine generated or slightly rewritten PLR content. All articles will also be checked for copyright infringement through Copyscape.com

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author John Piteo
    I tell my people to copy ideas, but never copy paragraphs.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Gallivan
    Hi

    Since replying to Jon's post I have since gone through the 10 articles with a fine-tooth comb and have composed an email to them.

    I'm totally shocked! Considering I wanted 10 articles of 250 words to add content to my blog the writer appears to have goe to my blog and simply re-written most of the posts. Even worse, in my opinion, is that they have also simply used 3 recipes, which I already have, written them in text which makes up 3 of the articles.

    Why on earth would I put them on my blog when I already have the recipe in its correct format there.

    I wouldn't mind but I'l always used WF members and have always avoided Elance due to the bad stories I heard.

    I've written to them and apart from giving my comments for each article have said that I want them all re-written as fresh, unique content that I can use.

    Thanks for all your responses.

    Mary
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Gallivan
    Jon Piteo - it's bad enough having spun content but to use MY OWN content for the purpose - words fail me!

    Mary
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    Nothing wrong with spun content.. Aslong as it is done proper..

    But now to use your own blog post to create articles for you to post on your blog does not seem very smart.. I would demand a refund and not just ask for a refund. You wanted fresh content and that is what should have been supplied to you ..

    James
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