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WWJD: Person ripped my article, then placed a pingback to my site...

by Rachel NZ
8 replies
My article that I submitted to various directories, has been blatantly spun - but not enough to be different, or make much sense for that matter.

The site that did it, has stripped my links and added their own AND put a pingback type link.

Then they came to my site and expected me to approve their comment/a link back to their rehashed article, which is a pingback. It was the use of MY article heading that alerted me and WP dashboard, showing 'Pingback on' in comments.

On a side note, I no longer approve comments on any of my sites, they are not relevant and are mostly nonsensical. And I don't think they add any value to my site (correct me if I am wrong).

Now I am not entirely sure about ping/trackbbacks, just getting my head around it. **evildomain.com/redirect.php/**mydomain.com/myproductpage/ But it looks like this person is ripping my content and then using me to bump him up in googles eyes.

But not sure what to do.
Am I correct in thinking that there is no benefit to me in approving the link? correct me if I am wrong
If I do nothing, would Google see it as a link back to my site - so I would get the link juice and his evil plan failed?
Send the site/host provider a DCMA and/or just complain directly to Google?

Would appreciate your pearls of wisdom.

Thanks in advance

Rachel

** had to remove https
#article #person #pingback #ripped #site #wwjd
  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    I would start by emailing the site owner, if you can find their contact, and ask for it to be removed. If that doesn't work then issue a C&D notice to their host. If it's a reputable host they will remove the site unless/until the offending article is removed.

    If that doesn't work, then file a complaint to Google - they can and do de-index pages. https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...ashboard?hl=en
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  • Profile picture of the author Lyanna
    Pingback isn't something they did. It happens automatically if someone links you. A pingback is a feature of wordpress (and maybe other publishing platforms). Just ignore any pingbacks you don't want.

    The only benefit legit pingbacks have is that it makes your posts look popular if someone is always linking your posts.

    It's a like a retweet - you tweet, people retweet

    Wordpress posting - you post, people link to your post and comment on it

    If you visit many of the more popular blogs you will see that every single post they have has a pingback/trackback. This shows that they are influential and that other bloggers are reading what they say.
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  • Profile picture of the author fluffythewondercat
    I'm surprised you don't approve any comments. They're good for social proof (Look, Ma, someone's reading my blog!), they make the place look lived in, and how else is someone going to connect with you?

    fLufF
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    Fiverr is looking for freelance writers for its blog. Details here.
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    • Profile picture of the author rrm
      Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

      I'm surprised you don't approve any comments. They're good for social proof (Look, Ma, someone's reading my blog!), they make the place look lived in, and how else is someone going to connect with you?

      fLufF
      --

      If you're getting nonsense comments, i.e. spam, there are plugins that will help minimize those. If you are not getting enough appropriate comments to give you that social proof, build that up and think about enabling comments again. Or just delete the ones that you don't want showing up.

      WWJD? Call them out on it. Like Rus Sells says, send the hosting company a DMCA notice. Using legitimate means to try to shut down such practices will hopefully decrease the chances that the offender will palm off another's work for their own, and this is a good thing.

      Google "DMCA notice" and you will get lots of links to help you understand your rights in copyright infringement matters in the online world.

      Ron
      Signature

      It's not enough to want it... you have to want it enough.

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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

      I'm surprised you don't approve any comments.
      I think some people don't, these days ... just for simplicity and to keep spammers out without spending hours over it. I have 8 "money sites/blogs" and have long since disabled comments all round, and am really pleased I did.

      Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

      They're good for social proof (Look, Ma, someone's reading my blog!)
      True, but the extent to which one needs "social proof" varies a bit according to what sort of site it is, and it's also the case that there's a way of establishing authority and credibility by deliberately looking as if you're not presenting "that sort of site" and even openly explaining it.

      Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

      they make the place look lived in
      True, but there are other ways of doing that, too.

      Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

      how else is someone going to connect with you?
      By email?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    I don't even bother contacting the site owner any longer, I just send a DCMA notice to their hosting company straight away.

    They'll pay attention to their hosting company much quicker or the site will be blocked by the host if they don't remove the content.

    and....

    On a side note, I no longer approve comments on any of my sites, they are not relevant and are mostly nonsensical. And I don't think they add any value to my site (correct me if I am wrong).
    No your not wrong, if the comments aren't relevant delete them.
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Rachel NZ
    thank you everyone - your feedback and advise is really appreciated
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Williams
    Hey Rachel,

    I had the same problem a few years back when I submitted articles to the directories exclusively. I'd estimate over half of my articles were stolen and spun. Predominately English words, so I was at least happy about that.

    The problem is, if I had spent the time filing complaints and defending my content to the death, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on more profitable activities. Anyway, I just let it go. Better to spend that time making money. That's probably not the best solution, it's just what I did.

    If you are worried about losing your valuable content to scrape and spin, you might consider becoming a guest blogger for a top authority blog in your niche. Your content would then be seen by 20,000 to 50,000 rabid prospects or more, instead of 20-30 article directory trolls looking for content to steal.

    Plus, if your articles appear in the major authority blogs, readers will tweet and link to it en masse. No worries. Spinners will just get lost in the shuffle. Page 28 in Google. Anyway, that's my take. Hope it helps!

    As for your WWJD headline, you gotta check this out ...

    Daniel Tosh WWJD What Would Jesus Do clip - YouTube

    Have a great day,

    Jeff
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