Can articles written under a Pen name in one article directory be used in another directory?

by kumar
12 replies
Hi Guys,

I wrote and submitted a dozen or so articles under a Pen name in EZA. I understand, I can use the same articles in other article directories, but would I be required to again use the same Pen name? My point is, if they do a dupe check (do they?), will they come back to me saying the articles were already in EZA and were written by someone else and hence, plagiarized?

Thanks!
#article #articles #directory #pen #written
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Hi Kumar,

    That's a great question. Some article directories don't care if the article is 100% dupe content. They are more concerned that you are the author.

    In this case, it makes sense to use the same pen name for any articles you submit.

    All the best,
    Michael
    Signature

    "Ich bin en fuego!"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434813].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author kumar
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Hi Kumar,

      That's a great question. Some article directories don't care if the article is 100% dupe content. They are more concerned that you are the author.

      In this case, it makes sense to use the same pen name for any articles you submit.

      All the best,
      Michael
      Hello Michael,

      Good to hear from you and thanks for responding. Further question, if someone simply copies an article from an article directory and uses it in another directory signed up under the name used by the original writer, how would the second article directory know if this has been plagiarized or not? Or they take action only if the original article writer comes to know and complains to them?

      I guess I am being a bit paranoid, but it never hurts to understand the system.
      Signature

      Life is not a sprint, its a marathon. A bad start does not really matter too much

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434825].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jitendraag
    Most article directories any way allow reprinting the content so they don't worry about duplicate content. Some like ezine articles may insist on unique content.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434831].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mary Gallivan
    Hi Kumar

    What I do is submit under the same pen name to other directories.

    As regards your question to Michael - "if someone simply copies an article from an article directory and uses it in another directory signed up under the name used by the original writer, how would the second article directory know if this has been plagiarized or not?" - How are you to know?

    If you have seen it happen then contact the directory but I'm sure you're busy enough with other things.

    Mary
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434849].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PatriciaJ
      I had that problem but with EZA. One day I submitted an article to a handful of directories using a pen name on my regular accounts, but with one directory they didn't allow pen names so I submitted it using my proper name with which I was already registered. That directory was the quickest to accept and a few days later when EZA got round to it they thought it was plagiarised and suspended my account despite the author bio and links being the same. I just dropped the pen name and they reinstated my account. After that I decided not to use a pen name it was too much hassle.

      As a directory owner I frequently get articles submitted where different pen names have been used on different directories. It's easy enough to check the author bio and if that and the links are the same then it's obvious that it's just a different name and not plagiarised.

      If the author bio is totally different then I decline the articles with a query and the link where I have found the articles elsewhere. I have only ever had one author get back to me and prove that it was their work and that the copy that I found was the plagiarised copy.

      If somebody contacted me and said that an article on my directories was plagiarised I would check into it immediately.

      That's what I do anyway, though not all directories have the same policies.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434900].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    Kumar,
    I personally prefer to use my own name and not any pen names, reason being is building self brand awareness. Any article that is written by me and submitted is done so under my real name.

    To your question, there are some that check and some that do not. If you are dealing with some of the top directories such as articlesbase, ideamarketers, amazines, buzzle, and etc then I would use the same pen name. For those article directories that do not review articles, such as goarticles, then it would not matter much...

    At the same time ponder this ... What if a possible prospect seen your article on articlesbase under one name and then the same prospect runs across your article again under goarticles but using a different name. Would this confuse your prospect or worse even make the possible prospect now question your business by noticing 2 different names publishing the same exact article...

    James
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434907].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author kumar
      James and Patricia,

      Thanks for your help, so basically, the author bio is the key here.

      James,

      I have to disagree on your using the same name for all articles point. If you are writing on multiple niches (like I do), I think, it's always better to use pen names. You could use each pen name for each niche and create a brand name for yourself. However, if you use just one author name for say, weight training and indoor gardening, it would dilute your 'expert status' in a particular niche.

      I use a pen name for a fitness micro-niche and I felt using an English name, actually, a sobriquet (if I am sure what it means ), would be more appropriate.

      Please feel free to contradict, as I am still relatively new and would love to see all kinds of healthy arguments on this topic.
      Signature

      Life is not a sprint, its a marathon. A bad start does not really matter too much

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434956].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author michaelmac
    Ditto,

    I use my own name in all the niches i am active...it pays to get your name out there after all!
    Signature

    Steal My Proven Squeeze Page That Converts Like Crazy!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434979].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    Kumar,
    It all depends upon how you feel about things.. Give you an example

    I have a membership site that has all the information and content written up for me which includes the sales letter. Ok great but there is one problem..

    Let's say the sales letter reads as such
    Hi, my name is James Stein, a dating coach, who over the years has helped thousands of men just like you transform their lonely days and nights
    Well, I am not a dating coach and I have not helped thousands over the years transform their lonely lives.. So let's change it to say this..

    Hi, my name is Arnold Stone a dating coach, who over the years has helped thousands of men just like you transform their lonely days and nights
    Ok well you think better because now you are not telling someone that you are something that you are not.. Still a problem though, my name is not Arnold Stone.

    So in both cases I would be telling a lie to my members and to make it worse I would have to keep up that lie if I choose to send them emails. What happens if the site hits off real good and starts to build a brand under Arnold Stone ?? Now we have a fake name that many trust and they are talking about arnold stone all over the place.

    Some may say this is great, while others will agree that it could cause a host of problems.

    My personal feelings is it's unethical to pretend to be someone else or pretend to be something your not. Now I realize this is affiliate marketing and blah.. blah.. but it still boils down to ethics, at-least to me it does.

    I promote and build what I believe in and I be truthful about what product I have and what it does. It is more important to me to be true to myself vs making 100's of sales under a false pretense.

    James
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[435090].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KindWordz
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[435095].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author kumar
      James,

      Very insightful post and definitely some food for thought. I will not quote famous poets, writers and 'experts' who used pseudo-names in their time as you said, it's an ethics thing for you and two wrongs would not make a right.

      On your first example...pen names have nothing to do with using false bio and claiming to be an expert when you are not. They are as real (or unreal) as someone using his/her own name. That brings me to another point, who do you call an expert? How many people should you have helped before you can claim to be an expert? For me, an expert is someone who just knows more than his target audience.
      Signature

      Life is not a sprint, its a marathon. A bad start does not really matter too much

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[435205].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ephrils
    As long as I do EZA first I've never run into any problems using pen names. At this moment I suspect Buzzle will also double check author as well as content too.
    Signature

    Two Signature lines for rent.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[435227].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author twannahiga
    I think that with most article directories allow the reprinting of content on blogs or capture pages, so I wouldn't think you'd any have any problem's with duplicate content. Ezine articles I'm sure however have an insistance on only unique content though. Hope this assists you! :-)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[559868].message }}

Trending Topics