Writing original content

Sunday, February 21, 2010
It is really really important for website owners to come up with original ideas and content. I designed a site for The Powder Room in Brisbane, and we have worked really hard one the SEO and the content to fine tune it to perfection. Karen, the business owner, has poured so much energy and talent into her site, there were always going to be some people drawing inspiration, and that's fine. What is NOT cool is copying the text and shuffling one or two adjectives and words around, especially when you are in the same industry in the same country, and claiming it is your own.

  The Original Powder Room (above)

and the remarkably similar content below on another bridal make up artist site. Originally The Powder Room had "Top 10 Reasons to Book with the Powder Room" as the heading but has since altered their content to remain unique). Read the copy above and below... very interesting how people think by changing a few words and adjectives no one will notice.

I've pulled the header off, even though it too is remarkable similar, as I didn't want to give this particular business any undeserved publicity from my post

 

Below - The Powder Room Promise (was The Powder Room Guarantee - but  had to change the content wording to remain original from the apparent plagiarists).
 

Again below - the other bridal hair and make up artists "Guarantee" - read the text and see just hown similar this is.

If you are building a site and think that copying someone's content is fine, think again. It's not OK, it's disrespectful and hurts your own business more than the business that you are copying. More than anything you will really upset the original content creator, and cause a lot of stress and frustration. Not good karma at all. and certainly not a good way to start your business off on the right foot.