One of the most difficult things about having a blog is that it is an easy target. I spend a lot of time running data, going to neighborhoods to take photos, and writing content for you all…my readers. The fact is that my goal is purely selfish: my hope is that you read what I have written and decide that I am the right real estate agent to call when you want help with a home purchase or you’ll give my name to a friend that might need my services. The point of this real estate blog is to generate business for myself. I admit it openly and I think that consumers are aware of this. I share freely what I know in hopes that you all give me the opportunity to help you.
Last night I was running some of my blogs through Copyscape, which is an online content checking program that helps to screen for plagiarism. I have been plagiarized before, and last night found out I was plagiarized again. This time it was a local Salem Oregon real estate agent.
I spend hours every week putting blogs together and with a few right clicks and a few chops, someone took it for their own gain. A few seconds of work compared to my hours. I can honestly say that as a small independent business owner there is nothing more heart wrenching then having my ideas and content taken by a someone that works for a larger company who directly competes with me. It is difficult to compete with large companies anyway because many consumers equate big with better…even when it is far from the truth. But I feel for the clients that choose to hire a real estate agent that takes those kinds of short cuts.
Some of my neighborhood blogs were hacked up, chopped and merged with “new” content. Now I can’t copyright the idea of writing about neighborhoods, anyone can write about those. BUT my sentences are mine. Dear real estate agents, you have to come up with your own sentences. Don’t cut and paste mine. Even when you cut and paste my sentences and mix them up with your own…it is still plagiarism. I can’t help that you read my blog. I can’t help that you decide to write about the neighborhoods I have written about…despite the fact that there about 200 others to choose from. Unfortunately copying my ideas isn’t something I can do anything about. Copying my words…is illegal. Even if you copy one sentence of mine and pass it off as your own…it is plagiarism.
Real estate is a highly competitive industry, but please remember…what’s mine is MINE. What’s yours…is whatever you create on your own, without taking from me.
Well put Melina. But I don’t think that you are as easy a target as some……
Jim thanks for your support. I know you have been plagiarized before as well and know how horrible it is when someone takes your hard work.
That’s one of the big problems with the internet. It’s very difficult to keep all of this information contained on one web page. Your information is genuine and honest and I’m sure you sleep better at night then the person who is ripping you off.
Salem Man,
I agree that it is a huge problem. My content has been taken before, but it was a real estate agent in a different state. A local agent taking my content just kills me. I was ready to stop blogging the other night when I saw that she stole my content. My goal isn’t to make it easier for agents to take business from me, but for consumers to see what I have to offer them and hopefully decide to use me.
I’m still crushed.