Q. Is it Ethical to Use Purchased Blog Posts?

Is it ethical for you to use pre-written blog posts?

Not long ago I read an Active Rain post condemning the use of purchased blog posts. The writer claimed it was misleading - and unethical.

Then a few days later a commenter on one of my posts mentioned the fact that had become aware that I sell pre-written blog posts. He took me to task for that, asking if I thought it was "right" for people to use information they hadn't written themselves.

Well, yes . I do think it's right - as long as you don't post them on Active Rain and fail to reveal that you didn't write them. (And yes, I have seen that. When ten agents post the exact same article and call it their own, I believe that isn't quite right in light of the promise we make as we post each entry.)

But on your own blog on your own site, you aren't claiming authorship.

What's important there is that you give your visitors something new to read every few days - and that the "something" be interesting and/or informative. Because every community is unique, the blog posts I sell are generic/universal in nature - they're information that buyers and sellers in any community or any country need to know. For instance: Why sellers should leave the house during showings and why buyers do need their own agent when contracting for new construction.

I also write custom posts for agents and others. Some are area information - all things I can learn through research. Quite often I dig out interesting details about a community that the agent didn't even know.That means their community pages are more interesting than their competitor's pages - which are often filled with content that's copied straight from Wikipedia.

Some oists are about government programs or other current events - and some of those those do reflect the agent's opinion.

So how can I ethically write about someone else's opinion? First by knowing my client well. If you work with a person for an extended period of time - and communicate - you have a pretty good idea of how they feel about the events of the day. Second, by having that client review the article before it's posted.

Why this is a problem for some is puzzling to me.

We listen to political speeches that were written by speech writers - not the candidate. We read autobiographies that were ghost-written. We accept advertisements for products and services knowing full well that someone who may know little to nothing about the product or the service was paid to write that advertisement.

Agents' franchise or template websites are often pre-populated with buyer and seller advice articles that are the same on every agent's site. Agents use listing presentation materials furnished by their broker or franchise. And very few agents write the custom copy for their own websites.

Why are pre-written blog posts any different?

Sometimes agents simply don't have the time to think up a post and get it written on a regular basis. As a result, their blogs go stale and visitors quit coming back. I think it's far better to give them some information - no matter who wrote it.

If you sometimes can't find time to write new posts for your blog, come and see what I have to offer. The first month's trial is only $5 - and you're under no obligation to continue.

marte@copybymarte.com
www.copybymarte.com

Priest River, Idaho
208-448-1479

 

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