Jeff Herring recently shared an article titled
3 Reasons I Don't Use PLR Content (and
Why You Shouldn't Either - Ever).
Quite the controversial topic, for sure...
In fact, it raised my eyebrows when I saw it.
I actually DO use PLR, which is Private Label Rights content, and I use it fairly often.
I use content templates and article starters as well. I find them quite helpful in producing quality content on a consistent basis.
In the article, Jeff shares three very good reasons why he feels you should not use PLR. He feels it won't share your unique voice or perspective, that it's confusing to your readers if they find the same content elsewhere online, and that it's a dishonest way to communicate and/or build a relationship with your readers...
What is PLR?
Private Label Content comes in many different formats, including PLR reports, ebooks, articles, graphics, templates and even videos.
While licenses differ with each author and seller, the basic premise is that the license permits buyers to re-brand the content under their own name and brand (excluding copyright). In general practice this means that the product can be modified, sold, resold or repurposed in many different formats. -source
It's important to note that PLR licenses vary, and you should always read the documentation that comes with any PLR content you purchase.
How To Use PLR... Correctly!
Jeff makes some great points in his blog post, but as I mentioned above I do use PLR and other content products - such as templates and article starters. There's definitely an art to using it successfully, and avoiding the three concerns Jeff pointed out.
Of course, this is considering that you're doing personal branding with your online business, and communicating directly with your target audience as a Market Leader.
1. Any type of content help you use, including ghostwriters and PLR etc, should be edited by you personally before it's published to your blog or anywhere else online. Give it your personal "voice" and style, and make sure the message matches your "personal branding" and your overall objective.
2. Never use PLR, Article Starters or Content Templates as-is. Even with outlines, I always edit the title and the main points to be unique so that they aren't confused with anyone else's version.
3. Consider your objective with every piece of content you publish. Content alone isn't the key, it's what you do with that content - and how you use it to lead your readers into a specific decision (ie Call-to-Action).
While some people think Public Domain Content or Private Label Rights is the easy street to putting out mass amounts of content, those that are truly doing well with it are using it as a base for content ideas and product or content outlines.
Mainly for inspiration, and as a starting point.
Consider all the ways you can repurpose these types of content into different mediums. A single PLR article can make a great "script" to do an informational video, webinar or podcast.
PLR articles or reports can be broken down and used as an email autoresponder series. See: How to Use PLR in Your Email Marketing Plan
Multiple PLR articles on the same topic, from different sources, can be put together (and edited by you!) into an informative how-to report.
PLR Sources & Live Examples
My Favorite PLR & Content Sources include:
- Nicheology by Paul Evans
- Easy PLR by Nicole Dean
- Public Domain Blueprint by Tony Laidig
- DIY PLR by Alice Seba (Great deals!)
- Easy Article Starters by Peggy Baron
- Jiffy Articles by Jonathan Leger
Here are live examples of content I've created with these sources, all of which are "unique content" and were personally edited by me and written in "my voice."
First, to show you HOW I use private label rights and other content sources, see this detailed post: PLR Article Rewrite Dissected & Exposed
Like I said, I find these tools incredibly helpful in coming up with content ideas and giving me an outline to create GREAT blog posts and articles! 😀
Six live examples:
What it Takes to Become a Super Affiliate
When You Can’t Afford To Invest In Your Biz
Create One Site or Hundreds of Sites?
5 Reasons To Join A Paid Forum Or Group (My Guest Post)
Those four posts were written using Easy Article Starters by Peggy Baron. See my review of Easy Article Starters...
How to Stick to a Low Carb Diet (on my low carb blog)
5 Easy Topic Ideas For Your Next Blog Post!
Both of those posts were written using Jiffy Articles by Jonathan Leger. See my review of Jiffy Articles here...
I could show you many more examples from my 8+ years of blogging and content publishing, but honestly... I look back at my archives and have a hard time telling the difference between posts I wrote myself and posts that were inspired by PLR content! My readers can't tell either, which is how it should be. 😉
How do YOU feel about PLR, Public Domain & Templates?
I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you use PLR Content, or other sources such as templates and article starters to help you come up with ideas or create web content? Why or why not? Leave a comment below!
Best,
p.s. If you still have questions, or need creative ideas for using all the great PLR on your hard drive, check out this PLR Q&A Guide which comes with a "cheat sheet" and Progress Report to help you make the most of your PLR purchases.
Also see: How to Re-Write PLR Content for Google or Kindle which includes a handy tip sheet for super quick re-writes. 😉
About Lynn Terry
That's interesting... I swear he used to sell article templates. lol. Great post Lynn.
If I remember correctly Jeff's article templates are more like the kind of template you'd find at Ezine Articles, the kind that help you outline and layout the article instead of actual article...
This article is about XYZ
Point 1 about XYZ
Why Point 1 is important when doing XYZ
Point 2 about XYZ
Why Point 2 is important about XYZ
Conclusion that you should do 1 and 2.
Link to resource to learn more about how to do XYZ
I use PLR pretty often as well, so this conversation definitely sparked my attention. I usually use PLR as a starting point, rewrite it, add my own voice, add graphics, add whatever I can possibly add to it to make it more "me" and I think that sort of thing is totally okay to do. Everyone's brain needs a little idea booster now and then 😉
I also find PLR to be helpful when I'm stuck in research mode. If you're using a quality PLR source like the ones Lynn mentioned above often times there are research points that have already been done for you on the topic. If I want to talk about podcasting or some other thing which I'm very new at, I can pick up a content package and find some good tips... even if I just use those tips and ideas for myself they were worth picking up for a few dollars and they saved me time and digging through search results online.
Great post, Lynn. As a writer/editor of PLR, I know that there is a lot of great PLR out there. 😉
I also use PLR from time to time. If the content is something I have personal experience with and can add my own info to it, I will do just that. Basically, I just use it as an outline of sorts. I don't try to 'pass it off' as my own personal writing, especially if I don't rewrite it. I might even start the post with "I found this interesting article and thought I'd share it with you..."
PLR is perfect for creating quick reports, especially to give away. I would still read through it and add my own 'voice' in spots, but most people who receive a free report don't really care if it originated in your head. They just want something on topic, interesting, and free.
So, yes, PLR is a valuable tool when used properly. Thanks, Lynn!
Great post Lynn, as usual. I do use PLR for articles and templates to create content, but as you said, you have to make it unique and give it your own voice.
AND the quality of the content definitely depends on the source you receive it from.
The problem with PLR is if you get good at it and you don't have PLR access then what?
It's like developing good speaking skills using teleprompter.
What happens when the thing is broke and the room is full of people waiting to hear you speak?
Also if you put your name on an article and someone else helped you write it why not give them credit? Why take 100% credit if you didn't do all the work?
Obviously as a blogger I pretty much always have something to say or write about. PLR is just a great source in addition to other sources for content ideas and topics. I don't think there's any worry that I'll lose access to great content sources or PLR either. 🙂
Most ghostwriters don't want attribution or credit, or they'd be publishing themselves. That includes those who ghostwrite for PLR companies. Private Label Rights means you own rights to the content. And in the case of my rewrites, they're too unique by the time they're published to give credit to someone else - given they don't resemble their original work.
That would be like taking an idea you heard from someone and giving it a completely different angle or spin, then giving them "credit" - they may not appreciate it if they don't feel in line with the end result (article/point)...
Interesting points!
I feel the biggest problem is getting quality PLR that hasn't already been distributed all over the internet - nearly impossible to find. There's a lot of overall junk out there. And if it's of quality and has been out for anytime at all, duplicates of it will be everywhere, in different levels of spun content. Difficult to reword it enough to create it anywhere near unique.
I simply haven't found much that's worth re-writing.
I would love to see some examples of this, Alex.
Most of the PLR I purchase is sold in limited quantities. The majority of buyers never even open it - it just gets lost and forgotten on their hard drive. Of those that do, none of the published work is the same as mine, as I use it as a base to create a unique post or article. So I've never experienced that issue.
Keep in mind too that there are very few "unique ideas" on any topic. There isn't much that hasn't been said in some form, somewhere. Even a post I write from the heart, with no help at all, is rarely "a unique topic." 😉
I'm a PLR fan Lynn! I use it artfully in many ways in my different business projects.
I do not use the content as is and I do inject my own personality and get wonderful results - like being complimented for my original point of view LOL!
Well, you know I love PLR or I wouldn't be selling it! But, as you said, it's all about how you use it.
A lot of the problem is the fact that there is a lot of garbage out there that people sell as PLR. It's associated with people who are slapping it on a website without any care about the quality. Those times are gone.
PLR is like a rough draft that you can use to avoid reinventing the wheel. It's so much easier to work from a base of good content, rather than starting from scratch with a blank page. The same goes for outline or even Jeff's or Ezine's article templates. Once you get started, you may head off into an entirely different direction, but the PLR content gets you off to a fast start.
It's also great when you want to learn something quickly, like Loretta said. With the really good PLR sites, they've done the research for you already. I often pick up some PLR content just to learn about a subject. Then I'll do additional research to get more in depth knowledge.
And there are so many other ways to use it where you'll have your own voice and personality. Just putting it into powerpoint slides, adding some examples and recording a video makes it totally yours and unique.
In the offline world, we used and reused standard, generic content all the time when I was developing training programs for corporations. So long as you're customizing it to the audience and it's meeting a specific goal, there's absolutely nothing wrong with leveraging what you have.
So, needless to say, I completely disagree that you should avoid PLR. It's a great resource for content creators and just needs to be used the right way.
And the sites that you listed are all great. I think I've bought PLR from all of them!
Great points! And I do love Jeff Herring's article writing templates too - I whipped out some great content during our recent workshop! 😉
Lynn,
You have been promoting way too much stuff lately and very thin on useful content.
Now I remember why i took you off my RSS feed the last time.
Don
Hi Don!
I take it you didn't enjoy my tips for using PLR successfully? 🙂
Your comment is also quite thin on useful content, but I approved it anyway. I suppose we'll just have to keep tabs on how we feel about each other's contributions here, and make our own personal decisions from there.
😉 *cheers*
Wow, he called you thin 🙂 Woohoo!
LOL 😉
I think with the past year or so of Google hits on websites and content lacking good quality, PLR articles have taken a beating. I completely understand both sides of the PLR usage fence.
I've landed on plenty of websites where poorly written PLR is obvious. Therein lies the typical "Internet Marketer" - slapping up websites to promote products to make a buck. I've seen PLR run through a spinner with less than stellar results.
I've also seen where PLR is used well and as Kelly mentioned, not recognized as PLR because of personalizing it.
I think Jeff has valid points, but he also has a business to promote. Just like those who sell PLR.
Google's main focus is to weed out crap content, or irrelevant results. Good on them for continually staying current - that's their business.
I don't know anyone that doesn't put their heart and soul into their business... that succeeds - for more than a minute. If you don't have enough passion for your business to communicate effectively with your market, you're not going to see any success with anyway.
Tools are great for the people who use them properly. 😉
I agree Lynn, you can use PLR but you really need to be careful with it or you produce stuff anyone else has on her blog. I tried using article starters as well but in the end I figured that I can better write on my own if I really take my time and research the topic I'm writing about. If I do that, if I treat each article like a product I produce, I do not find it that hard to start. But that requires taking more time. Still, I think it´s worth. It all depends on your business model though.
I write the majority of my posts from scratch as well, but when I'm looking for new topics or angles - or angles, these tools can be really helpful! Such as my "How to stick to a low carb diet" or "five reasons to join a paid forum" - those were great titles (which I tweaked) that gave me great ideas for GOOD content. 🙂
I found this to be an interesting post. I did go over to Jeff's site to read his post, and I feel that it is unfortunate that people may be dissuaded from PLR, based on incomplete information. I find it interesting how he states "Because of the way PLR is marketed and pushed on the undiscerning..." I own a PLR store, so I may be accused of bias, but I don't think many who buy PLR would agree that they are pushed into buying it and are undiscerning.
Here's a great excerpt from a website that can help people understand what PLR is (and how it is not limited to online businesses): " Imagine the same principle applied to physical products, such as cranberry juice. Do you think that the Walmart brand cranberry juice is actually made by Walmart? The answer is no. They went to a cranberry juice manufacturer, bought the rights to the juice, and had it shipped over with their own label on it." You can read the rest of this example here: http://www.alexshalman.com/2009/04/01/review-private-label-rights/
The other thing that people need to remember is that PLR is just content. It comes in many different forms, and can be repurposed into many different forms. For example, if I buy an article pack of PLR, I don't necessarily need to use it as written content. I can use it to create a webinar I'm going to do, for a video I need to make to teach my audience, etc. There's just SO many creative uses of PLR. Many smart marketers are also using it to create apps.
One thing that I need to mention, that many may not think about, is that although it is often advisable to add your thoughts, feelings, and own voice into PLR, it is not always necessary. This will depend on the business and how you plan to use the PLR. For example, I know that some of my customers buy my health PLR to use in their offline businesses. They can use the PLR as-is to create pamphlets for their patients, etc.
Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts. 🙂
Great points, Kim! 😉
Don't get me wrong here, I don't have a probelm with PLR content, if used correctly but, having written content for nigh on 15 years now, I find myself getting more and more frustrated with people that think they can copy my content word for word, PLR rights or not. I have sites that rank extremely highly on Search Engines, simply becuase of the unique content, yet find them being ripped quite literally to shreds by what i'd term content thieves. The same goes for content I publish in articles on PLR sites (ie article sites). Yes, I'm looking for traffic from those sites, but what I'm not looking for is someone literally taking the content, removing my name, putting their own in it's place and re-publishing it. If you're going to use someone elses work, please please re-word it in your own fashion- after all, you won't get through college or uni by plagurising, so why should you get traffic doing the same thing.
Content thieves are a royal pain, Richard - I agree. It's unfortunate that people do this. It takes time and effort on our part, but if you have a specific case that's hurting YOUR business, you can turn them in to their host and get them shut down for it. 😉
Hi Richard. The 2 situations you describe are not related to PLR at all.
The first is called scraping. This is when someone copies your article without permission and uses it for themselves. Even if they keep your name and links intact, they're using it without your permission. PLR is content that you have permission to use.
The second situation is called syndication. When you submit an article to a directory you are giving people the right to syndicate it. That means they can copy it to their own site provided they don't change anything and keep all the links intact. Many people violate these conditions though, and it becomes scraping.
You can fight these guys like Lynn says. I've done it in the past. Start with a note to the blog owner to ask them to take it down (or use it according to the article directory terms if it is syndicated). If that fails, then you can contact their hosting provider and submit a copyright claim.
It's a lot of work though, and you'll never stop them all. I decided it wasn't worth the effort (and negative energy).
I think that PLR is like just about anything that you can use to build a business... you can use it well and with ethics, or you can abuse it and use it without ethics.
Just because some people abuse it doesn't make it bad. It is a tool. I try to use a mix of my own content, guest posts, syndicated articles (those I don't edit since that isn't allowed) and PLR. I even use MRR/RR reports, etc. from time to time. I've not used exclusive ghostwritten material so far, but I may some day.
I don't worry too much about duplication. Since I rewrite the PLR and have a mix of other content sources the overall effect is unique.
On a side note, I find it funny (in a good way) that the image you used for this post is the same one I use at my landing page for a free report on PLR (although I think I flipped it so it fit better into the banner I used it for).
Funny - it's from iStockPhoto of course. 🙂
You brought up duplication. Many people aren't aware that there isn't actually a penalty for duplicate content. That's a myth. Google will simply filter out the majority of duplicate results and show only the most relevant (or the one with the highest authority and/or social media rank).
I got it from Stock.xchng. 8=)
As for the duplicate content, I always found it funny that people would get all upset about it and spin their articles for each article directory they submit to. Like, the whole point of an article directory is to make your article available for people to copy word for word on their own site!
The only time Google penalizes a site for duplicate content is when it shows up on the same site. Duplicate content on different sites is just as you describe - they pick one copy and the rest are hidden behind a link to "more of the same" or something like that.
Great post Lynn!
Using PLR is much like cooking. To prepare and serve a meal you need ingredients. Unless you grow and grind your own wheat, grow your own herbs and spices, slaughter your own cow, etc. you are using ingredients (products) that someone else created.
PLR is simply an ingredient for a recipe. How well your "dish" turns out depends on the quality of the ingredients, what you substituted to make the recipe more your own and how well you prepared it.
Cooking from "scratch" is an idiom (there's a better word I can't think of). Many people like to bake a cake from "scratch" and not use a boxed mix. However, that statement really is not true--they may use flour and other ingredients, but they did not grow or mill all of those ingredients.
Even when you write from scratch, you take years of knowledge, from various sources, and put it all together in your own way--like you said, there are no unique topics.
Hey Patti - I have to chime in because I love your analogy! Cooking from scratch or reinventing the wheel, I think they're both idioms that are also colloquialisms since people elsewhere may not use those phrases. But I'm a grammar geek so now you piqued my curiosity and I'll have to go look it up!
Sharyn, If you find the word I was looking for, please share it. 😉 I'm not a total grammar geek, but I often find that words I know, but don't use in every day speech, just elude me. Plus I've been having mild migraines lately and they always make my brain wonky. (Yes, that's a scientific word. I'm sure of it.)
Ok, so I actually researched this (as if I have nothing better to do!) The words "from scratch" comes from way back when people used to scratch a line on the ground to indicate the starting point for a race. It developed from there until it got to the point of meaning 'starting from nothing". There's a little James Joyce and Ulysses reference along the way, but let's not go into that.
That said, I still think it's an idiom, but let's just call it a figure of speech. After all, it's bedtime here and we're way beyond the discussion of PLR! Trust a couple of writers to get into a discussion on something like this 😉
I like your analogy too, Patti! And Bill, thanks for your excellent information, and clarifying to others that scraping and syndication are not synonymous with PLR. And Terry, you're so right about the duplicate content myth. I think I remember Matt Cutts doing a video on that in the past.
He did 😀 You can see it here:
http://www.clicknewz.com/2078/duplicate-web-content-google-penalty-myth/
Lynn,
I'm so embarrassed that I called you Terry! Sorry about that. This has been quite the topic! LOL!
Hi Lynn,
Quite a controversial topic indeed! Thanks to Kelly McCausey for sharing it with the BizSugar community. I tend to avoid sweeping statements like "you should never..." except in areas of obvious bad karma like spamming or ripping off other Websites without permission. Yet, the degrees of gray here deserve discussion.
I believe you might be a tad wrong. If they don't change the content on the PLR articles, it's not unique and Google does have an issue with that. Besides, why would a BUSINESS want to use content everyone else is using. I have viewed enough PLR articles to know "research" is a stretch. Sorry, will never advocate their use for business
Alex, when Google's own representative (i.e. Matt Cutts) repeatedly tells us that duplicate content on different sites isn't bad, why do people continue to believe that it is?
Google penalizes sites that have duplicate content within the site. However, duplicate content that is found on other sites (such as when an article is syndicated) do not result in penalization. They do only choose 1 of the versions (or sometimes 2) to put in the search results, but the sites themselves are not penalized.
If content is relevant to the needs of your customers, why should you care if the same information is available elsewhere? If that is the case then you might as well give up since there is very little truly unique content. I love golf, and all the golf magazines for years have been giving me tips on how to cure my slice. I see the same basic tips, over and over. Even in the same magazine. And unfortunately, I still have a slice 8=)
First, thanks for posting this as a reply to Jeff's post Lynn.
I've been using PLR for the past 6 years, and never once, have I run across a PLR article or report I was using on one of my websites somewhere else.
Yes, when you're working within a specific niche and you get to know a group of people, it feels like the Internet is a small place because you keep running into those certain people. But in reality, the Internet is massive, and the chances of your visitor reading an article on your blog that is PLR, and then going to another website and reading the same thing is pretty slim.
I think people tend to over think it and worry too much about what could happen - Google might not like it, someone else could be using the same content, it's cheating, etc. - instead of just testing it out for themselves to see what happens. I mean, why make content/product creation any harder than it has to be?
Yes, I agree, there's a lot of garbage PLR out there, but there's also a lot of great sites that have stood the test of time and have been around for 5+ years, and Lynn has listed some really great ones 🙂 You can't stay in business that long if you're selling crap.
Ha! Spelled my name wrong, geesh!
Hmm, my original comment disappeared...not sure what happened 🙂
Melissa, I spelled my name wrong on a resume once. I'd sent out like ten of them, and my oldest daughter looks at it and says, "Uh, mom, you spelled your name wrong."
"What? Who spells their own name wrong?" I looked at it and sure enough..it was misspelled, so I told her, "Well, I kinda like the name Particia...it sounds so Addam's familyish." LOL
LOL! That is too funny 😀
Did you have to explain to anyone that you spelled your name wrong?
Fortunately, or unfortunately (however you look at it,) no one called me. I think I found a job right after that without a resume.
I still like the sound of it though. Guess you know which shows I watched as a kid--that one and The Munsters. 😉
LOL, Particia! You crack me up! 😀
I hate the way some people use definitives like "never" to describe a business practice that does have possibilities of being used correctly.
In reading the comments on Jeff's blog, everyone's telling him they rewrite the PLR, but he keeps responding, "Why even use PLR if you're going to go to all that trouble - why not start from scratch?"
Because:
a. Some people don't have the talent to research, organize and write content - they need help and then rewriting makes it much easier on them.
b. Some people don't have the time to research, organize, and write content - and rewriting is much, much faster because you're just injection your voice into it, not having to think from scratch.
People do the same with Squidoo. "NEVER" use it, they say. Why never? Just because they don't like it doesn't mean they should be putting chains on it for everybody.
I couldn't agree more with this post Lynn.
I am a great fan of good quality PLR articles. Not only can they be used as inspiration for your own articles, but can be used in many more ways too such as re-writing and compiling into reports or Ebooks.
They an also rewritten and used for autoresponder series on your niche websites.
I have used PLR articles for quick inspiration when I have a bit of writers block. I find it so much easier to open up a plr article, rewrite it completely into my own words than starting from scratch with a blank notepad file.
Clare
I agree with your post, Lynn, and I like all the discussion here.
I like to say PLR is like Playdoh. Right out of the can, my Playdoh looks just like yours. But it's what I do with it at that point - add different colors, mold it into what I want it to be or need it to be - that makes the end result very different from yours.
I love your Playdoh analogy Peggy! It's much better for those of us who can't cook 8=)
Playdoh is A LOT more fun too. I enjoy cooking, but it's not as amusing as playing with playdoh. 😉
I agree. I think that you can get good ideas from reading plr content but I would never copy anyone else's content word from word. I just think articles are more refreshing to read in one's own personal voice. I read bloggers blogs because I like to read their writing not something that has been plastered all over the internet a million times. I don't know how people don't think people can tell you can definitely tell.
Maketta, I'd say your comment tells me you still don't get the difference between PLR and plain bad writing. There is lots of bad writing that is copied, spun and copied somemore. But that doesn't make it PLR. Much of that is syndicated and scraped content. I'd agree that there is a lot of bad PLR, but there is a lot of good stuff out there that you'd never tell unless you had a copy of it yourself. And some (well rewritten), not even then.
Bill, I was under the impression that people put their own spin on plr articles. I didn't say that all plr articles were bad writing.
Hi Maketta.
You talk about being able to spot PLR as it is plastered all over the internet a million times. That isn't a defining feature of PLR at all. Most PLR will show up in 2 or 3 spots amongst millions of web sites. You might see some 10 or 15 times.
PLR is sold in packs that people rarely use each article from. And of the limited quantities of quality PLR you'll rarely have more than 200 people owning it (some are limited to as low as 50 copies). So it doesn't get diluted and spun and put up everywhere.
However, that is the case with a lot of poorly written stuff that is submitted to article directories, spun to make it worse, and then submitted again. Then it is copied, scraped and spun. Some of that is PLR. Much of it isn't.
People have gotten an idea that all the crap that is out there is PLR. It isn't. And they think all PLR is crap. Also, not true.
PLR is pretty useful, it is not at all crap. I think that you can get good ideas from reading plr content and can produce some effective content, also refreshing content.
Peggy Baron has a GREAT resource for those of you that are struggling with re-writing PLR Content to be unique enough for both Google AND for Amazon Kindle: http://www.clicknewz.com/plr-rewrite.htm
It also includes a handy tip sheet for super quick re-writes. Enjoy! 😀
I find it wonderful that Bill Nickerson has been so active in this post, as there are still SO many people out there that need to be educated on PLR. I also agree with Tiffany Dow's comments that although Jeff tells people that they should be creating their content from scratch, there are many people who just do NOT have the ability to write or spell. Spell check, although helpful, still can't tell the difference between to and too, for example. The research is another big factor, as Tiffany mentions. In my case, I ensure that PLR on my site is written by people with a health background, so you know you are getting accurate content too. Anyway, those are just a few thoughts to keep in mind as to why PLR is a smart investment.
people tend to over think it and worry too much about what could happen - Google might not like it, there is nothing to worry. Just get an idea from it, and produce a wonderful refreshing content. Good post, thanks for sahring.
PLR is content - a means to an end and rightly so as Lynn stated in:
"3. Consider your objective with every piece of content you publish. Content alone isn't the key, it's what you do with that content - and how you use it to lead your readers into a specific decision (ie Call-to-Action)."
PLR (private label rights) is only as great as how you use it for its intended purpose.
And in that respect... what you do with any content whether it is plr or original content is what matters at the end of the day. Original content is preferred and best. But, all the original content in the world would be a waste if it is not well suited in its make up and connects with its target audience.
Yes.... original content is king... and PLR is its queen - the ever changing multi talented all purpose partner!
Great post. I've tried PLR, but found the effort I used to proof and tweak them to be my own was better used creating my own content. I will be giving PLR another shot this upcoming year though - even if just for ideas. I too have lots of PLR articles collecting dust on one of my zip drives. Now to find that particular drive. 🙂
Oh, just a heads up, I tried sharing this post to a few social networks through your links, but shareaholic kept getting hung up.
Maketta, I'd say your comment tells me you still don't get the difference between PLR and plain bad writing. There is lots of bad writing that is copied, spun and copied somemore. But that doesn't make it PLR. Much of that is syndicated and scraped content. I'd agree that there is a lot of bad PLR, but there is a lot of good stuff out there that you'd never tell unless you had a copy of it yourself. And some (well rewritten), not even then.
i agreed with this one
Hi Lynn!WOW, nice job with this post. Looks like I/we really stirred things up...I just found out about this post from Adela Rubio, wish I could\'ve been participating from the beginning...I\'ve read through all the great comments once, and will take some time to go back through more carefully, because there are some great points.Be back soon with some thoughts...Thanks Lynn!~ Jeff
Hi Jeff! So glad you are joining in on the discussion. 😀
*cheers*
Hi Lynn, and everyone...
I'm so glad that Lynn's blog post about my blog post has generated so much conversation. With almost 70 comments, it would be tough to answer them all, so I'm gonna make a few comments below:
First, it's important to remember that my original blog post was written to my target market. My target market is heart-centered entrepreneur-experts, who realize that their ideal clients are attracted to their voice: how they uniquely approach and solve problems.
Knowing exactly who my target market is informs a great deal of how I view traditional PLR. If you are not my target market, then much of what I have said may not apply to you.
For instance, if your goal is to go into a niche in which you are not an expert, and do some "churning & burning" of a list, then traditional PLR may be the way to go for you. That's not my target market.
As heart-centered experts, my tribe does not need to do extensive research when creating content. As experts they are able to deliver their expertise because it is inside of them based on experience.
The argument was made that some use PLR as a launching point for their own content: either as an idea generator, or something they edit and adapt to their niche. That's not the kind of PLR I was referring to in my blog post.
At the same time, I would argue that if you have the time and creativity to alter PLR into your own style, why not use that creative energy to create your own content?
I made mention in my blog post of the possibility of PLR content you put your name on being found by prospects under someone else's name. One comment on Lynn's blog said that had never happened to them. I would add just one word to that statement: yet.
Someone mentioned that they thought the reason I was taking the position I have taken was just to sell my content creation templates. While that is a conclusion easy to jump to, check out the "Full Disclosure" statement originally in my blog post:
"Some folks say I am against PLR because I teach content creation. You should know that I have turned down hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years from folks who wanted me to sell my content as PLR."
And yes, I do sell Content Creation Templates. The 5.0 upgrade is the best resource I've ever created. Perhaps Lynn and I can talk about them and this whole issue in an upcoming webinar together. My point in my Full Disclosure statement was that my driving force in this position was not money, as I could be making a ton more by selling my content to PLR services. I've turned down literally hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years by not doing so...
In my mind, there is a vast difference between content creation templates, article starters, and PLR. Templates enhance your creativity, as you no longer stare at a blank screen, as you plug your content expertise into a template. My experience, and the experience of my students, is that PLR, etc. can dampen your creativity.
Last point for now, I promise: In the final analysis, I'm a Content Creation guy. So anything that helps you get your content out there has the potential to be a good thing. This I do know - based on years of experience with thousands of students, developing your content creation muscles is one of the very best things you can do for your business. Master this, and you can write your own ticket online.
Looking forward to further dialogue....
Hi Jeff
While you may have intended your post to a specific audience, you should be aware that your words go beyond your audience. And the article you wrote spoke about PLR in its worst light.
I can understand that your target market is one that should probably not use PLR. But that doesn't mean that PLR is the horrible mess that you described. It can be, but you can probably find problems with any tool that is used online or off.
You also bring up the point "why not do it yourself from scratch?" And that is a great question. Do you use WordPress? Why not write the HTML and CSS for your website from scratch? That's what a proper website should be. Is it really so different? Many people can't write from scratch, just like many can't code a website.
I personally can write HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, etc. I spent 20+ years as a programmer. But I use WordPress because it saves me the work of having to start from scratch for every page. I use themes and plugins to make life easier even though I could make my own.
Lots of people require more content than they could generate on their own and PLR can be useful to help them get rolling.
Thanks for such a detailed response, Jeff! I would consider myself your target market (heart-centered entrepreneur-experts, who realize that their ideal clients are attracted to their voice: how they uniquely approach and solve problems) - yet I stand behind my statements in the post above about how and why I use PLR content in my online business.
Great discussion here, and I really appreciate everyone's input! It's fun to see all the different points of view, as we each have a unique frame of reference based on our own personal experience. Good stuff!
Hi Lynn, and your welcome!
You know, reading this thread is really interesting...
The greatest danger here is to get caught in "the mood of our times" and believe that it has to be either/or - in this case, either PLR or Content Creation Templates.
It's good that we are both experienced pros that know and do better...
The greatest benefit here is to look upon this as "both/and" - in this case, PLR and Content Creation Templates, in the right hands...
Looking forward to our webinar where we can about this some more...with and audience!
Chat soon...
~ Jeff
Lynn, I'm looking for PLR and since this post is a few years old, I was wondering if it is still up to date and if there are any additional sources available as well.
I meant to say.... is the List included in the post of the PLR sources still up to date.