First off, you might be wondering where my Menu Plan Monday post is? Last week I was on vacation and this week I am still trying to get back into the swing of things. You know I need a vacation from vacation type thing.
So I am going to rough it this week and hopefully get back to a normal schedule next week….crossing fingers!
Ok now onto the real reason for this post.
Last week I had something happen to me that I NEVER in a million years would of expected. One of my posts {which I was quite proud of} was plagiarized. Read this if you haven’t already.
While I was browsing through the Twitter stream I came across it and it BLEW.ME.AWAY! What really hurt is the blogger never mentioned my name or gave me credit. She stated that since the post applied to her, she used most of it and changed a few words. Really?
One important note: Don’t do that! I relate to a lot of posts I read in the blogosphere but I NEVER copy and paste it. Leave a comment or take part of it and credit the blogger. Never try to pass it off as your own.
After a few days she removed the post from her site and I can finally rest, whew.
I have learned one thing from this experience, protect your blog!
Here are a few ways you can do this:
1. Google Alerts: Set this up with all variations of your name, blog title and URL. You will find out where your blog is being mentioned and who is linking back to you or NOT linking back to your blog.
2. MyFreeCopyRight.com: In three easy steps you can protect the content that you write on your blog. Your original content is securely uploaded, a digital fingerprint is logged, stored and then emailed to you. All of your original content is registered and protected from anyone that wants to “steal it”.
3. Copyscape: A website where you can get a badge that gives warning to others and helps protect against someone copying your content.
4. CopyGator: All you do is type in your website URL and it tells you if your content is being copied. Pretty cool!
5. WP-CopyProtect Plug-in: Its great to have a copyright badge on your blog, but you need to go one step further in order to really protect your content. This plug-in prevents anyone from selecting and copying any text. Once you activate this plug-in, it will disable the Right Click as well as the selection of the text. Brilliant!
6. Use Watermarks: If you are using photos on your blog, make sure you use a watermark to help protect them. A free website you can use is Picnik.
These are just a few resources that can help protect you from your content being copied.
If you have any additional resources you use, I would LOVE to hear them.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for the tips!
.-= Michelle @ Mommy Loves Stilettos´s last blog ..♥When My Mind Races… =-.
I’ve never been plagiarized and hopefully never will be. Thanks for all these tips!
Great tips. Perhaps your misfortune has created a new calling for you. Advocating for us moms who want our voices heard as opposed to copied. Bravo!
Great tips! I have been learning alot of some of these security -or lack there of issues… sadly I think my blog was hacked this weekend
Glad you advocated for yourself and that your pearls of wisdom were taken down on the other site. Boo for people thinking that they can take advantage of others.
Wow, they are great! Thank you so much for posting these!
Hey, it’s awful that some bloggers do. I have not had such experiences in his short blog career , but I shall have note this useful things you mentioned as protection. All the best
=-.
.-= Tamara @ Miracle of Pregnancy and Parenting´s last blog ..How to Earn Money by Various Baby Customs
Thanks for the info!! This is disturbing!
.-= Ember´s last blog ..Happy Father’s Day!! ~Father’s Day Celebrates 100 Years =-.
These are great. Thanks! I’ve been wondering about the watermarks for awhile.
Here’s another one that I use – myfreecopyright.com. It uploads all of your stuff & stores it with your information so that if it’s stolen in any way you have proof that it’s your original creation
Thanks for these tips! I just added google alerts and am looking into copygator. i’m sorry you had to go through that!
.-= liz´s last blog ..A Special Introduction =-.
I’m so glad she took down the post! It’s funny- I know to protect my work in the corporate world but I am neglecting my blog in this aspect. Thanks for these resources!
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..100 Things I’ve Learned About Blogging =-.
Great tips! Thanks for sharingggg!
These are great resources! For those who use Windows LiveWriter, when you insert a picture, click on advanced in the settings. There is an option to watermark it right there. If you are on Wordpress but do not use livewriter, there’s a plugin that automatically watermarks photos too– http://randomplac.es/wordpress-plugins/watermark-reloaded/.
I also think it’s crappy what that person did– I’m so glad to hear she took it down!!
Good blog post. And love the links. I never take enough time to find new help sites. Thanks.
.-= Weekend Cowgirl´s last blog ..Girl’s Road Trip =-.
I so understand how you feel! I had a few of my posts plagiarized by someone with a pretty popular blog about a year ago. My blog is small potatoes, so I didn’t think anyone would copy my stuff, especially someone doing so well in the blogsphere. I’m glad that the offender removed the post. Hopefully they have learned their lesson. The blogsphere, for all its size, is a small community; copying other’s work isn’t a savvy thing to do.
.-= Michele – The Professional Family Manager´s last blog ..Random Musings from an Over-Worked but Happy Mother =-.
Tina! Great tips!!! I need to add some of those plugins, etc.. for my blog. I do the Google Alerts already, but need the others. Thanks babe!
.-= Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation´s last blog ..Mom Sexy Prom!! =-.
Just installed that WP plug-in! This is such great info and everyone needs it, especially since you are the 4th or 5th blogger that I know this has happened to. I wish people more more ethical about this sort of thing, but I guess some just don’t have a conscience!!
The plug-in idea for wordpress is brilliant. However wouldn’t that then make it harder for people to get your button to post it on their site?
.-= Nolie´s last blog ..Summer Means…. =-.
Sorry you had to experience that! Thanks for sharing all the great tips! I will be checking them put sooner rather than later!
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..For the Love of Books…… =-.