I recently had a source send me an ebook to use as a potential lead magnet. When I opened the ebook and started reading, I noticed that the title had [YOUR NAME HERE] and [www.YourWebsite.com] as placeholder text. However, this was odd, as the title of the book was more specific. I did an exact match search in Google on the title, and came up with a who’s who list of questionable sites. Leading the pack was a site called Rebrandable PLR Software. I did a bit of digging, and found that they had a number of articles on subjects ranging from BBQs to yoga. Next, I ran the ebook text through a plagiarism checker, and found that eighty percent of the text is available elsewhere on the internet.
What Is PLR Content?
PLR stands for private label rights, which is high-volume, low-quality content that comes with a license that allows the user to edit and sell it as their own. However, there are some issues with this approach. One is that Google prefers original content that answers a user’s question – not content that’s been recycled multiple times across the internet.
What To Watch Out For
Speaking of recycled content, there’s no way to tell if the article pack you’re buying from PLR source A is the same as an article pack on PLR source B. Generally, PLR resellers do not create the content themselves. Instead, they employ overseas writers to churn out poorly-written, grammatically incorrect content that the end user either has to spend time editing, or risk damaging their brand by producing content of inferior quality.
Furthermore, if you do publish the content, and there are copyright issues, the lawyers may come a-knocking at your door. This is a nuisance at best, and can be very costly in a worst-case scenario.
Finally, PLR content can damage your business’ brand. Prospects and clients will download and consume the blogs and ebooks, notice the poor writing, and will mentally categorize your business as “cheap.” When they go to buy from you, and see that your prices are not in line with your perceived brand (ie higher), they will experience cognitive dissonance, and will not purchase from you. As a result, you will need to spend time rewriting your content, or lower your prices.
If You Choose To Venture To The Dark Side
If you decide to purchase PLR content, here’s a couple of tips to keep in mind:
- Once you’ve rewritten it to your satisfaction, run a thorough plagiarism check to ensure that there is no duplicate content. Plagiarism checkers also provide links to sources where content is found elsewhere online.
- Use PLR content as a basis for your original content ideas, and go in with the expectation that you’re going to end up rewriting the content.
- Purchase content from the most reputable sources that you can find. Do your due diligence, and read the license and usage agreements carefully.
All that being said, I’ve found that PLR content is like fast food. It may taste great, but the resulting heartburn and weight gain aren’t ultimately worth it. Feed your site (and your brand) with healthy, original content, and you’ll reap the rewards in the long run.
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