Do you run a blog? Have you ever "cheated" and outsourced article writing?

[RobbieRye]

I'm wondering if any of you guys have used outsourced content writers to fill content in your blogs?

If so, how did it work out for you? Did it effect traffic / readership? Where did you get the outsourced work done?

[Spencer F.]

I run a blog and, no, I don't outsource writers.

[DevonWright]

I'm wondering if any of you guys have used outsourced content writers to fill content in your blogs?

If so, how did it work out for you? Did it effect traffic / readership? Where did you get the outsourced work done?

Don't see a problem with there being more than one writer in a blog. More content means more content....heh.

[RobbieRye]

Thanks for your replies here guys. I don't really see a problem with it either other then if you're not careful, the quality of the content could start to suck.

Maybe I'll give it a try. Anyone have any suggestions of where would be a good place / firm to outsource this with?

[vgarcia]

The only credibility issue I could see is if someone else's posts had your name on them. Otherwise I'd be likely to consider it a group blog, which I expect would go up and down in quality depending on who is writing.

[RobbieRye]

Well, that's what I was thinking....

I could pay an outsourcing firm to write up a bunch of blog entries (say 100) and then schedule them to be posted automatically at different times.

I'd read them all of course before they were placed live, but they would all be posted under my name.

[RobbieRye]

I'm suprised that more people haven't tried this.

Any help is appreciated with this...especailly where to find a quality outsource firm to give this a try.

[Viflux]

Doesn't it become more of an article site, and less of a blog, if you're paying someone to create content for you?

[ses5909]

Well, that's what I was thinking....

I could pay an outsourcing firm to write up a bunch of blog entries (say 100) and then schedule them to be posted automatically at different times.

I'd read them all of course before they were placed live, but they would all be posted under my name.

Will you try and say you wrote these articles? If so, I would say there is an ethical dilemma there. Or will you be giving credit to the authors?

[Copywriter]

Blog posting is one of the services we offer, and it's actually pretty common for businesses to outsource their blogging to professional writers. I think it makes sense (although, of course, I would say that!). A blog is only as good as its content, and if you're not confident that you can create that content yourself, then why not have a professional do it for you?

As for the ethical question, I don't have a problem with it. Ghostwriting is what my business offers - we write for other people, and those other people buy full rights to the content produced, which entitles them to do what they like with it, including passing it off as their own. Most of the big business blogs/newsletters/editorials etc are ghostwritten, purely because the CEO, or whoever has their name on the byline, doesn't have the time or skill to write it themselves. When I was a newspaper journalist I wrote columns for politicians, sportsmen and other people - it's very common in that industry, and it's becoming more common within the blogging industy, too.

[elliothere]

Having other peoples' writings posted under your name would be unethical. If it's posted under their name, then great, as long as it's quality content.

Another option (if you've got a fairly substantial readership), is allow people to be "guest writers." That way they get exposed to your traffic, and you get a nice article as well as are exposed to any readers the guest writer sends over.

But I'd advise to never claim ownership of somebody else's writing. Eventually people will probably figure it out (especially if there are several different people writing for you, as they will each have their own unqiue writing style, and none of them will match yours), and then what are you going to do?

[WriteNow]

Having other peoples' writings posted under your name would be unethical.

It's not unethical if you paid for it.

Have you ever heard of ghostwriting? Many books that are "written" by celebrities that are actually written by ghostwriters.

[elliothere]

It's not unethical if you paid for it.

I'm not talking about unethical towards the writers, I'm talking about towards the readers. You're lying to them.

Have you ever heard of ghostwriting? Many books that are "written" by celebrities that are actually written by ghostwriters.

There's a difference in that. The ideas, thoughts, and basic content is often done by the celebrity, they just paid somebody for their writing skills so that it makes sense. I believe that what's being talked about here (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) is actually paying for bulk posts done completely by somebody else and pretending that it's yours.

[ses5909]

I'm not talking about unethical towards the writers, I'm talking about towards the readers. You're lying to them.



There's a difference in that. The ideas, thoughts, and basic content is often done by the celebrity, they just paid somebody for their writing skills so that it makes sense. I believe that what's being talked about here (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) is actually paying for bulk posts done completely by somebody else and pretending that it's yours.

That's how I understood it as well. As if I paid you, elliothere, to write some posts for me and i just threw my name on it and claimed it as mine.

[izzmeister]

there seem to be "ghostwriters" in the publishing world.. looks like ghosting in the blogging world is just as likely when say, donald trump starts blogging..

[ChrisRoss]

If no one purchased content I would be out of business ... Purchasing blog entries is a pretty common occurrence these days, it’s just like purchasing an article. What it boils down to is a couple things....

Some people start blogs because it easier to create a blog about a subject then to create a website about a subject. Because of this anyone can create a blog and you don’t have to be a web developer anymore... You could just open a blogger account and add adsense to it. Since a lot of people are creating a blogs to make money (adsense, ads, etc), many don’t have the time, experience, or knowledge to write on some of the subjects. Some like myself would rather pay someone to write the content (or blog entries) then do it yourself.

[Lee_D]

I have my blog and I don't pay anyone to write. It would defeat the purpose of my blog.

[ChrisRoss]

I have my blog and I don't pay anyone to write. It would defeat the purpose of my blog.

If the purpose of your blog is just to let people know about you and what you do, then yes it would defeat the purpose. But if the purpose of your blog is to make money..... Then it wouldn’t defeat the purpose.