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WP Automated Blogging Plugins: is it a True Business Opportunity?

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automated blogging

How many times you came across an automated blog? How many times you have read about a new WordPress plugin that works automatically to publish posts on your blog with out you do any effort? Could this be a new business opportunity?

In discussion forums you will find everything possible, people who waste your time, and other who really gain your respect. I was in a discussion forum today and I found people talking about a new WordPress plugin that allow you to create automated content by pulling articles based on specific keywords and publish them to a blog, basically the idea is to use this blog for making money by display Google AdSense ads, but I wonder why no body mentioned the possibility of having duplicated content and how is could hurt!

I just don’t want to link to the plugin page not to give it any credit, but you can find lots of these plugins simply by searching.

Keywords or RSS feeds?

The idea of getting the articles or the posts is by two ways, the first is pulling them from article directories, and the second way it to grab the articles from RSS feeds and re-post them to the automated blog.

Trackbacks from the darkness of the internet

Of course all of us knows about this awful way of content creation, and probably you will remove these ugly trackbacks you are getting all the time when you discover it’s from one of those automated blogs. I personally hate it when some blogs from the darkness of the internet links back to my blog, I personally consider it a link from a bad neighborhood.

AutoBlogging.. is it a way of creating a successful blog?

What really annoy me is the creators of these plugin convince buyers of the paid version that they will earn money easily by installing the plugin on their blogs and do nothing more than that! Because everything is automatically done! And they -of course- do NOT mention content duplication, and they will not talk about it because this will hurt their sales, they even promote automated blogging as it’s an innovative tool to help keep the content fresh!

Did they ever think about how much duplicated content hurts?

Automated content creation

Just pay attention that we are talking here about automated blogging, not about automated content creation, and I am actually against both ways, because at the end both ways can lead to content duplication, because there is no reason to duplicate content 100s of times on each blog.

SEO experts teach these ways, and use these content generating software that allow you to create 50 different versions or more of one original article by changing a few words and paragraphs placements. Then simply you can submit these articles to web directories and convince them all that these are original and unique content.

A message to auto generated content blogs owners

I just want to tell to everyone who is using this way that -Don’t forget- people who works on developing search engines is working day and night to discover your 50 auto generated articles and they will send them to the basement of the search results sooner or later.

If you don’t believe me then read what’s on Google Webmaster Central support pages about little or no original content.

From the page: “Google will take action against domains that try to rank more highly by just showing scraped or other auto-generated pages that don’t add any value to users”

Conclusion and personal opinion

Blogging should be about writing original content all the time, this is case you are trying to give value to readers and you are planning a long life for your blog. I don’t recommend automated blogs and content generating software for anyone, it’s a very bad human behavior, and it’s a way to to destroy the value of the internet, search engine results and making money online niche reputation, duplicated content waste our time and efforts on the internet looking for something not said yet so many times, and it’s not the right way to create a successful blog or website.

This is absolutely the most ridicules way to earn money online, automated blogs in my opinion is the worst idea for a blog, and I dare you to give me one example of a successful blog by any assets using automatic content generation WordPress plugins.

What about you?

What you think about automated blogs, and unique content generators? Are they good or bad? Can bloggers think about it as a new business opportunity?

About

I create websites with WordPress, and I develop Schema Plugins to help SEOs. I am a social network lover. I am also the night creature who works hard to keep this project up. Owner and founder of the Famous Blog.

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{ 44 Responses }

  1. Aip says:
    just I wanna ask one question.......is it realty possible to make money using some secret formula??? or people just using this kind of plugins to have more visitor????
  2. Adam says:
    I always tell ma clients not to embed RSS feeds into their sites. Even though they have "fresh content" all the time, it is the same stuff like on other pages and they loose visitors klicking the links.
    • Hesham says:
      Adam, I just saw your commentluv link, this information is not true, I have a .co domain and it still can be found in Google search!
  3. Nasif says:
    Google recently announced that it does not encourage the use of automated blogging plugins. Many adsense publishers were banned because of this
  4. chandan says:
    It is completely true Hesham. Recently I have bought WP Robot article version thinking of getting original content for my blog. But it is giving completely duplicate content which is useless for me. What I noticed that the blog post which give load of information to reader have either good PR or get good traffic from search engine.
  5. abhishek says:
    The reason I come to this blog on and on is because of the original content this blog has. And the most important part is that it gives me a feeling of personal touch. With automated blogs it looks way too mechanical and readers might come up for the first time but I am sure the bounce rate of these sites will be way too high. So I would suggest write on what interests u and write what you are best and am sure traffic would follow. Though it might seem a bit of hardwork.
  6. Megan says:
    I am seeing more and more of the automated bloggers, and the fact is I don't see how they can see this as a benefit. At one point they set their blog up for a reason, was it to only try to manipulate the search engines, or the visitors? I have a hard time believing these blogs do well. You can clearly see when someone creates value, and when a blog is getting automated blog post. The plugins can be great, as long as we don't forget why we started blogging in the first place. .-= NEW from Megan@Internet Business´s last blog ..So Is It “Primo Vacations” Or Is It “YourNetBiz” – The Drama Continues UG =-.
  7. Trafficke says:
    Automated blogging is in no way a good business opportunity. Although it is possible for a site like that to get popular, it isn't likely without the help of search engines. It would also be useless to optimize the site because it is breaking one of Google's most important rules: no duplicate content. .-= NEW from Trafficke´s last blog ..Retweet Contest! =-.
  8. sue says:
    I am a newbie trying to understand the whole blog for profit scene. i do want to make money off my blogging but not non-ethically. However, I thought a person posted an article to say Ezine so it was picked up and posted on others sites with author credit? Also if I liked or disagreed with someone post/article could I not 'copy with authors name, website etc' and make my own comments - I haven't started anything yet, too much to learn but I really thank you for the info here about scraping content - I thought if it was credited to the author it was not stealing. What is the difference with good backlinks? I know nothing about checking a backlink to see if it's authentic You can see I have some of the jargon but don't really understand
  9. Dennis Edell says:
    Duplicate content is the least of your worries, Google has stated many times now that they are getting better daily at deciphering which came first. Karen raised the real concern. It's nothing more then stolen content from legitimate bloggers and website owners. .-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..WANTED – Keyword Research Expert(s) =-.
  10. Ching Ya says:
    I realized that these few days I kept getting the same trackback from an automated blog. It has been pinging me since 3 days ago and no, I'm not happy about that one bit. Blogging, to me is a social networking platform, while some are using automation to gain profit based on others' content, that's pretty much a content theft to me. I only hope there are ways to stop them from scrapping our content for good. Sigh.. .-= Ching Ya@Social Blogging Tracker´s last blog ..7 Features to Brand, Market, Manage with MarketMe Tweet =-.
    • Hesham says:
      The way to stop them could be reposting their host, or even contact Google Directly would be better.. I am just not sure about the respond, but if I got any information about this I will share it. by the way, the post is on it's way.. I am just not satisfy with it, this what happen with me often. let's see!
  11. Udegbunam Chukwudi says:
    Thanks a lot for this wonderful post. I actually thought they was nothing wrong about receiving trackbacks from these autoblogging farms since all my trackbacks have the nofollow attribute. After reading this post, I actually went back to check them all and alas, most of these trackbacks led to wrong pages/404 errors. Despite the nofollow attribute on these links, I now feel they're probably the reason behind Google stripping me off PR 2 and thus I've deleted them all and from now onwards I shall NEVER accept a trackback/pingback from an autoblog ;). A Nigerian "guru" is giving a seminar on making money online with autoblogging farms. I shall probably attend to see exactly what he has to say and I shall leave you guys some feedback. P.S: I've included this post in my Top Blog Posts for tomorrow. Have a great weekend ;) .-= Udegbunam Chukwudi@Work Online Nigeria´s last blog ..Making Money Online With Snap Dollars =-.
    • Hesham says:
      Wonderful! I would love to hear what you will come up with from the seminar! I have the same pages/404 errors while checking my blogs links! I am thinking to remove the trackbacks from my blog completely because the headaches .. mmm.. let's see!
      • Udegbunam Chukwudi says:
        I've also considered shutting down trackbacks and pingbacks entirely on the site but then I wonder how I'll be able to keep track of legitimate links from other blogs :( .-= Udegbunam Chukwudi@Work Online Nigeria´s last blog ..Making Money Online With Snap Dollars =-.
  12. Olusegun says:
    Hi Hesham, Thanks for the education. i once came across one that pulls in full article and not RSS. Is there any proof of these autocontent sites being relegated to the back? For most full time bloggers, this method serves them by creating passive income streams by the side while they focus on their main blog.
    • Hesham says:
      I don't have to find a proof for this Olusegun, just find the link in my post where it says "From the page: “Google will take action against domains that try to rank more highly by just showing scraped or other auto-generated pages that don’t add any value to users”... This will happen when Google catch these automated blogs! In my opinion, If someone use this methods it will means he is not a Bloggers, because a bloggers who BLOGs! How do you know that most full time bloggers use it? is there anything interesting to read?
  13. Gabriele says:
    Hi Hesham, your blogs are a joy to read, as they are genuine and not automated. Those who have never written anything themselves cannot see the difference, perhaps. But, mark my word that the surfer is more and more tired of being bombarded with look alike content. Such writing is doomed. It is only a question of time to have any success at all. So what about the long tail? .-= Gabriele´s last blog ..Feb 17, Lidl Tenerife Puerto de la Cruz Spain - Lidl Canary Islands - Lidl Specials =-.
    • Hesham says:
      Thank you Gabriele, I am just trying! For sure there is no respect for this way of making money online!
  14. Anne says:
    I don't really consider them blogs. They're just platforms for feed based websites. I hate it when people scrape other people's content to do that. It certainly isn't ethical and I'm not sure it's legal either. There may be room for automated sites though when you're dealing with affiliate feeds. It's a win-win in that case - only difficult to win ;) .-= Anne @ b6s.net´s last blog ..Israel Needs Your Help Now =-.
    • Hesham says:
      You are right Anne, this is not Blogs and they are not Bloggers as well! Nobody can say this is legal by any mean! Affiliates?! Ah! this is true, there is site I have seen sites using so many affiliate links in no making sense posts, they trying to cookie who ever visit their sites, but as you say it's difficult to win.
  15. Raj says:
    Hi, my goodness, I cant believe those crappy automated blogs can make 1000$ a month, there is something wrong in the number Dana has told. anyways, I feel writing your own content is better, after all, we want to share our feelings and opinions with the world through bloggin, This is much better way in d long run :) .-= Raj´s last blog ..Mutual Twitter Interview (Part 1) with: Life Coach and author of ‘The Eby Way’ – Gary Eby =-.
    • Dana says:
      I think i give an incomplete info about $1000. It is true that someone i know get that much earning for a month -- but i forget to mention that from many blog ( at leas 10 blog). You surely can create as many as blog if it is auto blog, right? .-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..How do I Use Google Buzz? =-.
      • Hesham says:
        Ah! this makes more sense!
  16. Karen says:
    The only problem I see with a lot of these "automated" plugins is they produce too many splogs, you know the ones, the ones that steal your well produced blog posts, that you have spent a while writing only to be stolen by other sites using these plugins. They are a complete disregard for those of us who take the time to blog and not set their blog on auto. .-= Karen @ Blazing Minds´s last blog ..Project 365 – Photo A Day #48: Cold Shed Roof! =-.
    • Hesham says:
      This is true Karen, I imagine that I will be earning from organic traffic that I belt by hard working, a book that people like so much and pay for it, an application I have developed and it's valuable, a theme I have designed and made other blogs pretty... etc! NOT automatic blog!
  17. Bing My Movies says:
    This was a nice way to grow traffic .-= Bing My Movies´s last blog ..Nachavule (2008) - 400MB =-.
    • Hesham says:
      huh?
  18. Tom says:
    I have seen a lot of people offering to help you set up these blogs, but I feel dirty even thinking about it. auto blogging, isn't blogging at all, because blogging is about community and there is no community in scraped content. .-= Tom@Free Squeeze Page´s last blog ..The Aweber Code….And Why You Need To Promote It! =-.
    • Hesham says:
      This remind me with the Matrix movie LOL! where machines controlling our world!
  19. Latief says:
    Never mind Brother, don't get angry.People have their own way to making money. They don''t care for things like we care about. We care about long term activities to get our blog bigger and success. We care about sharing good and useful contents. They just after the money. Dana said its about $1000 a month! Hmm that is interesting then the conventional blogging like me, lol! SInce money not my goal, I don't care about those blogger who only after the money. But I care about blogger community that sharing and supporting each other to become a better blogger and get our success. Automated Blogging? Hmm, blogging become not fun anymore and I rather quit blogging then using automated blogging. Keep Blogging Hesham!
    • Hesham says:
      Thanks Latief for your opinion, I agree with you it will not be fun anymore!
  20. Dana says:
    But Hesham -- this auto blog is easy way to make money online. I know many people that use it create blog with high PR dropped domain and do review and selling link there. And if Google penalize it in next update, they just create new one. It can make money above $1000 a month base on my experience. .-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..Yes, This Blog is Having BuySellAds.com (BSA) Advertising Space Now =-.
    • Hesham says:
      Hey Dana, you said if Google panelized it they go for a new blog, this is why I say it can not be a a way for creating a successful blog which need a lot of work and time! Do you think it's a good way of earning money online? If yes! then let's shut down our blogs and start 10 automated blogs ;)
      • Dana says:
        I do not like this kind of blog too Hesham, that's why i create my current blog. But it is a fact that there are money in it. I experienced it. But -- of course -- i your blog is success, it surely will create more money if compare with the auto blog. And auto blog will never reach this kind of success. .-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..Yes, This Blog is Having BuySellAds.com (BSA) Advertising Space Now =-.
        • Hesham says:
          Glad to hear your opinion Dana, thanks a lot!
  21. BloggingJunkie says:
    Hesham, here matter is not of winning or loser. Your brand image is important. if you let your plugin to automate the posts from specific catageoty, then whats the fun of starting a blog. Article submission service is already doing their job. Just imagine your brand image, when someone takes your name and second replies what the word, "Oh, you are talking about that content copier". Here is the point of losing. Just start new blog without using any refference of your current blog and start using auto posting, you will observe the results. .-= BloggingJunkie´s last blog ..Domain Migration: An Overview of Process =-.
    • Hesham says:
      I just hate this idea because it's hurting our blogs by a way or another, and also it reminds me with the new media these days, they are not creating the news stories like before, but almost all people who work in the media field now are re-generating news stories.. analyzing...etc.
  22. element321 says:
    Hesham, I have to agree on this. Everyday I delete at least 5 or 6 trackbacks that leads to bad neighborhood domains. It annoys the hell out of me when I get that crap. Half the time they have nothing to do with my content. I did a lot of original content research and I understand how it works and why Google kills sites that automate other people spend their hard earned time working on these projects and others steal it and make money form it (or try and make money off it). They need to be punished for this and its the only google can it is by doing what they are doing. .-= element321´s last blog ..Blogging Tips #4 – Comment Strategies =-.
    • Hesham says:
      Thanks! I think we need to write more often about this so others will not fall into using this kind of plugins and pay money for it and waste their time and our time!
  23. Cam Gleeson says:
    Hesham, I could not agree with you more! Automated blog content is a joke. If you are serious about blogging it should be original thoughts and ideas, as you say in your post. Not only do you share your views with original content, you also encourage the feedback of others. Great post
    • Hesham says:
      I found myself spending more time daily on writing my posts, some of these post I write toke me the whole day as I do some research before writing, while others get to publish content automatically while they are sleeping ;) We will see who will win at the end, anyways! Thanks for your comment.