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6 Tell Tale Signs of a Copy Cat Blogger

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Copy Cat Blogger

There are many tell tale signs of a copy cat blogger and it is sad that these copycats presume that their website visitors will not notice what they are doing. When I visit a copycat blogger’s site it screams at me.

Many new bloggers start out as a copycat blogger but the ones that become successful end up developing their own blogging personality and move onto their own path. If you are a copycat blogger I sincerely hope that you find your own way soon and avoid having a blog that sucks!

6 Tell Tale Signs of a Copycat Blogger

It is not a crime to be a copycat blogger because this is how most of us learn how to build a blogging business. However when you continue to copy other people and neglect to develop your own blog as a unique business, you will most likely end up going back to your day job.

#1. You take other people’s ideas

You will gladly take other people’s ideas and treat it as your own, not giving any credit to the original idea maker. Of course we know that a great idea is made up of many ideas; but to take the main idea after it is developed, and claim it as your own, is just wrong in anyone’s book.

Giving credit to original idea maker’s can build friendships with other bloggers as they will appreciate that you notice and value their idea.

#2. Posts lack personality

You can’t show your personality in your articles and posts because you don’t have one. Your heart is not in this niche and you really do not share a passion for the topic. You find it hard to even write an article, let alone add any of your own personal thoughts to it.

The only way to success is to do what your heart desires, not what someone else’s heart desires.

#3. You have no proof

If you are writing about search engine optimization then where is your proof that you know what you’re talking about?

If you’re writing about getting traffic to your website, then where is your proof about how you generated traffic to your website?

You cannot produce any proof because you have not experienced any of the things that you are trying to teach other people about.

#4. You can write but can’t answer

Some people are good at gathering research and writing the most fantastic article with the best information possible, but when someone asks them a simple question, they are stumped for an answer. This is because they really have no experience with the topic at hand.

Don’t get yourself in this situation as it just makes you look stupid. People will genuinely look up to you if you can answer the questions that they ask.

#5. Your blog is missing a USP

Because you are a copy cat, your blog does not seem to have any unique selling proposition and therefore is putting people to sleep. There is nothing special that stands out about your blog as it is just like all the rest.

Dig deep and find your unique selling proposition or something unique that you can offer your visitors that other blogs do not. This is one of the most important aspects of blogging, because if you do not have a USP, then there is no reason for your visitors to stick around.

#6. You haven’t taken the plunge

You are running around copying other people’s content thinking that it is going to make you millions of dollars. Even worse, you have not purchased your own Web hosting and are running on free blogs. I am not saying that free blogs are bad but it is sad that you are stealing content from other people that have actually taken the effort to pay for and set up a blogging business.

This is just bad karma, or whatever you like to call it.

How to Change Your Copycat Blogging Ways?

Firstly you will need to create a unique looking blog, not too fancy, but just with a small stamp of you on it. Then, by all means use other people’s content, but use it to generate your own ideas. If you read enough and research, you will come up with your own ideas and your own unique selling proposition. People work hard to build a successful blog and it does not come easy, so if you want to join the pack, you need to do the hard yards.

Creating a successful blog can only be done if you inject some individuality into the business. You need to show your personality and create original content that will WOW people.  Using other’s ideas and content possibly might make you a few dollars today, but for the future, your blog will go nowhere using these copycat blogging ways.

Please note: No animals were harmed in the taking of this photo. Image credit

About

My name is Milica Pantic (aka Mitz) and I am a serial full-time blogger. I started out with one website many years ago and it went so well, I sold my businesses and began living the internet dream. Since then I have been perfecting the art of building websites to earn money online and I will never stop learning. This is an ever changing business and I love the challenge. Please feel free to download my favorite FREE REPORTS if you are interested in improving your blogging business or starting one from scratch.

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{ 39 Responses }

  1. Firdaus says:
    Hi mitz, Really I am fully agree with you... Copy cat blogging is really visible in large scale.. :) And I also agree with your above comment that I really feel to lough so loudly on some blog owner who post articles about blogging tips in their very first blog post and funny is that many readers appreciate it. Lolzzzzzzz.... Thanks for your nice efforts and beautiful content. I really enjoyed it.
  2. thomas williamson says:
    Copy cat bloggers are a pet hate of mine. Well I say pet hate, I mean I down right hate them. Nothing more annoying than having someone with no creativity of their own pinching your content, changing a few words, maybe the odd picture and trying to pass it off as their own work.
  3. sakil rana says:
    hey, I am seeing that every blog content related other blogger copy and pasting. I remain new blogger are doing copy pasting.Thanks.
  4. Jim Bath says:
    Hmmm... I could swear I've seen this post somewhere before..... ;) Seriously, though, it's not always simply copying, but I think there are many ghostwriters out there who give different people the same content or ideas...
    • mitz says:
      LOL Yes it is copied!!! And you are right about the ghost writers... I get some articles and feel it is just regurgitated stuff.. Some writers have even found stuff on my own websites to give to me back... Hmm I thought it looked familiar???
  5. Nick Stamoulis says:
    There is a difference between copying someone's blog post and taking a concept or idea and taking it in a new direction. There are only so many topics, and in an industry with lots of bloggers it's typical that you will be writing about similar concepts. It's just important to put your own voice into the post and write it in a way that is in line with your own business practices.
    • mitz says:
      Yes you need to add your own personality in to make it different...Otherwise it is the same old stuff..
  6. Shfee says:
    Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim. thanks for your great information... keep rocking.
  7. Dee says:
    I'm amazed at how many people choose "How to make Money Online" when there are SO many other topics.. and you can totally be yourself if you write about something that excites you. When I finally started a site that I'm an expert on and I live and breathe (houses).. it grew faster than a speeding bullet. Seriously, when I pull my stats, the monthly visitors and page views are almost a straight line up. And that's because I KNOW this stuff.. I don't even have to go searching ideas because I have tons of ideas. So I say, if anyone feels like a copy cat, they're in the wrong niche. dee
    • mitz says:
      That's very true that success is related to the expertise you can show on your chosen subject.. Some people have it and other do not... You can tell if someone has a passion and knows what they are talking about...
  8. Osho Garg says:
    Better To Write Own Content Then Copy Other Bloggers Content. Google Loves Unique Content Even If Article Is of 200 Words :)
  9. zac coplan says:
    It can be hard when you read a great article in your nitch not to use the main idea for a blog post of your own. But like you said its ok to draw inspiration from many sources, but the content you create needs to be your own. And you are right, its easy to tell when someone has copied content and changed a few words.
  10. neojit says:
    Great post, now a days lot of new blogs are coming and they both are copying from others. This post can be a good lesson for all bloggers.
  11. Alexander Leaman says:
    I have had people copy my blog in the past (being a photographer they even took the images) but I agree that blogs that lack personality are trying to hard to be someone they are not. There can't be that many boring bloggers in the world can there (present company excluded).
  12. Kevin Martin says:
    You guys just don't know how much it annoys the hell out of me to read a blog or a Web site that just restates the obvious and the writer offers no personality in his or her posts whatsoever. It drives me totally insane.
  13. Stephen Jeske says:
    Ironically, the more research you do the easier it is to come up with a unique viewpoint. Or at the very least you'll be able to intelligently summarize what the main views are on any issue. Quoting other sources is not only the right thing to do, it also helps to establish legitimacy, specially if you are unknown.
  14. Jeremy says:
    I think these days it is pretty tough to be truly unique with your blog. There are just too many blogs out there. So there are bound to be many blogs that are similar to each other. People are bound to cover the same topics and often from very similar angles. This is only natural. Most people will never even notice that duplication. Still, you have to be honest with yourself and write from your heart. Sure it may end up being similar to what's out there already, but that doesn't mean your readers have necessarily already read about the topic. Use other blogs as inspiration, but don't step on anyone's toes with straight up ripping off their content.
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      Hi Jeremy Yes I agree to use others stuff but always give credit. Quote other bloggers and add a link and they will love you. :)
  15. Shubham says:
    Hi Mitz, You got every point right. Almost 70% bloggers are Copy Cat Blogger. Ill follow your points especially and would never "take other people’s ideas". Anyways, amazing article. Helped me to distinguished between a good blogger and a copy cat blogger. Thanks
    • mitz says:
      Oh thanks!! Now can you help me see who are the copy cats...There is so much content that is almost exactly the same it is hard to see where the rue source is? :)
  16. Dave Lucas says:
    Unfortunately, Mitz, the scraper blogs suck up other people's posts automagically. They have no heart, no soul, no conscience, no respect for the works of others.
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      Yes I know this Dave. It happens to me all the time...But I find that the scraper blog go no where in the end so I have given up trying to stop them. :)
  17. Amrik says:
    Hi Mitz, Nice explained. As the number of blogs copycating also increase and many of the bloggers following the same path. All of them are in hurry and want to make money quickly so they didn’t care of anything what they are writing, they just want to increase a quick traffic. Thanks for sharing...
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      You are right that some are in a hurry to get traffic and do not care what they write. They will use any content they can. This might work in the short term, but long term, it is a bad idea. :)
  18. Sara says:
    Nice post.I think it describes many blogs that we might all have already land on. The signs that you mentioned are very realistic and no one can tell the opposite.I mean we see a lot of blogs that are not well informed or are repeating the same issues again and again, with nothing useful to share with the readers.This is catastrophic because readers are well prepared of what they should expect from a blog because there is competition around blogs and this makes the readers righteous judges.If you don't show respect to your audience,they will depose you as soon as possible.Thanks for sharing.
    • mitz says:
      Hi Sara Yes you are right that your readers are well prepared for what they should expect from a blog! This is an absolute nightmare and ice drive every day to make my blog different. I try and write about stuff that other bloggers will not write about because they do not want to upset the apple cart. :)
  19. Chintan says:
    Very well said, A copycat never remains unhidden. His signs and way of writing shows clearly that the person is a copy cat. Yeah, I agree that there are various people who copy posts but I think it's meaningless. Nice Post. :)
  20. Ritesh says:
    awesome article, I think you have written this article just for me. However, I have found my way. And for me blogging is now much more than money, its about my online Identity my online Respect. :) Regards Ritesh Warke@www.proseoexpert.com
  21. Ritesh says:
    awesome article, I think you have written this article just for me. However, I have found my way. And for me blogging is now much more than money, its about my online Identity my online Respect. Regards Ritesh Warke
  22. Bryan Ring says:
    Okay I love to build websites also, does this mean you need to tell everybody I copy you? LOL. You are my mentor and I look to you for guidance, humor, personality and you deliver every time! There is no doubt that most stuff has been written about at least 100 times over, so I do believe some bloggers may fall into this category purely by accident or not. I love it when you tell it!
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      I agree that there can be a coincidence sometimes and people write the same stuff but not too similar, I hope. I definitely know that no one writes like me because I never follow any writing or grammar rules of any kind. :)
  23. Ryan Biddulph says:
    Hi Mitz, #2 sticks out like a sore thumb. You see quickly whether a blogger is writing from the heart, or following instructions. Massive difference. Post what you want to post. Stick to a few basic rules, like using SEO, to target your market. Beyond that, find your own voice by venturing into areas which will gain you criticism. When nobody talks about your posts, you are dead. You lack personality in your writing. Receive criticism for your posts, you are there. You challenged someone's belief system. All about them, nothing about you. No sweat. Keep doing what you do, writing from the heart. Awesome things happen. I keep plain Jane themes on both my gifting blogs and write about a topic that like 5 people in the world do an excellent job of covering. I got the unique-ness down ;) I turbo-charged my results by writing from the heart. Taking an approach few took in discussing cash gifting. Because of this, I have 2 super special domains which have served me well as a branding tool. Many weeks, and months with crickets as an audience. It was tough, I admit, but I knew doing something entirely different was the way to go, and finding my voice - and sticking with it - was the quickest way to become wildly successful in my niche. As for 3, a bit of a learning curve there. I am an inside out kind of guy, the way I live life. I understand people want to believe it, because they see it, but I attracted people who believed it, before they saw it. I see both arguments, but know that although faking it before you make it is a bad idea, you need to develop authority, posture, believe in what you do, and people will buy into your belief, your feeling. Be honest of course; tell people how you are doing, no tampering with results. Simply study the great ones, get your energy up, and your vibe will attract high energy folks who do not need to see results, the people who believe in an idea or concept, and will hop on board with you. This is why I never do income claims, or any of that stuff. Each person who asks me how much they can make with gifting, I tell them, you set your own salary. Pick a number and call me back ;) Thanks for sharing Mitz! Ryan
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      I agree about people picking up on your vibe even through your writing. I like to send my personality out through my writing.. That is the key, I believe. :)
  24. Gracie says:
    People work hard to build a successful blog and it does not come easy, so if you want to join the pack, you need to do the hard yards.
  25. Sanjeev says:
    Hi Mitz, very well said, everybody might start as a copycat...:), but its all about how soon we can find an USP and find the path we want to follow.
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      Yes it is OK to be a copycat at first but your own voice is always better. :)
  26. Bishwajeet says:
    There are many MMO blogs who really don't know iota of earning money online.
  27. Dan Keller says:
    Great post and you are so right, there are thousands of copy cat blogs especially in the blogging tips niche.
    • Mitz Pantic says:
      Hi Dan Yes this is true, especially in the blogging niche. It is funny how many bloggers make their first blog a blog about blogging. And the other funny thing is that some of these people really make a good success out of it.