Dumb SEO Questions

(Entry was posted by Inspired Spot on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/26/2013).

Should I be concerned about a threat that a person will distribute our content at many blogs?

Hey Guys,

We just received threat that a person will distribute our content at many blogs. Is there any reason to worry about this because actually the content is published first at our blog. I mean if they really submit it at many automated blogs, can this harm our blog?
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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

  • Inspired Spot: Hey Guys,

    We just received threat that a person will ;distribute our content at many blogs. Is there any reason to worry about this because actually the content is published first at our blog. I mean if they really submit it at many automated blogs, can this harm our blog?
  • Mike Stetzer: Are they trying to get money from you?

    People (unfortunately) scrape content all the time. DO NOT PAY THEM IF THEY'RE ASKING FOR MONEY. There are ways around dealing with these types of tactics.
  • Inspired Spot: Sure :) We are not going to pay. We beleive Google can make difference that the content is actually published at our blog first and was wondering if they really distribute our content at many blogs is this somehow bad for us?
  • Melissa Klaver: Have you set up Google authorship for your blog? That will certainly help establish originality.
  • Inspired Spot: I have authorship for some of the posts. I don`t have for other . Is this the only way for Google to configure the originality? How about the index date. If content is indexed two months ago and somebody submit exactly the same today isn`t it obvious who own it?
  • Melissa Klaver: The index date helps, but if you set up Google authorship (rel=author) on your website, it will ensure that each blog is your original content, you won't have to do it for each post. It's also good for SEO...
  • Mike Stetzer: Authorship and index date are huge, but I would also argue that you should get people within your social network to share and like your content. ;
  • Melissa Klaver: Great point, +Mike Stetzer  ;!
  • Inspired Spot: Thank you Guys :)
  • Melissa Klaver: You're welcome, good luck! Also, here's a link where you can report whoever is threatening you: ; http://www.dmca.com/  ;
    I strongly recommend it!
  • A Cirlincione: What an interesting concept for negative SEO!
  • Abdullah Mamun: negative seo may not hit any way....
  • Simon Fryer: +Inspired Spot

    Aside from the rel="author" markup, make sure your site also has rel="publisher"markup on every page.

    These are really the only steps you can take unfortunately. Index date does help, but I've seen scraped content outrank the original before, irrespective of index date.

  • Inspired Spot: All right. Will check how to add ;rel="publisher"markup . Thank you Simon
  • Joanna Vaiou: +Inspired Spot
    Hello, Google authorship is the best and most secure way to establish ownership of your content and strong proof of who is the thief.

View original question in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/26/2013).

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