I’m going to speak my mind for a few minutes and you can either read, or skip right on over. My site is often referred to as a frugal website, and there are many of us lumped in together. I understand there are many deal bloggers out there, and by all means there is room for us all. We all have different readers and offer unique insights and encouragement for those seeking to save money. If I can help just 2 people (mom, dad?), then I’ve done my job and I’m happy. It’s a joy and a hobby for me to share the wealth and help others. I hunt down coupons, deals and freebies to pass along to you. I do the Publix coupon match ups on my own and I team up with other reputable bloggers to share other store deals. There is no way I could do it all without a fabulous team. There are many deals out there that get passed around and by 5:00 it’s on every website in my RSS feed. If I find a deal from another blogger, credit is always given. When I first started this site, I knew it was polite to share the linky love. I was also taught growing up that copying information in its entirety is wrong. If you get information from a source, you need to site that source. I love reading other websites and it helps keep me ‘in the know’. You wouldn’t have a primary care physician that didn’t keep up on the current medical studies and technology, would you?
Ok, here’s my point. There have been many websites brought to my attention lately, that have copy and pasted entire website posts, and claimed it as their own. This is wrong. I won’t tell you who they are or even how I know this, but eventually people will see right through them. I understand sites that are controlled by bots, but most of these have real people behind them, or so they say. There are even sites that are nothing but copied posts, without any original content. Some copy everything, but still give credit to whom they copied it from. This is like stealing little Johnny’s essay and saying, “Thanks for the essay, Johnny, I turned it in and got an A+”. What? If I find a coupon from another blogger that you should know about, I’m going to post it. But I’m not going to copy the other bloggers post word for word.
The wonderful bloggers that share their coupon match ups with me for Target, CVS, Walgreens & Winn Dixie are friends I’ve made and we have an agreement. We are women, but we can’t do it all. It’s fabulous that we can work together to help everyone save time and money.
Most of these sites that are copying information think they can jump in the water and make a million bucks by doing so. I wish it were that easy. I put in many hours, but don’t come close to making minimum wage. I didn’t start this website to become rich. I enjoy interacting with my readers and I’ve made some great friends by doing so.
If I’ve bored you with this, I’m truly sorry (another deal coming right up 
). If I’ve prompted a reaction, please leave a comment, you know I love to hear from you all!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for posting this! Somebody needed to say something! Those of us who spend hours a day doing what we do feel cheated, when in 30 seconds someone copies 30 minutes worth of work.
While we can’t individually track them all down, I hope they know how wrong this is!
Thanks Karen!
Amen!
I love it! You are great!
Preach it, sister!
I don’t have a site but I truly understand doing all the work and someone else getting the credit. Keep up the good work. You can tell some of the other sites don’t really care about the people on the other end (meaning us) and that makes me not go to those sites anymore. And you can tell that you do. That will keep me coming back.
Oh Mary you are a sweetheart! Thanks for your support and encouragement.
It is greatly appreciated.
Yes! Nailed it right on the head! If some one is copying content or even creating original content to try & become rich it won’t take long for them to either burn out bc they don’t LOVE what they do or to be seen for what they really are! Thanks for posting this!
I have had a similar issue, but it’s with a friend I actually know in person! She’s copied 2 of my blog posts word for word and just stuck my link at the bottom. She said she was “featuring” me in her blog so I’d get more viewers. Yeah, that hasn’t happened though her.
I know that I compile a lot of my deals from seeing them on other blogs. I try to make sure to either re-word things or stick in a “I found this and a bunch of other cool deals over at *link to the blog it came from* go check it out!” No one’s complained yet. IF someone does, I’d change my practices.
Sorry you’ve been plagiarized. I’m glad you’re speaking out though. I’d go post on that blog this exact post in a comment. Then maybe at least a few of their readers would see what jerks they are.
Heather,
It is a touchy subject, especially if it’s a friend! I would politely ask her to just highlight some of your information, and not the entire post. Let her know that Google won’t index her and might even mark her as spam, for containing the exact same content.
The way you are rewording your posts and still giving credit is perfect. That way Google doesn’t see you as a spam site.
Your idea of leaving this post on the ‘copied’ website as a comment, is hilarious. Might just show up there one day.
Thanks for leaving a comment,
Karen
Great post Karen and very well written.
I love your post but I have a question. I have a blog I don’t do match ups, I just show some of the Deals I have Received. Often I see some thing I would like to share with my “16″ followers. When I see these posts done by others I will link their blog to mine saying some thing like “Thanks Coupon Teacher for posting this deal.” Linking her blog. My question is I follow a lot of blogs and I will see the same post over and over again. Who’s blog should I be “thanking”? I usually link the first one I see. And if Coupon Teacher ‘thanked’ you for a post should I link to yours or hers? I’d really appreciate your feedback on this! Have a great day!
Erika, that is an excellent question. I’ll tell you what I do, but keep in mind that others might have different opinions. If I see a great post at “Coupon Teachers” site (love her BTW
) and I decide to share that with my readers, I give her the credit. Even if she saw it elsewhere and credited another website. My theory is, I saw it there first, because I frequent her site. I think it also helps your readers get used to the sites you love.
Besides if you follow Coupon Teachers link back to me, and I link back to another site, and they link to yet another site, you’ll be there all day!
Hope that helps. If my blogging friends have another theory, please chime in!
Karen
Thanks Karen!
Thats the truth!
It blows my mind that people still do this! Good for you to draw attention to it!
Kristi,
The sad part is it will probably always happen. At least we can feel good about the sites we are running. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Karen