Thou Shalt Allow Stealing In Social Media Marketing

Posted on 09/03/2008

Were you one of those people who used to put up folders or books around your desk in school so other students wouldn't look at your test? You remember how it worked: you would build a little fort around your desk to prevent unprepared eyes from wandering over to your answer sheet. In school that probably wasn't a bad idea, but when it comes to social media you don't want that mindset at all. In fact, you want people to steal your ideas. If people steal your ideas and your content that means you have ideas worth stealing...and that's a great thing.

Thou Shalt Create Good Content First
Now, I know this sounds strange and counterintuitive because, after all, who wants to be a victim of content thievery? The reality is that in the world of social media, all you really have are your ideas and content...or to be more exact, content that communicates particular ideas. In order to benefit from that content you need people to find value in it. Good content has value to the reader/viewer/listener so when you create good content you're making yourself more valuable only because you're providing value to someone else. This is the heartbeat of social media marketing.

Thou Shalt Not Worry If Content Is Stolen
If your content is stolen it did just want you wanted it to do. It resonated with someone because they found it valuable (probably in one of these five ways). Ideally, you'll get credit when someone steals your idea/content. It would be better for everyone if they provide the appropriate link or credit to you so you get the attribution, but even if they don't you ultimately accomplished what you wanted. If you don't get that link from the person now, you may get it in the future.

More than likely it was an oversight on the person's part and not a malicious or intentional misrepresentation. Besides, Google has a funny way of bringing things together, so if a blogger takes your content as his own, a mere Google search on the ideas will likely lead people to your blog. If that's not enough for you, just send an email to the person thanking them for passing your ideas along and ask that they link to you in the future. Don't accuse them of anything. Just be gracious and kind. They'll likely fix the post and be more mindful in the future.

9/3/2008 4:43:36 PM
Great thoughts. I always consider it an honor when people steal my stuff.
gentlegirlie
9/3/2008 4:56:43 PM
I think you are right - when you say they have likely not meant to steal your content....don't accuse them of anything - I think that because technology is getting easier and easier there are more people blogging, etc that don't realize they are "stealing" when they repeat something without a link - some may even say "I just read...blah blah blah" and never say where it was, not because they intentionally want to dis you, just because they don't realize. (internet marketers know better, but not all others do, for example, cute dog pictures on blogs? I love dogs and a cute dog picture will get copied and resent everywhere - just because they think it's cute - most of that is well-meaning people trying to show their sister or friend a cute picture - not everyone is professionals like cuteoverload.com . if you send then a nice, gentle, kind worded letter, they respond well.) I also like how you said "google has a way of bringing things together" LOL- big brother = google - whether you want them to or not, they always know what is going on LOL anyway - good post as always :) blessings
9/3/2008 5:03:05 PM
Pete - I agree. I think it's an honor also. gentlegirlie - Thanks for the comment. I believe that if we assume the best we're less likely to burn bridges.
9/3/2008 7:15:11 PM
Or would it be "Thou Shalt Encourage Stealing In Social Media Marketing"... hence the social, share it, pass it on aspect?
9/3/2008 7:19:20 PM
Craig - Yeah, that would work. I thought "allow" was a little more pithy though.
9/4/2008 3:46:22 PM
I've never really thought of it in this way... I guess I would be honored too if somebody stole my stuff! Great post!
9/4/2008 3:51:09 PM
Thanks for the comment Doug. As strange as it is...it is an honor. It's just a matter of the right perspective on the whole thing.
9/4/2008 11:01:52 PM
Good post Bill very good as we all work on using social media tools!
9/5/2008 4:09:02 AM
Thanks Mike!
Christopher
9/6/2008 8:28:01 AM
great perspective Bill. Do make sure though, if you are monetizing your blog or website to at least run by copyscape.com to check who might be "sharing" your content and also trying to make a buck. Most of the time, it really isn't about the $$, rather the exchange of ideas, but just as you delete the spam comments from blogs it's a good idea to see where your ideas are flowing. Who knows, it might just lead you to add some context to someone who has repurposed some of your thoughts. You might make a new friend :)
9/6/2008 3:13:25 PM
Christopher - Good idea to check copyscape. I am not familiar with their service but I just checked it out and it seems helpful. Thanks for sharing!
There are no trackbacks for this post.

Leave a Comment




 Security code

Subscribe via Email

Blog Roll

Categories

, 15 Megs of fame Alison Groves angel summoner and bmx bandit Anthology Creative Apple Atkinson PR Atkinson PR Nashville banner ads Barcamp Nashville batman dog Bible sniffer blog blogging blogs Bob Ross boot camp branding Burson-Marsteller business business blogging categories of web 2.0 celebrity CentreSource Mixer Chilis Foursquare Commentary content Content is the new promotion strategy crazy hail storm Del.icio.us digg digital marketing Digital Nashville double rainbow Double rainbow guy email embrace life psa employee celebrity Engage entrepreneur entrepreneurship facebook Facebook app iPad Facebook for Dummies Facebook in real life Facebook Nashville flood Farmville FeedBurner Firefly Logic Geek Social Firefox Flickr Flip Video for Forget the big fish Fortune 100 Foursquare Foxtrot double rainbow FreeConferenceCall.com funny ice cream server Gap Foursquare Geek Breakfast Nashville Gmail gobbledygook Google Google Adwords Google Analytics Google calendar Google docs Google Keyword Tool Google maps Google reader Google real-time search Gowalla Groundswell Groundswell ladder Groundswell updated history of social media Hubspot Hulu iGoogle Improv Everywhere Indian pole acrobat Internet stats interviews iPad iPad Facebook iPad social media iPad Twitter iPad Twitter app iPad Wired app iPhone iPod iPod Nano iStrategy conference Joe Penna language of smart LinkedIn location based social networking Mafia Wars Mark Vidler marketing Marketing Over Coffee meatball sundae media micro conference Micro Persuasion Microsoft Explorer mitch joel monitoring mossy creek custom music industry mysliceofpi MySpace mystery guitar man Nashcoctail Nashville Nashville flood Nashville flood recovery Nashville flooding Nashville PR Nashville recovery Nashville social media conference Nathan Moore New Fangled Web Factory new media new media marketing Ning NPR iPad app OK Go online video Outreach Magazine parkour Paul Schatzin penn olson personal Picnik Places Podcamp Podcamp Nashville podcast podcasting podcasts pole acrobatics pomplamoose POST method Promoted Tweets public relations radio advertising rainbow guy ray carman Ray Sadler real-time search remarkable ice cream server Remi Gaillard reporter hammer car rhett and link Rich K and the Allnighters Robert Scoble RSS Scot Justice search engine optimization search terms second life seo conference Nashville Seth Godin Simon Sinek Smells Like Rockin' Robin Smells Like Teen Spirit social social media social media batting practice Social Media budgets social media celebrity Social Media Club Nashville social media ethics social media events Nashville Social Media Examiner social media for business social media haiku social media in business social media in disaster social media jobs social media marketing social media measurement social media meetup Nashville social media mindset social media monitoring social media Nashville social media Nashville flood social media philosophy social media poop social media PR social media stats social networking social phone social search state of the Internet stats strategy successful blogging Super Mario Brothers violinist tags team approach to Twitter tech review technology stats teleseminar text message The New Mediology The New Rules of Marketing and PR the office parkour The State of Inbound Marketing tips Toyota Toyota funny commercial Toyota Sienna commercial Toyota swagger wagon Traditional media transparency turkish ice cream server twitter Twitter clicks Twitter for Dummies Twitter Nashville flood Twitter Promoted Tweets Twitter real time search Twitter search Twitter team approach underrated social media tools unicorn after wisdom teeth valuable vanilla ice social media Video video blog video conferencing Video of the week videos virtual cfo web 2.0 web 2.0 design web 2.0 marketing web applications web design web stats web trends widgets Wii Fit Wii Fit Parody Wikipedia word of mouth marketing Wordcamp Nashville Wordpress YouTube

Archives

  1. September 2010  (1)
  2. August 2010  (12)
  3. July 2010  (11)
  4. June 2010  (13)
  5. May 2010  (13)
  6. April 2010  (14)
  7. March 2010  (12)
  8. February 2010  (14)
  9. January 2010  (13)
  10. December 2009  (8)
  11. November 2009  (12)
  12. October 2009  (12)
  13. September 2009  (12)
  14. August 2009  (14)
  15. July 2009  (13)
  16. June 2009  (12)
  17. May 2009  (11)
  18. April 2009  (13)
  19. March 2009  (13)
  20. February 2009  (11)
  21. January 2009  (13)
  22. December 2008  (10)
  23. November 2008  (13)
  24. October 2008  (16)
  25. September 2008  (13)
  26. August 2008  (14)
  27. July 2008  (16)
  28. June 2008  (14)
  29. May 2008  (13)
  30. April 2008  (19)
  31. March 2008  (20)
  32. February 2008  (19)
  33. January 2008  (19)
  34. December 2007  (13)
  35. November 2007  (17)
  36. October 2007  (17)
  37. September 2007  (13)
  38. August 2007  (13)
  39. July 2007  (11)
  40. June 2007  (11)
  41. May 2007  (12)
  42. April 2007  (13)
  43. March 2007  (16)
  44. February 2007  (14)
  45. January 2007  (22)
  46. December 2006  (14)
  47. November 2006  (18)
  48. October 2006  (18)
  49. September 2006  (18)
  50. August 2006  (19)
  51. July 2006  (16)
  52. June 2006  (19)

© 2010 MicroExplosion Media - All rights reserved

Powered by NetEffect Services