Sadly there are thieves who are stealing content from bloggers, myself included, from our feeds. And you are going to hate this, and trust me I hate it even more, but from now on I have to start truncating my feeds. This means if you are reading my blog in a reader, you will have to click over to my actual site to read my posts. I know it’s inconvenient, I do. I get mad when I come across a blog in my reader that has truncated posts that I have to click over to read it. But now I get it.
Those sites are called scraper sites–where they copy your entire post through your feed and paste it on their site. It makes their site look like they have all this great content and pretty pictures, but actually it’s not. It’s OUR hard work on other people’s sites and it should be outlawed. These “scraper” sites are actually making money off of copying and pasting blogger’s posts. And then people are even pinning MY images from those sites and I get no credit whatsoever. I have to protect my content because I work hard and I don’t like having things stolen from me. And having my feeds truncated will prevent them from scraping my entire blog posts through RSS reader.
I’m begging you to please not hate me. I know it might be hard though. I know you all are busy and don’t have time to click over all the time. I hope you understand and I hope you will stick with me. Thanks for all of your support and going through “the change” with me.
I just wish Google would shut down any and all scraper sites. Ugh.
xxoo,
Decorchick!
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Wow! I am so sorry you have to do this. I hate dealing with change when it comes to my blog because you are always thinking about how your readers are going to respond. I hope this change goes well for you! I’m sure everyone will respond great.. you have an amazing blog! Hope you had a great weekend…
xx Liz Marie
Oh gosh Liz I hate change too. That’s why I’ve had the same blog design over 2 years now. haha. But thanks so much for your support. :)
Just read this over at Infarrantly Creative too! I’ll tell you the same thing… The extra step or two is well worth protecting original content. I am sure it will even become the norm and we will all get used to it. I for one am right behind you!!
Thanks so much for making me feel better Shannon. I know it’s a hassle! But thanks so much for your support I appreciate you!
Ive been seeing this post a lot today. It makes me sad! How do you find these scraper sites? Did someone let you know what was going on or is there a way to see them?
Another reader told me about it, and it seems to be getting really bad lately. They are popping up everywhere.
I’m not sure I understand what all this means (I am tech challenged), but I support you. You have a great site and whatever you need to do to protect yourself from thieves is fine with me! As long as I can still find you, an extra step or two is no big deal. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with all of us!
You’re so sweet thank you so much. :)
I’m not understanding, either. Mostly, how does making a click-through necessary stop these “scrapers” completely? Or does it just make life more difficult for them? I had no idea this kind of stuff happened.
Totally understand and agree and support you! It is worth one extra click to help prevent this!! We will still be here!! :)
You rock! Thank you!!
Is these scrapper sites like when you look at a source on pintrest and it’s a blog called pin235.blogspot.com or some thing like that?
I’m not really sure about that Kirsty…
Does that mean we won’t be able to print out post and stuff from your site? Another blog did something and you can’t even print out a recipe now kinda sad :( I stopped going to her site now cause she couldn’t even forward me the recipe…. Sorry youre going through this, really sad.
Oh I’m sorry that’s a definite bummer. But to answer your question, I guess you would have to visit the site now to print anything.
No worries! Your blog is so worth following – extra click or not! :)
Do what you gotta do! I’ll keep following you! Shame on those that have to steal from hardworking people!
An extra click isn’t going to ruin my day! If it helps protect your hard work and keeps your blog going that is all that matters.
No problem to click over to your site. I’m sorry you have to deal with scummy thieves, though. Love your blog, keep up the great work!
I usually click through anyway, if the post looks interesting, because the site doesn’t get a hit when viewed through an RSS reader. The only problem is, posts without at least one photo rarely look interesting to my short attention span brain. I see that you don’t have much choice though, so I’ll try to remember that and visit anyway. It’s such a shame that something can’t be done to stop the scraping at its source. It’s theft and it makes me angry. So sorry you are having to deal with it.
Emily, I’m sad to see you putting a hold on your RSS feed. I did some research on ways you can prevent scraping. Also I don’t know if you were already, but use Feedburner to manage your RSS feeds! They have a lot of tools you can implement to deal with scrapers as well. I don’t think simply eliminating your feed is going to solve the problem.
Hey Cristina I do use Feedburner. Do you know what else I should do with Feedburner instead? What other tools are you referring to?
Do a partial feed, rather than a full feed. Also add copyright info to your feed’s footer (RSS footer plugin for WordPress) or via FeedFlare inside FeedBurner. Make the scrapers work for YOU by adding links back to your site in your footer, that way whatever they scrap is always linking back to you.
A few additional tools like http://www.copygator.com and http://www.copyscape.com are pretty handy. Also you can use .htaccess to block specific IP addresses.
DMCA has takedown services http://www.dmca.com/takedowns.aspx
I’ve always been annoyed at having to click through on truncated feeds…but I’ve never seen anyone explain WHY they do it. Now it makes sense…I totally understand and OF COURSE you have to do it! I love your site…thanks for explaining and I will still follow you! :)
THanks so much Rebecca I appreciate it and thanks for hanging with me!
that really stinks! i hate people stealing content, etc. so annoying you have to deal with that. i won’t hate you though. :) do what you gotta do girl!
Thank you Andrea. :)
No one will hate you for this, and if they do, then they’re not worth worrying about.
My 4yr old daughter is autistic, and an Autism Awareness organization was actually stealing my photos to advertise for their shirts (that they were bragging they made over $10,000 on by the way). They were exploiting a child they were raising money to protect…? Makes no sense.
There should be actual laws against this, not just “copyright infringement”. I’m sorry you’re going through this, too :(
Oh no that is so terrible Ashley!!
Don’t worry about it. It’s not that much of a problem to come to the site. You need to protect your work and we commend you for that. I’ll still be reading!
Thank you Ann I appreciate it!!
My dear the extra step or two are more worth all the effort you put into your blog! Just like I told Beckie, you put far too much work into your blog for someone to steal it! Keep up the good work and don’t worry about the extra step… your blog is definitely worth it!!
(p.s. how does one find out if their stuff is being stolen? someone mentioned seeing a photo of mine… yep only one post but hey.)
You’re so sweet Peggy thank you so much.
I had someone tell me as well. You can set up Google Alerts and if you use WordPress you can check your pingbacks.
I’m sorry that people are stealing your feed. I have enjoyed it very much. But you should know that many of us (me included) almost never click over to the website. Are you sure?
Sorry Lyn, I will do my best to keep my feed pretty and am working on where I can add a picture too.
Well that sucks to know people do that stuff!! and here I just fixed my feed for you! ;)
You’re the bestest!
Do what you have to to protect your work! I don’t mind clicking over. I never realized there were people doing this type of theft from blogs. I guess there’s bad eggs in everything. Thank you for your time in effort in making this a great blog. You are one of my favs!
Thank you so much Casey. I don’t know how long this has been going on, but it’s gotten super bad the past several months. Makes you wonder how long it actually HAS been happening ya know?
Thanks again!
Stealing is horrible.
You need to do what is best to protect your work.
Good luck!
Marie
Thanks Marie.
Well, here is one follower that it doesn’t make any difference to. I’d much rather read in a new tab that in the reader – it makes everything bigger with more space in it’s own window anyway. If I accidentally click it open in my reader I just close it out & read in a new window anyway.
You rock, thanks Jen!
What a shame… but unfortunately I won’t be clicking through. A reader is so easy; I rarely click through to read a post if it is truncated. Bummer.
I know it’s easy. I’m doing my best to make my feed pretty where it includes a picture too. :)
I guess I am not sure what exactly this means, but I do know that one way or another I will figure out how to read your blog! Wishing you all the best!
Ooooh I hate thievery – maybe not the lowest of the low but certainly lazyass lurky murky bottom feeders. I click through like a happy reader oughta – don’t wanna miss the good stuff! Carry on ………..
Ooooh I hate thievery – maybe not the lowest of the low but certainly lazyass lurky murky bottom feeders. I click through like a happy reader oughta – don’t wanna miss the good stuff!
Sad to hear you had to make this choice but you still have people who card enough to come and leave comments.