Being a frugal blogger is tough. There are a bunch of us out here in the blogging world that are trying to “make it” online. Each frugal blogger chooses the way that they run their site, and most of us choose to work together as a community. It’s a rough world out there, and business today can be very cut-throat. However, I would like to think of the frugal blogging community as different and set apart from the dog-eat-dog approach to business.
In my days browsing the frugal blogosphere, I have seen MANY bloggers (newer and older) using posts and deals that were obviously taken from another site. But yet, no credit was given. And, I’ve seen many posts that were found on forums and no credit was given there either (I have made this mistake myself). Crediting forums is a sticky issue, that many of us will not agree on. If many bloggers find the same deal on a forum and post something, there’s likely to be ill feelings between these bloggers because one will think the other stole the deal.
Let me make something perfectly clear: Just because one blogger posted something first, it does not mean that others are stealing from that person if no credit is given. Many of these types of deals are discovered on forums, and it’s my experience that bloggers don’t usually credit forums. I myself have been accused of stealing posts from another blogger, when I merely found the deal on the same forum. And sometimes, there are just coincidental circumstances where two or three different bloggers happened upon a deal at the same time. Most of us are subscribed to the same email updates from companies, and we get alerted to the deals at the same time.
Here’s what I believe we can do to make the frugal blogging community a better place:
Crediting
If you find a deal, coupon ect.. on another blog, do your best to credit the other site and not “steal” the information. Forums usually have crazy practices and rules, so most of us do not want to link there. No need. At least thank them without a link if you can. Again, some of you may not think it necessary to credit forums, but I think this could help avoid all the accusations of stealing that keep going around.
If you see a frugal blogger that hardly ever credits anyone, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the ones finding all of the deals. It usually means they are just stealing deals without proper crediting.
Copyright
A blogger’s posts are legally protected by copyright, the same way that books, magazines and newspapers are. It is NEVER okay to copy someone’s work and post it as your own unless they have given you express written permission to do so. You are always welcome to quote a few lines, but you should always leave a link back to the other blogger. There are a lot of new bloggers out there, that don’t realize you should be crediting your sources.
Community
I would like to see all bloggers working together as a community. There’s no need to have the mindset of “I have to be better than this blogger.” The internet is big enough for all of us. If we will be honest and help each other out, we will all be happier and still grow. I love cheering other bloggers on when they succeed! And let’s face it, social networking and building relationships with other frugal bloggers can be mutually beneficial. You don’t want to estrange yourself from other bloggers due to dishonest practices (whether intentional or not). And sometimes, to make a better community, we will also need to forgive a fellow blogger that has wronged us. Continuing to hold a grudge over something that was done in the past only hurts you. Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and a poisoned heart. Whether someone is “sorry” or not, forgiving them is always the better road to take.
I know this is probably a heated topic, and a little more intense than I usually like to get on my blog, but I felt the need to get some of these things out in the open. I hope it has helped some of you, and please feel free to link to this page if you ever find someone that is copying your work (but be nice about it). Most people just don’t understand how it works, so I hope this helps!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
well said…I always link back when I stumble across something and want to tell everyone about it on my blog. I completely agree with you!
Thanks Crystal. I’m sure there is a lot of confusion out there & this is sure to help.
What a wonderful post! I think you have an outstanding blog. You actually inspired me to create my own blog. My intention for my blog is to share information so that we can ALL be more frugal (and hopefully healthy and green, as well). I’m so glad to know that others have the same attitude. I often post about things that I see on your post, and I’m very careful to link back to the source. I also try to augment the information whenever possible and put my own stamp on it, rather than just recirculate the same information over and over again. We each have a unique set of skills and experience that we can apply to the information we want to share.
Here’s a question: You find information on Blog A that you want to use on your blog. Blogger A has credited Blogger B for the information. When writing your post, should you credit Blogger A or Blogger B (or both)?
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Alexia Coupons =-.
That is a very good question Rebecca. Personally, if Blogger B emailed me about it, then that is who I go with. But if it is a deal I happened upon, I sometimes try to find the original source. But deals go viral so quickly, it can be hard to find the original source.
Crystal, I love this post. Especially about the forums because they have so many great finds, but then it becomes clear that many of us read the same forums…so sometimes when I find a deal on a forum (or get the same email alerts) instead of just posting it, I find myself rushing to see if others have posted it because I don’t want anyone thinking that I copied. There are days when I have literally had the same 3 posts in a row as another blogger, and the natural thing to do is assume or worry that they copied you (or worry that they will think you copied them!) … when in fact, I have come to realize it really can be a coincidence. (I did have one blogger copy an amazon deal off my site, but she didn’t change the referral link, so I got the commissions … so I was having a hard time getting too upset about that one *grin*, even though she gave no credit to me in her post, she is a much bigger blogger to it worked in my favor!) We have all made mistakes, but once you know the “rules” then playing fair is the right thing to do.
I will ALWAYS link to another blogger if I saw the deal on their site first… (when I didn’t have any readers, I wasn’t doing this because I didn’t know better, lol … and I was just sharing deals with friend and family) However, once you “get it” I think you have a moral obligation to do so (probably legal as well … ) but there is nothing better (and more rewarding) for a blogger than to share the love and link to other bloggers. I have made some great friends just by linking to other sites.
If I email a deal out … I always make sure that it was “my” find and that I didn’t see it on another blog (of course, we all know that doesn’t mean that it isn’t on another blog) It is SO excited to actually “find” a deal.
Such a great topic, thank you for opening the discussion and I look forward to reading what others think!!
I am so thankful for the times that you have linked to me … so appreciated!!!
*what do you think about photos? I always write my own text, but sometimes if I am in a hurry, I will use another bloggers photo because I figure they would rather have me post the deal and link to them, then not post it at all … but generally, I try to make my post as unique as possible and still link back.
thanks again, I have learned so much from your blog, and the genuine way with which you approach blogging has really helped me enjoy blogging!! (i.e. – the way you handled my Amazon disaster with such calmness … was such a great lesson for me – i was freaked, lol! and in the end, it turned out great – no need for freaking, just like you said
sorry for the long post – just got excited! ok – back to work…
Crystal,
Excellent post! I’m so glad you wrote this because a lot of new bloggers don’t understand this. I remember being new and not knowing “the rules.” I think many bloggers will find this article very helpful!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Pinecone Research Panel: $3 per Survey =-.
It’s a sticky issue and I have yet to find a balanced medium. I usually try to stumble the posts I find (source) to at least give them a scratch-back
.-= Matthew´s last blog ..Free Sample of Glominerals Eyeshadow =-.
Very well-written and you offer good reminders for new and seasoned bloggers alike.
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Whole Foods Green Deals 10/21 to 10/27 =-.
Very well articulated and informative..TTM I HEART U!!
Excellent, well-written post. Thank you for addressing this issue!
I don’t spend a lot of time on forums, but my personal rule is generally this: if I originally hear about a deal on a forum, I will typically credit the forum thread with a link. However, if it’s a deal that I personally go to the store, or make a phone call to confirm, I don’t credit the forum because I personally went to a fair amount of effort to confirm the information. Since I’m a local blog, I don’t post a lot of deals found in a forum because they may not be applicable in our city.
I suppose I have a different standard for blogs, because even if I make a phone call to confirm a deal in our area, I’ll generally credit another blog even if it took some effort from me. I don’t like linking to forums often because (a), many unethical deals are posted on forums, and (b), most forums don’t allow linking to blogs themselves!
.-= Carrie Isaac´s last blog ..Whole Foods deals this week: through November 3 =-.
What a great post! You’ve helped clarify some “best pratices” for giving credit for me.
Loved the post! Thanks for writing it!
Great post! I myself have been bitten by people stealing my posts/deals that I’m certain I found on my own. I guess what made it hard to take was that it happened within minutes of me posting the deal on twitter and she was seasoned blogger and speaker. Oh well. Moving on with the forgiveness. I hope this post will help to shine some light on blogging etiquette.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..5 Ways to Save Money on Entertaining =-.
I’m a frugal blogger, but I rarely post deals and coupons, so I’ve never had to deal with this particular issue before! I do give credit whenever I get an idea or inspiration from somewhere, though.
.-= Kristen@The Frugal Girl´s last blog ..Homeschooling and Efficiency =-.
Awesome post! It gets very confusing for newbies, such as myself. I do this to help people. It does not matter if I have the 1st scoop or not. In these economic times everyone needs all the help they can get. I always do my best to link and find the original source if I can (unless it is an accidental oversite), but always wondered what to do about forum finds. Sometimes I just thank the forum.
Thanks for your insight on this issue.
.-= Lynn´s last blog ..DVD printable coupons!! =-.
Very well written and well appreciated post. There is so little out there for we new bloggers about “Blog Etiquette” and how to credit others and what’s acceptable and what’s not. I double check to always cite my sources now that I’ve become more aware about what’s acceptable within the blogging community. Thanks for the great information, would love to see more posts like this! And a big thanks also to Kaley at ChaChingonaShoeString and Tara at DealSeekingMom for giving me some additional good pointers on blogging etiquette. As you said, the internet really is big enough for all of us. Let’s not make it a competition, let’s just continue on our missions to help others live fantastically frugal lifestyles and have fun doing it~!
Crystal, Thanks for keeping it ethical! It’s one of the reasons I keep coming back. If I think another blog is “stealing” articles or is encouraging unethical coupon practices, well then I stop checking that blog and limit my frugal blog reading to those who hold the same ethical Christian view that I do.
I wanted to work with other frugal bloggers in my area and possibly come up with some holiday service project we could organize together and promote on our blogs and did not get favorable responses to my e-mail requests. One actually responded that she didn’t want to do anything with her competition. It was frustrating and unfortunate. I thought it could be fun to work together and encourage one another.
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..Redbox Movie Code @ Meijer – expires 10/22 =-.
Well Said!! Thanks for this well written post, and I absolutely agree with everything. Sometimes this just needs to be said.
.-= Karrie´s last blog ..Organizing your toiletries =-.
Thanks for the information on proper blogger “etiquette” . I’ve wanted to do my own blog for quite sometime now. It sounds like it would be helpful to have some type of “blogger practices” guide to help newbies in order to avoid some of the blunders that your post mentions. Are you aware of anything or anyone that would point me in the right direction?
Wow…this is such a good topic. You are just fine. It is the bloggers that copy and paste a post almost word for word that are the problems. And getting them to stop can be even more problematic. I have a local competitor that would basically change his webpage to match mine word for word every time I would post something new. I fixed it via posting it directly in a post that it was happening so customers would not be confused. And then also had my attorney send over a cease and desist. But the blogging world is a whole different story…sometimes tracking down these folks in other states, etc…can be a royal pain. I have some real issues enforcing trademark violations when I can not find valid contact info for companies, etc. But once I find them…but of course…you don’t make many friends that way either!
.-= Errandboy Dustin´s last blog ..Lincoln Ne Restaurant Delivery for as little as $5 Bucks! ANY Restaurant! =-.
Wonderful Etiquette article. This is totally off topic but what is the etiquette when another blogger becomes a follower of your blog. Do you return the favor always?
.-= Teresa´s last blog .. =-.
Hi. I have recently started a blog. Mosts of my posts come from info I received in my email from signing up for updates on various manufacturers’ websites or from surfing the net looking for special deals, but occassionally I post something that I found elsewhere. I would like to give credit but I really do not know how. I realize that this may make me sound like an idiot, but I’m not. I use Blogger for my blog and so far I have not found a way to credit anyone, unless it is in the text. Is that how I am supposed to do it?
The last few days, I’ve been entertaining the thought of blogging about saving money. My concern is that there are so many wonderful sites already out there. Is it even adventageous for me to pursue this idea?
Thank you for sharing this info, though. It was very informative and will be a big help should I decide to pursue writing a blog.
Bonnie, if you do it right, you can make it work. the key to making any blog work is sticking with it. But, I know many fabulous blogs out there that are extremely successful, and have absolutely nothing to do with frugality and deals. My suggestion is to find something you are passionate, and expound on that idea.
Good post! I, too, try to post my source if it is from a blogger, twitter, facebook, forum, etc
Most of the time though, my deals come via email from the company themselves 
.-= Kelli´s last blog ..House and Home: Rub-A-Dub Gift Guide plus GIVEAWAYS =-.
Excellent! I’m so glad to see someone touch on this. I’ve been running my site for 5 years, uninvolved in the overall aspect of the frugal blogging community. I had absolutely no idea they were all out there until earlier this year! Some of the things I’ve seen make me wish I’d stayed sheltered. All the deals & tips I post are my own – either something I’ve developed at home with my family, seen directly at a store personally or received from the company.
I tire of seeing so many bloggers posting the same deals over and over without adding any value. The rare occasion that I do find a deal via another blog, I credit and I add my own commentary, personal flair or side notes to the basic information.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Monday Mashup: Black Friday Resources =-.
I agree with you totally but there is a weird point. We often all get emails about a deal from the company (like a 20% off coupon from Old Navy). Since I got an email I was already going to post it. But then it appears a million times without anyone getting referral credit. No one is stealing it but sometimes it can look that way!
.-= NerdMom´s last blog ..ED Drug Amendment Failed =-.
I agree NerdMom! That happens to me all the time. I’ve found it’s best to post the deals i know about personally first during the day before checking the rest of the blogosphere. This takes away any pressure to feel like I have to credit anyone, when I already knew about the deal but just took longer to post than they did.
I agree with this for the most part, but I sometimes have a hard time giving credit to an individual blogger when everyone posts the same things. I don’t like to give credit to someone who might have stolen it from someone else.
I try to post original content and stay away from the types of posts that many deal bloggers post to remain different, but when I post something original, I will see it come through Facebook feeds minutes later with no credit, often with the exact same title and formatting.
I guess what I’m saying is that sometimes I feel that not crediting is better than crediting and driving traffic to someone who obviously took thecontent from somewhere- but I don’t have the time to track the original writer down. What do you think?
{ 1 trackback }