Comments on: Splogs, Scrapers, and YOUR content

By: Donace

Donace — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:06:08 +0000

Generally automated site if they are scrapers, aggregation sites etc. their main aim (if the person behind them has a brain) is not to make money of the adds from the site.

The adds are there for ‘bonus’ income, so they can pay for the hosting.

The main reason for such ‘splogs’ is for its Link value. ‘splogs’ are created in groups and these can very easily propel a affiliate higher in the serps with ease; or just ‘launder’ their PR onwards to a 2nd tier site and from there to the money making ones.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:07:16 +0000

Hi ShuTian – that’s a tough one, actually. Personally, I’d say that scrapers tend to be automated, whereas your friend is presumably clipping only items that are actually of interest to him?

Good practice, I’d suggest, would be to include a link to the original site if you have clipped anything, and to make some sort of comment besides simply lifting clips verbatim. That way people will know the site is not an automated scraper, and the site’s visitors would perceive extra value at the same time.

Hope that makes sense!

By: ShuTian

ShuTian — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:59:24 +0000

I know of someone who uses clipmarks for his blog. Is that considered “scraping” as well?

By: Hamdani Amin

Hamdani Amin — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:15:59 +0000

I’ll use option#3, it will definitely kill their website and business temporary. Harsh but direct.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:29:53 +0000

That’s entirely possible, which makes it harder to report them to their advertisers (you’d have to keep checking back to see when they start advertising).

If that’s what they’re up to that’s both very clever and very sneaky.

By: Scam

Scam — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:16:39 +0000

Perhaps they hope that will increase the chances of people linking to them? Once they have several incoming links then they’ll whack the advertising on?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:49:08 +0000

What’s really weird is that I’ve had a few links from sites that look like spam, but have no advertising on them. I don’t see the point, really.

By: Scam

Scam — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:36:06 +0000

I find it takes a variable amount of time but, on average, less than a week (assuming their ads are served by Google).

I rarely see scrapers using any other form of advertising – they hope for a couple of Adsense clicks per day and once that’s gone they have no reason to continue :)

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:52:12 +0000

@scam Do you find it works quite quickly, or does it take a while?

By: John Ager

John Ager — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:18:07 +0000

Very good article! John.