A New Experience in 15 Years of Content Writing

After 15 years in content writing, I encountered a situation today that was a first.

A story about content theft in Digital marketing.

Imagine working with a client who hires you to create content. They use your work, sharing it across their social media, promoting it to boost their business. A few months down the line, they come back and say, “We don’t like the results we’re getting. We want a refund.” But this isn’t the most surprising part.

The client decides to wait out the contract—or so they claim. Then, one day, you receive a text from one of their partners: “Why isn’t our content working? What are we paying you for?”

After some investigation, you discover they’ve taken the very content they claimed wasn’t working and used it on another site.

Now, let’s break this down:

First: If the content wasn’t working, why duplicate it onto another platform? It makes no sense to copy and paste content that’s supposedly ineffective and then claim it as your own. If it didn’t work the first time, it’s not going to miraculously succeed elsewhere. Adapt, don’t just replicate.

Second: Be honest with your partners. Don’t have them blame others for problems you’ve created. Stealing content and shifting the blame only leads to more complications down the road.

Lastly: When you develop a business idea, the first step should be thorough research. Start by asking, “Who is my customer?” Then, follow up with, “Where can I find them now that I know who they are?”

There are many who believe they have the next big idea, but when it fails, they refuse to take responsibility. Success often comes from learning through failure. It’s why we bring in experts like John from Internet Dominators once a year to emphasize the importance of the ACT program—the same program Benjamin Franklin used to sell his stoves.

Bottom Line: There’s nothing new under the sun. Before launching a business, do your homework. If you’ve got a great idea but aren’t sure where your customers are, make sure you have 6 to 10 months of expenses saved to market your concept.

Success isn’t achieved by accident.