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Avoiding plagiarism is a big deal when it comes to blogging. Blogging has quickly become a popular way for small businesses to help index themselves in a search engine and a way for them to lend credibility to their business by producing knowledgeable (and sometimes not so knowledgeable) articles about their business. Then there are other bloggers who just want to have their voice heard. It’s one of the fastest growing mediums for writing, due to the ease of access, but it’s important to keep it original by avoiding plagiarism. Here are a few tips on how to do just that!
Topics of Interest
With so many competing bloggers out there it has become all too easy, even when you aren’t trying to, to write a blog that could be construed as plagiarism. To avoid that, start by picking a topic you have an interest in and have firsthand experience or knowledge of. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t research what you’re writing about, but your research shouldn’t come from other blogs. This is a gateway into plagiarism.
Think about this. Your writing has a unique style, as it should, but when you start researching a topic and read somebody’s writing you tend to pick up phrases they use, or ideas they may have about it. So keep it original with topics you are familiar with.
Avoiding Plagiarism through Better Research
1. Make sure you properly cite your research. 2. Stick to the facts and figures. 3. It should be from an accredited source. 4. MAKE SURE YOU PROPERLY CITE YOUR RESEARCH!!! (I know I said it twice but it’s that important)
Keep it Honest
Make sure you have something to say about your writing topic because if you have to look to another article to form an opinion, chances are you will be plagiarizing that article. My rule of thumb is, if it takes me longer than 5 seconds to start writing it in my head I need to move on. Blogging is a world all its own and most readers do not want to read regurgitated opinion or thought. You are putting out something you think readers will be interested in and will be both informative and useful. Why would you want to waste your time writing somebody else’s thoughts or opinions?
Your blog should reflect you, and your voice and the easiest way to do that is to pick a subject that YOU care about, that you think others may care about as well. You are not publishing a newspaper or magazine article. It doesn’t have to be jarring or life-affirming. All you need to do is be you…….keep it simple, keep it honest, and keep it you!
Are you still looking for more blogging tips? Check out our other blogs here!
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