I get a lot of feedback from new writers who want to write an information eBook. This can be a great way of sharing your knowledge around a particular topic. And done right, you can even make regular recurring income from your little information eBook.
One thing you should keep well clear of is the temptation to write your info eBook using PLR articles. PLR stands for Private Label Rights. There are numerous sites on the internet that for a small fee give you access to huge libraries of pre-written content on just about every topic. The model is to use a little keyword research, identify a topic that gets a lot of organic search then buy a few PLR articles on that topic to form the basis of your book. Slap a cover on it and voila, instant book. Buying PLR rights gives you the right to use the content however you want. You can even put your name on it, as author.
But here’s the thing. It may be a quick way to write an info eBook, and thousands of internet marketers use this very strategy to create content, but here are 5 reasons why I think it’s a dumb idea.
1: PLR is poorly written and very generic.
Of course it’s possible to rewrite and just use the bare bones, but why bother? If you take your self seriously as a writer, you couldn’t possibly be happy putting your name to something that exists in a thousand or more versions under a thousand different names. Because it’s not really writing. It’s renaming.
2: You’ll lose authority
If you are trying to create authority in your niche, your really need to create original content. You’ll never be seen as an authority if you are just serving up poorly written, researched and ultimately material. And thats the thing. How do you know the research on the PLR article you’ve purchased is sound. Do you really want to put your name to something that is factually incorrect?
3: PLR Kings are not the content creators
The only people really making money out of recycled PLR material are those who are selling the raw PLR stuff. Save your money for an editor or ghost writer.
4: Google will slap you
If you use PLR material on your blog or website, google will push your rank down for un-original content. Yes, the Penguin, Panda and Hummingbird updates now ensure Google measures content originality as a factor in page rank.
5: There are no shortcuts to writing a book
If you can’t write a book yourself, use a ghostwriter instead of using regurgitated PLR material. You can knock up a framework quickly. Chapter headings, subheadings, bullet points you want to cover. Think about what you’re trying to teach. here’s no shame in using a good ghost writer. A good ghost writer can even look at some of your emails and try to write in your ‘voice.’ You’d be amazed how many books are ghostwritten. Not everyone with info or a life story to share is a writer or has the time to write.
If you want to write an information eBook you can write it your self using the strategies I outline in my book. How to write an eBook in 30 days. You can download your free copy here.
What do you think about using PLR material for a book?
Please leave a comment below.