We get it: we write a lot of content on a lot of different topics and coming up with content and relevant topics is time comsuming. For our competitors, it can be hard to keep up! It's the reason why we see our topics used and content parroted. But take a further look and you'll see the difference between someone who knows what they are writing about and someone who acts like they know what they are writing about.
Content:
If you make anything more than a cursory read, it becomes pretty apparent that the copycats aren’t really either addressing the top, are parroting our content, or aren’t knowledgeable on the top.
We particularly find it comical when we see images used of the wrong product or a completely unrelated product. More than most we understand that people are visual – and we take great pains to make sure the pictures and graphics that we use highlight the top or explain an idea…we don’t just slap a random image up to “check the box” that an image starts the blog.
Catchphrases:
If you see: “water management systems”, “water operator”, and the like used in the first couple of sentences, unless it is truly in context, you can probably move on.
References so to using the “right tools” is another give away. Sure, using the right tools is important, but repeated reference to the right tools means that instead of educating you about the “tool” and why you need it, they are more worried about selling you the “tool”.
Purpose:
We blog to inform, not to sell. Sure, if you want to contact us about a product that you read a blog about, we are more than happy to sell to you, but our primary goal is to educate. The better informed the marketplace is, the better our overall industry is.
Openchannelflow has a network of representatives that span the US and Canada and their purpose is to sell. The purpose of this site, however, is to educate. The more you know, the better your decision will be…whether it is using our products or not.
Openchannelflow is a search leader for many topics. We are because we spend considerable time and effort researching, writing, and editing (although probably could do more of the last).
We’re flattered to know that even our competitors think our content is good enough to copy! Now, there is no practical way to stop blog copying and generally we don’t mind – although we did find the article duplicating the dollar cost of Parshall flumes straying over the line into outright infringement. We’re interested to see others’ takes on issues with the thought that they might bring a fresh perspective – the only problem being that in the majority they don't.
Ultimately read and compare.
If you find our blogs useful, great, we’re glad! If you find other blogs useful, good, that never hurts. Just look for something that has some substance to it…unless you like marshmallow fluff blogs [ahhh, marshmallow fluff (doing our best Homer Simpson)].
Image credit: Placeit