Day 16:Questions to Ask Yourself When Using PLR Excerpts
We’ve been talking about pulling excerpts out of PLR content to create a new (and unique) piece of content, such as a checklist or report. Now today we’re going to look at this concept in a little more detail. Before you start pulling excerpts out, ask yourself these questions…
Is the excerpt redundant?
Sometimes people think “bigger is better,” so they compile every related PLR excerpt and piece of content they can find. However, instead of adding value, this strategy can backfire and actually lower the value if the content is redundant.
Let’s suppose you’re compiling a big list of copywriting tips. You’ll want to look carefully to be sure your tips aren’t saying the same thing but in different words. For example, the following tips basically say the same thing, or at least overlap...
- Create curiosity-arousing headlines.
- Build curiosity with headlines to draw people into the content.
- Do use curiosity in your headline.
- Use your headline to evoke curiosity.
- Create an “itch” with your headline that can only be scratched by reading the content.
- Grab attention by making people wonder how and why your product works so well.
What you’d do in this case is use the most well-written excerpt as the basis for the tip. Then comb through the redundant tips to see if there is anything you can pull from them – such as a unique example – to add to the content.
Is the excerpt high-quality?
Here again, we need to consider quality over quantity. Don’t pull excerpts just to add length to your product. Instead, only use high-quality excerpts. Here’s a quick check of whether an excerpt should be added...
- Is the excerpt well-written and engaging?
- Is the excerpt factual?
- Is the excerpt “meaty” – in other words, not just fluff and filler?
The last point (avoiding fluff and filler) is particular important. If you can get your point across in one paragraph versus one page, then edit the PLR to take out all the fluff. While you’ll lose word count, you’ll end up with a better piece of content, which will create MORE satisfied customers.
Is the excerpt fact or opinion?
Every once in a while, you’ll run into PLR content (or even just an excerpt) that presents an opinion as a fact. You have these options...
- Avoid using the piece.
- Rewrite the piece so it’s clear the passage is an opinion.
- Rewrite the piece to present facts rather than opinion.
Point is...
You can certainly present opinions within your content – and you can even support your opinion with evidence -- but DON'T mislead people into believing you’re sharing a fact.
Does the excerpt add value to the content?
Even if the excerpt isn’t redundant, and even if it is overall a high-quality passage, you still need to consider if it adds value to the content overall. Sometimes this is context-dependent.
For example...
Let’s suppose you’re creating a blogging package for intermediate and advanced users. And you find a PLR passage that explains in great detail how to set up a WordPress blog.
If this was a package aimed at beginners, then detailed installation steps would add value to the package.
However, since the package is aimed at advanced users, this type of passage can LOWER the value. That’s because advanced users already have their blogs set up, so you’re telling them how to do something they’ve already done.
Point is, know who your users are, because that will help you decide whether to include a specific excerpt.
TODAY’S TASK:
Your task for today is to continue working on your PLR content in order to make it unique, add value, and do what’s necessary to create magic.