It may not be popular, but…

 

Hello, sweet friends!

I hope you are having a great week so far!

I’ve been super busy, but so far so good.

You may have noticed a lot of posts going up this week about bloggers truncating their feeds. 

What the heck is “truncating”, you ask?

Well, if you subscribe to a blog via a reader, a truncated feed only shows a snippet of the post.  You have to click on “continue reading” to read the post in it’s entirety on the actual blog’s web page.

I HATE truncated feeds!  If a blogger truncates her feed, I usually unsubscribe from her.

However, starting with my next post, I will be truncating my feeds.

Why?  Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Over the past year of blogging, things in blog world have changed.  Sites called “Scraper” sites are popping up everywhere.  They steal bloggers’ posts, word for word, and post it on their own sites. 

They use our posts, that we worked hard to create, to turn around and make money off of them.

THAT’S JUST NOT RIGHT!

I read a post from Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, who gives the best explanation of how terribly WRONG these scraper sites are.  I hope you take the time to read her post.  Just click on the link below:

Stop Scrapers from Stealing Your Content

Stop scrapers from stealing your content

I know it is not a popular decision.  I know my readers who subscribe to my blog via a reader won’t like my decision.  I know I may lose followers.  I know I might get some mean emails.

Kindle-is-unpopular

But it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Jonathan is in middle school now, and I am constantly trying to encourage him to do what is RIGHT even if it is NOT the popular thing to do. 

I am gonna take my own advice.

I hope and pray that you keep following me.

And I sure hope that my blog content is worth that extra click you will have to make.

If you decide to unsubscribe.  I understand.  I will miss you.

But I have to do what is RIGHT.

I have one follower that I know will keep reading.

My sweet blog friend, Gina, from San Antonia, Texas emailed me today to say…

This reader will stick with you!  Don’t worry, just protect yourself in what ever way  it takes.  I believe most people WILL understand and follow you and the others.  We don’t like these creeps taking credit for your work either.  We want you to keep blogging and if this is what it takes, then we’ll follow.  Especially when blogger after blogger has to write a post and explain why there is a change….they will follow.

Gina

 

How sweet is that?!

I just want to hug her!

 

And to all of my wonderful readers, I truly hope you understand.

xoxo

Traci

 

You can hear about other blogger’s decisions to truncate their feeds

here

here

here

here

and

here. 

Smile

105 Comments

  1. I had this problem several months back for a client of mine (I’m a web developer). So annoying! I’m so sorry – how aggravating.

    Just a tip for your readers with iPads or similar: I use an RSS feed app called FeedlerPro. I’m able to set it to automatically view the post on your site when I click on your new item in my feeds list. Voila! In fact, that’s what I’m using now! And no, not selling this app. Lol. Just wanting to help. I follow a ton of blogs and am not going to suffer one bit from the truncation revolution. ;)

  2. So sad there is so much theft out there in the blog world. I love reading your blog and so many others that have been affected by this. It won’t stop me from reading truncated or not. I just wish there was something to be done to stop it. Best of luck with your blog!

    1. Thank you so much, Sondra! I wish we could stop it completely too, but I know that is unrealistic. I am just trying to do want I can to protect my content.
      Thanks for understanding!
      Traci

  3. I’ve thought about truncating my blog, but stealers, steal. They will always find a way. I’m a writer and I’ve seen free copies of my work all over. All photos should be water-marked and all pages have three, colors into the background copyright notices with date. It may be a good solution for many of us. However, once they steal, block them. I can be done. I have no patience for it at all.

    1. I know it we cannot stop them from stealing completely, but I think truncating will help make it a little more difficult. It’s worth it to me.
      I’m sorry you have had your work stolen too. So not fair. :(

  4. Text-only truncations make me unsubscribe. At least include a good summary first paragraph and a photo thumbnail. Then I can make a decision if it’s worth clicking on over to the site… especially those that take FOREVER to load to to sponsor ads ( … and, yes, I realize that’s your income).

    1. I will definitely be adding pictures to my feeds with a summary of the post. Hopefully this will help my readers decided if they want to click over.
      Thanks!

  5. I’m not going anywhere, I read through my blog list on my own blog which I don’t write alot on anyway…I’m more of a reader than blogger, for sure! Sad to hear all this nasty, but glad theres something you can do about it. :D I’ll be here, enjoying and reading every word of all y’all! :)

    1. Aw, thank you Christina! I would be so upset if I lost you. Whenever I read your comments, I think of that great big smile of yours! :)

      xoxo

  6. Well I learned something today. I’ve been skipping over all of the “truncating” talk around blogland. I will tell you that I don’t like the incomplete blog posts when you have to click to continue and had been wondering why so many people are doing that. I like to be able to see several posts at once quite often. You know, scroll through the whole month of August or something like that. It’s a shame that thieves cause a little of the friendliness of blogs to change.

    1. I know, Stacey. It’s can be frustrating to have to click through to see an entire post. I am going to try and add a picture in my truncated feed so you can see whether it is worth the extra click to check it out. Hopefully this helps.
      Thanks!

  7. This fellow Kentuckian will continue to read your blog!! Hang in there Traci and I pray that you do not get any mean e-mails. What a wonderful lesson for your sons to stand up and do what is right!!

  8. I’ll have to unsubscribe. I hate it but I have so many I follow that I just don’t have the time to read them outside my rss feed

  9. People would stop following you because you have to click your mouse to do it? Seriously? We have become such an impatient society. I happen to think you are worth a click. So I will keep clicking away to see what’s Beneath Your Heart. :)

  10. YOU and your content are worth any extra clicks it will take to read your posts! Your blog is at the top of my book-marked blogs! Thank you for explaining why…BLOG ON!

    Your faithful Illinois reader!
    Susan A.

  11. I totally understand, and I’ll continue to follow and click through, regardless of what you have to do to protect your content! If there’s anything we readers can do to help stop these scumbags, let us know! We’ve got your back!

    1. Thank you, Jessica!
      Have you watched Blind Side? I LOVE that movie! You made me think of it when you said, “we’ve got your back!”
      Love that!
      xoxo

  12. Absolutely I will keep folllowing you Traci! I have been blessed and encouraged from your blog so don’t worry… you have a faithful reader in me! Love you!!

  13. Whatever it takes, I will read your blog…you are such an inspiration to me…love your blog.
    Now shoooo Issac….and all will be well…I’m 45 miles from NO in south Mississippi…we are holding on! :)

  14. I’ve been reading about this problem all morning. I’ll continue to follow. But for those who read in Google Reader, you can install the “Next” button on your bookmark bar that takes you directly to the websites of all the blogs you follow. Problem solved, no need to see the truncated feeds!

  15. Blogging has been an adventure for me and i keep learning stuff about stuff. This is a new word for me….better check it out.
    May your Summer be a blessing. Praying for a looooooong indian summer.
    God bless,
    d

    1. I know, Dee!
      I have learned so much over the past 3 years of blogging, it is insane! It’s maddening and exciting all at the same time. :)
      Hope you are having a great summer.
      xoxo

  16. Traci, don’t worry about losing readers. You have such a wonderful blog. Those of us who read it from our google reader are happy to “click through”. It really is a shame that it is even an issue, but there you have it. Keep up the good work with your blog and your wonderful family. thanks for all your inspiration.
    Tracie

  17. This truly sucks, that so many talented bloggers are having their stuff stolen – I will always be a reader, Traci, wouldn’t miss your sweet posts for the world!

  18. Yes, unfortunately, I’ll be unsubscribing. I hate to do it, but I follow well over a hundred blogs and don’t have time to go directly to everyone’s page. In my opinion, the internet will always be ‘fair game’ and trying to protect stuff on the internet is never going to be successful.

    1. I’m sorry to lose you April! But I totally respect the value of your time. I will have to disagree that the internet is “fair game.” If I were to take a full article off of Martha Stewart’s site, word for word, and claim it as my own, you better believe I would be hearing from her people. Sadly, we bloggers do not have the money or the big guns to pull out against people stealing our content. That is not fair. So I believe we should do what we can to protect our hard work. I know we can never do it 100%, but we should at least try.

      Thanks,
      Traci

  19. Now I’m totally confused about truncated posts. I thought your posts were already truncated. I don’t subscribe and read blogs through a reader. The method that works best for me is to have my favorite blogs (yours included) bookmarked in a folder on my sidebar and I just click through them when I have time. For quite a long time, I have been seeing a snippet of 20 of your posts on the main page and then I have to click {Read More}, and wait for the new page to load to read the entire post and see the comments. It sounds like maybe you weren’t aware of that. I think it’s been this way since your last blog re-design, however long ago that was. I remember you polled your readers and one of the specific things you asked about was their feelings on truncated posts and you adamantly said you didn’t like them at all. So needless to say, I was kind of surprised when not too long after that, your posts started coming up this way.

    Personally, I don’t care for truncated posts either. I’ve also stopped reading a few blogs that post that way, but primarily because their blogs load really slow for me. On some blogs I find the graphics and ads load first, quite quickly, but the blog post comes up last and much slower. When that happens, it just becomes way too time consuming to do all that clicking back and forth, especially if there are several posts I need to catch up on.

    Long story short… it sounds like your blog won’t be changing for me since I’ve only been getting a few sentences of each post on the main page for a while. I love your blog and since it loads fairly fast for me, I’ll continued to be a loyal reader. :)

    1. Hey Shari!
      Sorry for the confusion.
      You are right, nothing will change for you.
      I am aware that my posts are shortened on my home page. That is a design I love and enjoy. I know my posts are truncated on my home page, but it allows my readers to see 20 posts at a time. I like that because it helps new visitors know what my blog is about (since “Beneath My Heart” doesn’t sound like a home decor blog), and it allows them to quickly see any posts they have missed.
      I am not a fan of truncated posts that are only one or two to a page and you have to continually click and click and click to see new posts.
      I was hoping my new layout made my blog easier to navigate for my readers.
      I’m sorry that I was confusing on that part.
      But I am glad that nothing changes for you and you are sticking with me!
      Yay!!!
      xoxo

  20. It’s truly sad what this world has come to and the things we all have to do just to protect what is ours and what we work so hard to build. I don’t have a blog, but I really enjoy reading them and it makes me angry to hear of these so called scrappers! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I will continue to read your blog because I enjoy it too much to let an extra click or two stop me! I don’t usually comment, but I just had to let you know that you have my support!
    Xo,
    Charlotte

    1. Charlotte, thank you so much for your sweet words. Thank you for leaving a comment to let me know you support me.
      It means a lot to me.
      Blessings,
      Traci

  21. I use Google Reader and have an extension attached to my web browser…so it only shows me the title of the post anyway! No changes for me here :)

  22. I have no problem jumping to the actual blog from my reader. I love reading your posts and that extra step has never bothered me, although I really do appreciate hearing the reasoning behind it! You should totally be doing whatever you have to to protect your intellectual property! The disappointment I have lately with blogs is that ads are no longer just posted down the sides for viewers to read or not read at their discretion. Instead, they pop up to cover the screen you’ve been reading, and the way to get rid of that screen is often hidden, or at least challenging to find. Then while you’re looking to close the screen, a video starts. I find that “in your face” advertising far more annoying than the little extra effort it takes to open a new page. I know bloggers who rely on their ad space for revenue need to do what they need to do to make ends meet. As a reader, it’s just sometimes a little “hit me over the head” for my taste. I enjoy reading about your children, listening to your videos of your son singing (I have several bookmarked!) and of course, learning from your beautiful DIY projects. Keep on writing, and we’ll keep on reading!

  23. It’s up to you if you want to truncate or not. I agree that it’s frustrating to have someone else steal your content. There is certainly something unsavory about scraping someone else’s content, and it is appropriate for you to take whatever actions you feel like you need to in order to protect your content.

    However, I do find it a bit odd that you describe truncating as the “RIGHT” (all caps!) decision, as though you’re making a moral stand by truncating. It is neither moral nor immoral, neither right nor wrong to truncate or not truncate.

    1. When someone is stealing her content (morally wrong), and she’s choosing to make changes to make it stop, and when those changes may affect her traffic negatively, then yes, she is making a moral stand for something. It is immoral to steal intellectual property, therefore “moral” to stand up against it. What an odd thing to pick on from this post.

  24. I have enjoyed your blog for a long time now. I don’t have my own blog, but enjoy reading/following 50-100 different blogs a day. I didn’t really understand “truncating” but you have helped me to understand what the “bad” guys out there are doing. I will continue following your blog and every other blog, even if it means I have to click one more time to follow you. I “follow” you all for free, so the least I can do is click one more time! Please continue with your fantastic blog!

  25. Personally I don’t understand why its a problem to click on over to your actually site. I follow several blogs and this week I have seen alot of posts like this. I will continue to follow you and all of my favs! Besides…. I have to see what your bathroom looks like when its finished!!! LOL! Thank you for all of the encouragement and insperation I have found in your blog!

  26. I have seen so many of my favored blogs going this route. It is so sad that people feel its ok to steal what is not theirs.
    I will continue to be a devoted follower and click on through to read your posts if necessary.
    XO
    Jamie

  27. Don’t worry this blogger and reader will keep reading yours and the others forced to do this same thing. It’s very sad indeed and I’m a little jealous because my little blog isn’t popular enough to worry about this problem ;0). (smiles all around folks that was a joke…well kind of heehee). Good luck and know that your true bloggy friends will support you no matter how many clicks it takes!!!

  28. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. ;) I don’t read in a reader any more- just emails, so I’ve gotten used to having to click over anyway if I want to comment. No big deal.

  29. Traci, Thank you for explaining. I’ve been thinking about blogging and that is a real eye-opener. It’s good to know there are ways for bloggers to protect their content. I’m sorry you got taken advantage of by Winged Monkeys and their Evil Leader. Just think of truncating as the equivalent of Ruby Slippers!

  30. Stickin with ya! You are one of my favorite bloggers and I’m glad you’re taking your own advice… great advice by the way, I have a middle school son too! ;-)
    It’s unfortunate people think its ok to steal from others hard work..

    God bless u Traci!
    xoxo

  31. Stealing is horrible!
    I think you need to do whatever it takes to protect your hard work.
    Good luck in this cause.
    I will continue to follow your blog.
    Marie

  32. Glad to see you joined the bloggers protecting themselves. Several of my daily reads had already made the change today. Those of you banding together will hopefully make it harder for the thieves. I hope anyone that hasn’t watermarks their photos will do so. You all work so hard to give us great posts to read, and wonderful photos to look at. One more click in just NO BIG DEAL!

    Gina in San Antonio,TX

  33. I get Blogs both via email and the My Yahoo reader. In both formats, I usually right click on the post title and direct it to open in a new window. That way, when I’m done, I just close the window with the Blog and I’m back where I started – either my email or my reader. So sorry this has become so prevalent. Hopefully someone will come up with a way to really stop it.

  34. I read all my blogs via readers and I don’t mind clicking to read more IF the site page loads fast and the site doesn’t have redraw and loading issues. Some web sites have this busy “wallpaper” that has to load first,the slowly the images and all the advertsment images load and by that time I’ve lost interest and am ready to move to the nest blog.

    I totally understand the need to change and will continue to subscribe to the blog.

  35. We all have to make difficult decisions sometimes. You put a lot of hard work into your blog and you should do whatever it takes to protect your content. One extra click won’t hurt any of your followers. Let’s face it, you’re worth it.

  36. I won’t leave- I pwomise…I’m addicted. :) Plus- I just figure it’s an alert to let me know your post is ready… lol shows how much I know… :)

  37. I’m with Laura…you are worth the click! You were the second blog I subscribed to (after adorable Ree) and I so look forward to every post. I now subscribe to your sweet sister’s, and an extra click won’t keep me away there either!
    Unfortunately, someone who wants to cheat will always find a way.
    Soooo, do what you need to do. Most of us aren’t going anywhere!

  38. No biggie. It’s just one more click. Unfortunately, there are lazy, undeserving scum out there and you’re the one who has to go out of your way to protect what is yours. This extra step would never cause me to unsubscribe to your blog or any others. By the way, I look forward to your “Favorite Pins Friday”. I can’t wait to see what pics you’ve found to share.

  39. I really don’t see the big deal in clicking one more time to get to your blog. You are so worth the click. You are my very first blog that I started following. I think all your readers will take the time to click. I can’t wait to see the reveal of your mater suite.

  40. What creepy people. to let someone do all the work and feel that they have the right to steal. You know that I will follow, I love your blog and where would I go to get my Jonathan fix (Ha-Ha). I feel that we are family and families stick together. Thanks Traci

  41. I’m not going anywhere, you’ve become part of my life, Traci! Funky Junk & Beneath My Heart were the very first blogs that I followed & a click or two is not going to shake me. Thanks for all the hard work you do & I’m so sorry that you have to go through all this to get rid of the thieves. I think that you’re going to find out how much your readers love you, Cy & your boys.

  42. I saw your post on the faux beams. My husband and I are getting ready to build a house and I really liked that idea for the family room. Tday he looks at me and says “what would you think about some beams in the family room?” I immediately started telling him about what you were doing in your bathroom ~ got on and showed him pics ~ he was checking out the website, so thanks. Now we know where to go to get our beams. I think your blog is great and inspiring. I get your blog through yahoo email. I don’t think what you are doing is going to change anything for me. :)

  43. I can’t imagine not getting your posts. One mouse click will not deter me. I love following your DIY stories and your jouney of faith.

  44. That picture is hilarious! I don’t even know what a reader is really – I never used it – I always just come over the actual blog, but I don’t see what a big deal an extra click would be. Are we really that lazy as a society – we can diy till our hearts content but we can’t click the mouse one more time? I think truncating will be fine -especially if all the cool people are doing it ;)

    1. Hi Laura,
      Thank you for supporting me in deciding to truncate my feeds. I did read your post and respect your decision as well. However, I was disappointed in the tone of your post. It made it look as if those of us who have decided to truncate are doing it solely for the money. I can say from the deepest part of my heart that that was never in my thoughts. I have been concerned about my content being stolen and that was the reason for my decision to truncate. It makes me sad that your readers are now going to assume or believe that my decision to truncate was a financial one, when that was not the case.
      You could have easily written your post to inform your readers of how they can protect their content without leading them to believe that other bloggers were being deceitful about their choice. That’s just how I feel.
      Traci

  45. The same thing has happened to me…I threw a hissy fit and sent letters…blah,blah,blah. The site was taken down, my daughter who has a blog that pays, advised me to begin the truncated posts. My blog is not a huge blog, some follows, no ads yet…my point is this, don’t dismiss this post or the others just because your blog is small or not a money maker, it will happen, if you don’t head the advice of others.

    Here is what I find most shocking about this post and some of the others I’ve read, the fact that you would think people would unsubscribe or unfollow. Why? If they loved you enough to subscribe or follow why would this matter? It wouldn’t.
    The other thing that just shocked me was that you (Traci) say that you would have unsubscribed or have unfollowed a blogger who truncated their posts. Did I read that correctly? Why is this when you know that traffic to a blog or site helps that blogger generate revenue if they have ads on their site.
    As I shared over at MMS this morning, reading the post at the actual site for me, is more entertaining and I usually end up jumping down several rabbit holes on a blog while i’m there, thus helping bounce rates and time spent on the site, all of these help the analytics of a site.

    Heck, I wouldn’t care if the email notification just gave the linked title of the post, I would click over and read.

    I will continue to read this awesome blog no matter what, because it’s a fun place to be :)

  46. I don’t mind a bit….. I don’t blog… but I sure do follow some of the amazing Bloggers out there via EMAIL…. I was a bit curious when I noticed I had to actually click onto the site… But …. NO BIGGIE’… Now …. it makes perfect sense….. and I will continue to “Click” on .. Beneath My Heart!!! Blessings to you Traci

  47. I’m not going anywhere! your heart is so sweet and I love reading your blog. No matter how many clicks I have to click to get to it, it’ll be totally worth it!

    And P.S. – To all the readers complaining about the auto playing ads – there is a volume button on them and you CAN mute them. Takes 1/2 a second to, not that hard to do! :)

  48. We spend most of our day clicking on our phones, on our computers, etc…so what’s one more click to read your posts to learn and be inspired? It’s so worth it! Hope these content theifs find something better to do!

    You won’t lose a reader here! I’m sure many of your readers feel the same way! We care for you and your family enough to not let a click keep us away.

    Good luck protecting your hard work!

  49. Ugh, how aweful. I do not plan on going anywhere. I do read through a Reader but will click over to continue reading. I am sorry you have to do this. I cannot imagine anyone stealing any of my little posts, but I wouldn’t know how to find out.

  50. Call me old fashioned but I surf right from blog to blog. I will still be reading you, nothing will change for me! Thanks for all your laughs and inspiration over the months and years!

  51. I love your blog. It seems pretty simple to me. I have my favorite blogs booked marked and I just choose which ones I want to read on any particular day. And, I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to protect income. Many bloggers are blessed with talent and if they (you are included in this) can make money more power to them. And, as long as I pay my internet bill :-) I get all this info, inspiration, humor, designing for free.

  52. I don’t understand this…. I signed up with my email, but won’t get the whole blog post without clicking on the link?? I’m just confused as to why if we’ve given our email address we are not able to read the post in the email. If you could enlighten me on how (or of there is a way) to read/subscribe without having to “click to continue reading” I would appreciate it.

    I really enjoy your posts and have gotten a lot of great ides for projects from it.

    Thanks!

  53. Traci- I find it so sad that any person feels like they have to leave you negative feedback. If they don’t like what you are doing, don’t read it. Seems simple enough. I was not a fan when you first went to your new format(remember?) but I quickly realized it really wasn’t such a big deal. I enjoy pretty much everything you write about and have grown quite fond of you and your entire family! Including your sister! My husband refers to you as my “pretend friend” because I talk about your projects as though I know you! Lol. I promise I’m not a creeper! Anyway, do what you must and don’t worry about it. Do what is right for you, because in the end that’s what is most important! Besides your genuine personality and warm heart just jump right out of the computer, and everyone wants to be your friend!

    1. Aw, Lynne!
      I want to hug you!
      Thank you for your very sweet words. And I am so proud to be called your “pretend friend”.
      We really are friends even though we have never met. I “talk” to you every day in my posts. What would I do without you to read them? ;)
      I know you are not a “creeper” and it would bless my heart to meet you in person some day.
      Thanks again for your kind words!
      Blessings,
      Traci

  54. I wouldn’t dream of leaving!!! Your blog is one of the first ones I started reading. I love the heartfelt content! :) Keep on keeping on!

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