This document discusses common misconceptions about automated content generation and provides clarification. It notes that properly spun content takes time to produce, not just 5 minutes, and involves human input like editing. Legitimate uses of automated content include varying descriptions across sites and generating ideas for expressing information differently. While early automated content was low quality, the approach can now produce stories indistinguishable from human-authored ones if used appropriately. The document aims to dispel the notion that automated content is inherently low-quality or forbidden after Google's Panda update.

1. Automated Content
Generation
Common Misconceptions
SMX Israel, January 2013, @irishwonder

2. From Endangered Species to Cruel Beasts
May 2010

3. Content Can Harm You

4. Content Can Harm You
o Duplicate content
o Thin content
o Low quality content

5. Traditional Sources of Content
• Create yourself
• Hire an inhouse
copywriter
• Outsource
• Steal– not an option
because Panda will
not like it!

6. Oh the Pain…
• Labour intensive
• Costly
• Poorly scalable
INTENTION

7. Alternative Approach?
Automate it!

8. But Isn’t It a No-No???

9. OH THE MISCONCEPTIONS…
Here They Come

10. Automated Content Misconceptions
o Spun content = low quality and unreadable
o Spun content = fast
o No legitimate applications
o Automated content is dead after Panda

11. Spinning Content
Google’s example…
Source: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2012/04/another-step-to-reward-high-quality.html

12. Spinning Content
… vs properly spun text

13. Automated Content Misconceptions
 Spun content = low quality and unreadable
o Spun content = fast
o No legitimate applications
o Automated content is dead after Panda

14. Spinning Properly Is a Time Consuming Process

15. The Time It Takes
Google’s example: Properly spun content:
• About 5 minutes • Up to a week
• No human • Several people
intervention working on a project
• No editing or (writers and editors)
proofreading before • Proofread before the
spinning software run

16. Automated Content Misconceptions
 Spun content = low quality and unreadable
 Spun content = fast
o No legitimate applications
o Automated content is dead after Panda

17. Legitimate Applications
• Varied descriptions in
directories, social profiles,
bookmarking sites
• Ideas on how to say the
same thing in different
ways
• Varying your anchor texts
• Varying your social
mentions

18. Example: Guest posting

19. Example: Guest posting

20. …Busted, I’m afraid

21. …While a simple spin could do the trick

22. Automated Content Misconceptions
 Spun content = low quality and unreadable
 Spun content = fast
 No legitimate applications
o Automated content is dead after Panda

23. Automated Content: The New Journalism?
“…transform data into
stories that are
indistinguishable from
those authored by
people”

24. Automated Content: Beyond Text

25. Automated Content: Beyond Text

26. Automated Content: Beyond Text

27. Automated Content by Any Other Name
• Mashups
• RSS feeds syndication
• Tickers
• Real-time data updates
• Content curation

28. Automated Content Misconceptions
 Spun content = low quality and unreadable
 Spun content = fast
 No legitimate applications
 Automated content is dead after Panda

29. Additional Reading
o NYTimes on automated storywriting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/business/computer-generated-
articles-are-gaining-traction.html
o Autogenerated papers that passed human review:
http://pdos.csail.mit.edu/scigen/#examples
o Content curation for education:
http://www.mindomo.com/mindmap/content-curation-for-education-
and-learning-robin-good-emerge2012-
98ccaad217074a07b9bff8b76effab8e
o Blackhat ways to scale content creation
http://www.irishwonder.syndk8.co.uk/2012/11/03/ways-to-scale-
content-creation/

30. Image Credits
1. http://worldwildlife.org/
2. http://vilsevals-biggirlbigworld.blogspot.com
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/colinangusmackay/70982269/
4. http://www.mediaindigena.com
5. http://dl.kr.org/dig/
6. http://www.health.com/
7. http://www.ilfusion.com/
8. http://blog.badonlinedates.com/
9. http://www.fanpop.com
10. http://depositphotos.com
11. http://www.narrativescience.com/

31. Questions?
Feel free to get in touch!
Me:
SEO consultant at irishwonder.com, CMO
of ContentMango
• info@irishwonder.com
• Twitter: @irishwonder
• Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/irishwonder
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/irishwonder
ContentMango:
http://www.contentmango.com
info@contentmango.com