Will I Still Be Recognized as the Original Author if My Blog is Added to a Client’s Website?

SquarespaceSEO

Jan 14

Will You Still Be Recognized as the Original Author if a Client Publishes Your Blog?

TL;DR

If your blog post is added to a client’s website, you may or may not be recognized as the original author, depending on how attribution and duplicate content are handled. To maintain your authorship and SEO credibility, proper author attribution, canonical tags, and smart content syndication practices are key.

Understanding Content Ownership and Attribution

When you write a blog post for a client, the way authorship is recognized depends on your agreement and how the content is published. If your client uploads your content without any attribution to you, Google won’t associate the content with your name. However, if they include a clear byline or link back to your website, it signals to search engines and readers that you’re the original author.

For example, if your byline is displayed as “Written by [Your Name]” with a link to your website, it helps you get recognition for your expertise. This can drive traffic to your own blog and boost your authority in your niche.

The Duplicate Content Dilemma

One potential concern is duplicate content. If your blog post exists on both your own website and your client’s website, search engines might not know which version to rank higher. Without proper measures, your site might lose out on valuable traffic.

Here’s where canonical tags come in handy. A canonical tag is a snippet of code that tells search engines which version of a piece of content should be treated as the original. If your client adds a canonical tag pointing to your original blog post, you’ll be recognized as the primary source.

Additionally, if you allow your client to syndicate your content, be sure they credit you with a link back to the original post on your site. Syndication can help increase your reach and build backlinks, but only when done correctly.

Best Practices for Maintaining Author Recognition

Always request attribution: Make sure your client includes your name and a link to your site when publishing your blog post.
Use canonical tags: Encourage your client to use canonical tags if they’re republishing your content.
Check the agreement: Clarify ownership and attribution terms in writing before creating content for clients.
Monitor your content: Use tools like Copyscape or Google Alerts to see where your content is published online.