PLR as a Product?

So I was recently in a discussion on PLR – Private Label Rights. It had to do with someone finding out that a “guru” they followed made a product from PLR. This person felt slighted and a whole thread became heated with debate on whether it was acceptable or not to create a product using PLR.

The problem was, the person who owns the forum does a lot of PLR in the way that was complained about. And I wonder if the truths weren’t a bit skewed. So I am going to write about it here and hope the people reading this can give some feedback.

So here is my reply, unedited, I too was a bit unsure how I should reply. I don’t want to burn bridges, but at the same time I have very strong feelings of what and what does not pass for a “product” in the IM world. Or any world. So here is my reply…

Okay, I should probably walk away form this one…but something keeps drawing me back. And now I am most likely really going to put my foot in it…but here goes…I think PLR should be for freebies, list builders, not a product.

I will be launching a PLR product on the 26th for various reasons. So I am not against PLR. I just feel PLR has its place. And as a product, for me anyways, that isn’t the place. Here is why…

If I have a client that buys my SEO course that I actually used PLR and just changed a little bit around, then that client later buys the same book without knowing, what are they going to think? What would you think?

If I bought something from anyone on this forum and they didn’t explain it was PLR and I found out it was, I’d feel a bit cheated. I was buying you, not someone else. And whether you tell me I am stupid or short sighted for my feelings, it is the way I feel. Stupid or not. No rational is going to change that.

When I buy a product from you, it is your insight that I want to buy, believe I am purchasing. Truth is I don’t even condone ghost writers if you are not involved in the product. But at least there is only one source of the information. I think ghost writers should be used to help non-writers create good readable content. Not create an entire product for them.

I guess if you are not truly adding additional value, then I don’t think you should be selling it as if you were. if it is PLR with a lot of value, then why not just sell it as such and say, “this great product was created by so and so”…if it is really great, then people will still buy it. If they don’t buy it because it isn’t your product, then aren’t you cheating them on some level to say it is?

I will always create new and unique material for my products. If I don’t, what additional value am I adding? A cover? A pretty graphic?

I never want my clients to ever feel they could have gotten the same thing they got from me from Paul, John and Henry. And to later find he could have gotten it for free from Pam for opting into her list. I just don’t feel in my bones that is the way to a long term successful business. And I am getting so darn tired of buying product creation WSOs telling me that is what I should be doing.

But I am probably wrong on a lot of levels. And to be very open, I know that this has a lot to do with the way I feel rather than rational thought. But I can’t help the way I feel . It just is.

I hope no one feels I am jumping on them for using PLR. These are my own thoughts. But no, I’d never use PLR as a product that I would promote as my own.

In fact, as a first point of entry into my funnel, I want to have a $1 offer so I can build a list of buyers. And I want to do a “how to be a great affiliate” product for the $1 product. So I really thought about PLR. I mean, it’s only a buck. And it would save me a ton of time. Why not, right? But I just couldn’t do it. In my gut, I just don’t think it is me. And that is what’s important to me. But it is me, no one else. So find your own path to success.

Now…let the BBQ begin…I know I am most likely in for a roasting…

I received a lot of comments. And one person who I respect wrote this…

People place very little value on free. So it probably won’t get consumed nor will the end user take (prolonged) action with the content.

Meaning if I gave it away as an optin or what ever, the idea that people wouldn’t value it. The problem I see with this rational is that people buy a ton of products regardless of value and never so anything with them whether they cost $1 or $100. so I am not sure if this statement holds water.

There is also the the faction that states if it isn’t PLR, there are a lot of people that would never see the original. So by allowing PLR rights, there is a way that it adds value to the world because it is so widely distributed. Again, I just don’t agree.

So now that I am writing for my own personal website and I can say what I really think? Honestly, I would use PLR stuff for certain list building activities. But I would improve it and try to make it my own. But as far as using PLR, just slapping a new cover graphic and start selling it as a product is totally bullshit.

The only way I can see anyone creating a serious business in the IM niche selling an information product is to add value in some way. Can you buy PLR to teach a parrot to talk and make money, yup! Without a doubt. But in the IM niche? Doubtful.

The IM niche must be one of the most competitive niches on the whole web. It’s one of the reasons I love it. It forces you to be on your game at all times. It also forces you to push the envelope to succeed. To find ways to stand out, stand above, to stand on ground others never had. And that equates to value.

If you can’t add value and you are just copying or regurgitating what has already been said, why should anyone listen to you. And why would you feel good doing that at all in the first place?

I will screw up a lot and say a lot of dumb things. I will undoubtedly make an ass of myself multiple times. And what I say today may change tomorrow if someone is able to show me something that is not obvious to me at this moment. But there is something I know in my soul, I I will push the envelope further than most to find something worth sharing. And I will add value somehow or I’ll just shut the hell up.

So I think my stance on PLR is obvious. If you use it to get started on your product but make it 99% your own and you are adding new stuff to the world by doing it, fantastic! If you are just slapping on a new cover and adding your name to it, I hope you never optin to my list. You’re simply not the kind of person I want in my tribe.

But don’t get the wrong impression. I do use and even produce PLR for mass consumption. If I want to break into the dating niche and I need an optin report, I am not going to write it. I will find PLR. And that is the difference.

I will find PLR because I am not passionate about the dating niche. I will not take the time to create a report neither from experience nor researching the topic. I am simply trying to make a buck. So I am not adding value. I am simply looking for a short cut. And I don’t even see that as wrong. As long as I am giving it away for free. It is when I sell it and say I will answer all your problems for $20 that I feel it crosses the line. Or worse, telling you I personally have all the answers to your questions and then selling the same PLR report.

See, the web is an unforgiving master. It doesn’t forget either. So put out Private Label Rights as all of your products and sooner or later people are going to realize it. How long do you think it’ll last? Not the way I plan on building a long lasting and sustainable company.

I had PLR for an optin when I first started this blog. It’s gone now. Why do you think that is? You are what you produce in this business. Produce value, and you’ll be seen as valuable. Copy, and you’ll be seen as ….you get the picture. Or am I dead wrong? Let me know your thoughts.

Tags: PLE products, PLR, PLR product, Private Label Rights

Category: My Thoughts