As most of you know by now, eHow is implementing an article purge to weed out all articles that don’t fit within their publishing guidelines, as well as those that are apparently cheap duplicates of existing articles.

Now, for the most part I’m all for this.  Most of us have read utter trash on there that was nothing more than glorified spam.  I’ve also seen one person who wrote an article titled something like “How to get child support in Alabama”  and then proceeded to republish the article 49 more times, once for each state.  That’s a little ridiculous and should be removed.

The purpose of this, as eHow states is to improve the quality of the brand name.  And you know what, that’s true.   A well trusted site will get more clicks than a site that exudes little trust, I even wrote an entire series of posts about building trust to get the click.

Here’s the problem though….

The eHow article purge – Point #1

You better type in the exact keyword or you’re not allowed to read our “approved” articles!

I’ve lost three articles, which, is just a tiny fraction of my 141 articles.  If that was it I wouldn’t complain at all.  BUT  I’ve looked at those articles and I simply do not agree with them being deleted.

First off, at least have the courtesy of an email letting me know they’ll be deleted, don’t just remove my work.  You got it for free, I had to create it.

Secondly, and here’s the part that I disagree with.

Two of my articles were rewrites of an existing article using an entirely different keyword.  Yes, I admit it, rewrites, significantly changed, but the same article information was presented in the two articles.

Now, if somebody types in one keyword and gets my useful, quality information that’s great, buy why should somebody who types in a different, but related keyword be excluded from seeing my helpful article?

In a way, and really pushing it, it’s a form of censorship.  An entire group of a specific keyword users is excluded from ever seeing my information.

Here’s an example…

• How to spot child abuse
• How to spot an abused child

Both will have nearly the same information, but really, should either of these be deleted?

So, my contention is, that by changing the keyword of an article I actually provide an entirely different group of readers the opportunity to read my quality content that would never have otherwise seen it.

The eHow article purge – Point #2

Apparently eHow readers aren’t allowed to use their mind, only their hands.

eHow has stated that any article that is not ‘actionable’ is going to be deleted.  I would like to know exactly what ‘actionable’ means.  Whereas making a casserole is certainly an obviously actionable activity I contend that deciphering and breaking down otherwise confusing topics is actionable as well.

Do we not learn in school step-by-step or are kindergarten kids being taught algebra today?  Learning HOW to do something is, in my opinion, actionable.

I wrote many articles on ‘HOW TO BUY’ so and so.  I contend that breaking down the relevant technology and describing it so that the potential consumer can make an EDUCATED purchase decision is a very actionable MENTAL activity.

Oh, and by the way, doesn’t their website byline read “How to do just about everything” or is it only physical activities??

Well, learning how to decipher and buy a PC Sound Card is something to do, and learn about, just look at all the confused faces at Best Buy and other electronics stores.

The eHow article purge – Point #3

Do as I say, not as I do

Now here’s the one that just kills me.  We are held to the utmost of standards in terms of content, originality and ‘actionability’, whereas the eHow editors are not.  I continually read sub-par, nearly useless crap written by so-called eHow editors that, if I were to publish it, would be deleted in a heartbeat!

Come on guys, at least hold everybody to the same level of quality otherwise the ‘Preserve the value of the eHow brand name” argument doesn’t hold water, not with me, and certainly not with the eHow community.

The ehow article purge – Point #4

We’ll just redirect that traffic to our content

Yep, not only are they deleting articles but they are redirecting the URLs to existing eHow editor traffic!  What the hell?!

Wow, I work hard promoting my article URLs then you delete the article and redirect the URL to a crap article!  I don’t know, that seems a bit dishonest to me, especially since some people claim that these articles have been around for months, if not years.  Some people even had a former eHow of the Day winner deleted.

The eHow article purge – My final thoughts

I’ve been reading in the eHow forums about people making the decision to jump ship and give up on eHow.  Personally I’m not going to do that.  I’d like to believe that this is only a passing phase and eventually they will realize that, although they will indeed get rid of the spammers and duplicate article publishers, honest people are getting screwed something fierce.

It really bothers me that simple working class folks just looking to make a few extra dollars to make ends meat are being treated this way.

A simple email, and a chance to correct the article is all I ask.  I really feel that most people will fix whatever offends eHow management.

How about putting a tab up top called ‘Flagged’ or something like that where the offending article can sit for a week or so, requiring a special read and approval from an eHow editor to get republished.  You can even put the reasons behind the flag somewhere in there.  That would make all of us a bit happier I think.

For the time being I will no longer publish anything on eHow until this mess is sorted out.  You know, for eHow, those articles just ‘appear’. For me it’s an hour or so each night after a hard days work. It really bothers me that it may, or may not, be deleted without warning at any time in the future.

Get consistent and show some consideration for your users!

We are, in the end, people, and I think we deserve that much at least.

Possibly Related Posts:

• A Quick Update – February 2010
• December Earnings Updated
• My One Year Anniversary!
• I’m Back!
• Online Earning Totals | May ’09