Personally I think that Google (and the other major search engines) are going to start banning – or more likely just not ranking – pages and sites filled with these articles.
You see, lots of people use automated tools to pull in dozens, or hundreds, of articles from one, or more, of these free sources. And they use the same types of sitebuilding software to build sites around the articles they’ve grabbed. This means that with popular niches you’re going to get the same bunch of articles on dozens of auto built sites or blogs.
Do you think the search engines like that? Of course not. Why would they (or a searcher) want to see the top few search engine results pages filled with almost identical sites?
Think about it. If you do a search, on say, fishing you wouldn’t want to find near identical sites clogging up the results.
I’ve read somewhere (and I don’t know if it’s true) that Google now have the ability to break pages down into 15 word blocks. The more of these 15 word blocks on your page match 15 word blocks on another page the higher the duplicate content filter. And the page indexed first is considered the original and ranked higher. I can’t remember where I read this, but the piece went on to say that the only reason this is not fully implemented yet is because of the massive processing power involved. You can place bets that this, or something like it, will happen one day soon though. Google’s not exactly short of processing power.
Actually, I’ve just done a search – and this piece, written about the 2006 Search Engine Strategies Conference in New York, says pretty much the same thing:
"When indexing, web pages are broken into word sets (shingles). Rearranging those shingles into a different order doesn’t add any benefit. Search engine still considers that all the shingle is there."
As you probably know, duplicate content is a contentious issue. I’ve talked with quite a few people about this some people agree with me, others think there’s nothing to be concerned about and are happily filling their sites with articles from the big article directories.
Personally I’ve already stopped using this kind of article. It just makes sense.
To me, this all points to sites filled with the same articles eventually, or already, getting ranked much lower. So I’ve already stopped using them. It just makes sense.
One other thing to think about is that the major search engines are also refining their grammar filters in an attempt to stem the flood of content produced with automatic, or semi automatic, article rewriting software.
Again, it all comes down to them (and us as users) wanting good quality, helpful content when we do a search.
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Because of the duplicate content issue, you’re MUCH better off using PLR content than articles from one of the free article directories.
But when you buy articles from a PLR membership site don’t you run exactly the same duplicate content risk?
Well in theory, yes.
Say a PLR site sells 200 memberships, and give their members 50 articles on golf, you’d think that a few months later there would be 200 sites using that content.
But in practice it doesn’t work that way. People (even people who pay for content) are lazy. They might intend using the articles but only a few of them ever get around to doing it.
Here’s proof:
Cats.
Example 1a – phrase taken from an Espired PLR article on cats from early March:
"These worms can and usually are transmitted through the mother’s milk or while the kittens are still inside the mother’s womb"
Results in Google: Zero.
Example 1b – phrase taken from a free article offered on goArticles since early March.
"You would not suspect this is a sign of cat disease. Unfortunately, this may the symptom of a variety of sicknesses : diabetes, liver problem, or uterus infection."
Results in Google: 15
That’s not too bad actually. If I was trying to hype this up I’d have to wipe that example out and find one where the free article had been used a lot more 
Anyhow, let’s look at some older articles.
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Dogs.
Example 2a – phrase taken from an Espired PLR article on dog training, available since Nov 2005:
"A quality dog trainer can help instruct the dog while also providing the owner with invaluable guidance and assistance"
Results in Google: 8
Example 2b – phrase taken from a free article offered on ArticleCity since Nov 2005.
"For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs"
Results in Google: 213
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Honeymoons.
Example 3a – phrase taken from an Espired PLR article on honeymoons from Sept 2005:
"What better way to begin the rest of your life than with a memorable honeymoon vacation"
Results in Google: 16
Example 3b – phrase taken from a free article offered on ArticleCity since early Oct 2005.
"Taking a Mediterranean cruise is the dream of many people, especially for their honeymoon"
Results in Google: 77
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Aquariums
Example 4a – phrase taken from a Content Attack PLR article on aquarium plants from Oct 2005:
"When decorating an aquarium that is going to have smaller fish in it such as tetras and guppy’s plants are essential"
Results in Google: 25
Example 4b – phrase taken from a free article offered on EzineArticles since Oct 2005.
"Aquarium plants add more life to aquarium and make it to look beautiful while completing the aquarium community structure"
Results in Google: 111
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Ok, that’ll do. I’m sure you get the point that you’re much better off using PLR material than stuff made freely available.If you’re one of the masses of people who build sites using content from the free articles directories, you should start getting worried about the duplicate content issue.
There is, of course, something better than using PLR articles. I think you can guess what that might be.
My favorite/recommended PLR sites:
Articles: the new and high quality PLR Pro - Espired
Ebooks (complete packages) : Ebook Niches - Content Goldmine – Niche Content Packages – Niche Health Products
Note: if you want to know more about ways to use PLR content then I highly recommend you read "Unlock the Secrets of Private Label Ebooks" by Martin Avis. It’s very good.
phil
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