Finding Original Content For Your Website

Content Is King, But Where Do You Find It?

Talk to anyone in the internet marketing business, and they will tell you that today, more than ever, the best search engine optimization you can perform on your website is to add great, unique content. OK, but assuming you have other things to do, and you aren’t about to become a content developer, where do you find this content? One of the best resources anywhere, and absolutely free to use, is the public domain.

Accessing The Public Domain Is Easier Than You Think

You don’t have to be a lawyer to access the public domain. You just have to do some basic research. One of the best places to begin is with a book called The Public Domain: How to Find & Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More, by Attorney Stephen Fishman, published by Nolo. The Public Domain contains a wealth of information about what kinds of material are available, and provides worksheets to help you figure out if a particular work is in the public domain.

The 1923 Rule

How much is available in the public domain? Try this -- everything published in the U.S. prior to 1923 is now in the public domain. Everything. That's a heck of a lot of material on a lot of different topics. And even better -- it is estimated (by the Copyright Office itself) that at least 85% of works published between 1923 and 1963 are now in the public domain. A staggering amount of original, creative work in now in the public domain, meaning that anyone can now use that material, on their website or otherwise, absolutely free, and without obtaining permission from anyone.

How You Can Use Copyright-Free Material On Your Website

The search engines love fresh, original content. No matter what your website is about, here are a few ideas of how you can use public domain material on your website:

- All websites can freely use artwork now in the public domain
- Many sites can adapt government-published works (the vast majority of government publications are copyright-free)
- Sites relevant to the food industry can use copyright-free recipes
- Sites about antiques can use early reference works or dealer catalogs
- Sites relating to animals can choose from books or articles on all kinds of animals
- Travel sites can use maps, many of which are public domain
- Photography sites can choose from the millions of photographs now in the public domain

The list can go on and on, limited only by your creativity. Also be sure to check out the website for the Creative Commons, which is a non-profit group working to foster greater expansion of the public domain. Much brand-new material can be used from the Creative Commons, which allows authors to immediately make their work freely available for public use.

With so much original, compelling content available, there is no excuse for a website that is short on great content! Be sure to post on the blog if you have an idea for where to find original content.


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online promotion, search engine optimization, website promotion, small business, public domain, content development