When Someone Links to Your Blog Without Permission

Posted on by Ilze

— UPDATE: I’m talking about the blogs that make 50 posts a day, and all of them are from other bloggers. —

Feeling down.

The other day, I noticed someone had taken one of my blog post titles and featured image and made a post on their own blog. At first, it looked like my work had been copied, but when I clicked on it, I saw that the post redirected to my own website.

In other words, the person hadn’t stolen the full post. They had created a kind of “teaser” on their site — just the title and featured image — and linked it to mine.

At first glance, this may not sound so bad, but here’s why it felt wrong:

  • They never asked for permission.
  • Their site looks suspicious and seems designed just to get clicks.
  • There’s no way to comment on their post or contact them directly.

I contacted WordPress support, and they explained that my content isn’t actually hosted on that site — it’s just a link pointing to my blog.

The whole situation feels shady. It’s an easy, cheap way for someone to try to draw visitors to their own site without putting in the work of writing or creating something original.

⚠️ Just to be clear: I am not talking about my fellow bloggers like Thistles and Kiwi, who sometimes share links to my blog in their own posts — for example, this one where she kindly wrote “And Ilze also writes about blogging.” That’s part of the blogging community spirit, and I’m always happy when trusted sites and writers share links in this way.

What happened here is different — this was a random, suspicious site in Nigeria with no personal connection, no context, and no way to engage with the author.

I’ve asked WordPress to look into the site and remove the post, since it uses my featured image with my kids!

This experience has been a lesson that the internet has its fair share of people trying to piggyback on the effort of others. But I also know that my real readers — you — come here for the authentic stories, recipes, and moments I share. And that’s what matters most.

No resolution so far…

Ilze

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37 thoughts on “When Someone Links to Your Blog Without Permission”

    1. Thank you so much, Julian. Your kindness means more than you know. Yes — it was upsetting to see someone use part of my work without permission, even if they only used a teaser link. Hearing that you enjoy the gentleness of my voice reminds me why I keep writing. 💛

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  2. Ilze – I am feeling a bit bad at the moment. As, due to circumstances I do not post my own blog, I regularly repost blogs I find interesting to private groups of blog friends in a few languages. Like ‘Thistles and Kiwi’ (where I probably noticed you first?!). I know I reposted one of yours, told you about it, asking for your email address so I could ‘show and tell’ how I do it – always the whole blog with name and address with the sender’s name at the end. Have done this for 15 years – in some way to provide interesting reading for my friends, partly because you (or any other blogger) might find new and interesting friends. You did not send me your email, so I could not send you a copy – sorry if you are upset with me also, but I have never in 15 years had a problem . . . 🙂 !

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  4. I’ve encountered it, too, before, but I let it slide. That’s why I didn’t post “so focus” pictures of my family because they can or might steal them. I always take pictures of my family on their back, side, or stolenly take, not face me. It feels better and safer. Besides, my perspective is this: it’s not social media. It’s WordPress.

    Hugs to you, Ilze. I understand you.

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    1. Hazel, thank you for sharing your approach. I love how you’ve found a way to still capture your family’s life without exposing identity or risking misuse. That’s wise and beautiful. I’m learning from others too as I figure out safer ways to share.

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    1. Thank you, Mimi! 💛 It truly was an awful experience, but I felt I needed to write about it — both to let it out and to warn others. I’m grateful for your kind words and for being part of this caring blogging community.

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  6. It seems to me that WordPress should be willing to resolve this issue, but I doubt they will. I have problems with a lot of “fake” followers from various countries that don’t speak English and have no blog of their own. Removing them is time-consuming, but WordPress offered no help. I’ve been blogging for almost eleven years, and this problem has just come up in the past 18 months or so.

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  7. I hope you get it resolved. It does sound very suspicious and reminds me of all those letters I used to get in my email from supposed people in Africa I never knew about wanting to leave me their millions. Luckily those stopped coming, and I always blocked and reported them.

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    1. You’re not alone. It is frustrating. Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m hoping together, by talking about this, we raise awareness and maybe reduce such behavior.

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  9. I’ve also had this happen, Ilze. I prefer to be asked in advance, but overall, I don’t mind. Perhaps, my post will gain a few more viewers this way.

    It is lazy for bloggers to simply repost everyone else’s work. I also don’t think much of bloggers who never change the generic mastheads, who do not personalize their blogs. I don’t understand the value of their blog.

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  10. Oh not good – I have had that too – one person was continually reblogging my posts for a while but they seem to have dropped off – for now!! I’m so glad it is OK for me to link to you – hope it brings some traffic but I like to read other bloggers who make me smile and bring joy to the world like you do.

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    1. Thank you, truly. You are one of the kindred spirits I refer to when I say “blogging community.” When you link me, it feels like a handshake, not a grab. I’m honored that you include me in your space.

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    1. Yes — that’s exactly how I feel. Genuine reblogs feel like conversation; spam feels like theft. Thank you for your voice and for doing what you do to cut through the noise.

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  13. Wow I would be upset too. I only link back to the shop I purchased something to share where I got it. I hope WordPress pulls it down for you. You might want to create a copyright stamp kind of thing to put over your pictures online so it’s clear to others that they do not have any rights to it. Why so people do these kinds of things. :/

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  15. Pingback: For Every Creator Whose Work Has Been Stolen — I’m Sorry – a day in the life of a latvian mom

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