“Analyzing the Future of Autoblogging: Enhancing Content with AI and Monetization Strategies

by jsendak | Nov 7, 2023 | Cosmology & Computing

In our previous articles, we explored no-source autoblogging methods and automatic comment creation for WordPress posts. Today, we explore classic autoblogging by importing content from external sources using CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins.

If you thought classic autoblogging was a thing of the past and that websites distributing content imported from public sources like RSS feeds were a waste of time due to poor search engine indexing, think again. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Stick with us through this article, and you’ll definitely change your perspective.

Not all autobloggers realize the full potential of artificial intelligence models like Generative Pre-training Transformers, such as OpenAI GPT. Many use them as mere content spinners, rewriting imported content verbatim. Not only is this approach essentially plagiarism, but it’s also highly ineffective since it doesn’t add any value from the perspective of search engines or readers.

CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins are equipped with a wide range of tools that take classic autoblogging to a new level, turning it into a source of unique content with real added value, both in terms of search engine rankings and for regular readers.

This autoblogging method can be divided into two fundamental strategies: enhancing original imported articles with valuable supplementary content (critical analysis, factual insights, recommendations, skepticism, etc.) and creating entirely new unique content based on analysis of information from external sources. To get acquainted with both methods, we recommend watching this video tutorial:

Enhance imported articles with unique, complementary content

The first method involves generating unique content that complements the original article. This text can be placed before the article as a brief informational summary or as an introduction. It can also be placed after the article as an editorial comment, a personal opinion, a review, an analytical note, a list of recommendations, and more. Of course, these variations can be combined.

In this way, you’re not just republishing imported articles on your site; you’re creating new unique content based on them, which adds value for your readers. Here are some example shortcode templates for OpenAI GPT to inspire you to create your own.

Place the generated content before the imported article

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Generate an introduction that encapsulates the core themes of the following article, providing readers with a compelling overview. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]
%post_content%

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Create a brief abstract summarizing the key points of the subsequent text, highlighting the main arguments and conclusions. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]
%post_content%

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Write a thematic preface that introduces the central topic of the article below, weaving in relevant historical and contemporary references. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]
%post_content%

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Construct an informational box with bullet points that distills the essence of the content to follow, designed for quick reader comprehension. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]
%post_content%

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Develop an analytical lead-in that critically engages with the main topics to be discussed in the article, preparing the reader for in-depth exploration. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]
%post_content%

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Compose a forward-looking overview that sets the stage for the article's subject matter, speculating on its implications and future direction. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]
%post_content%

Place the generated content after the imported article

%post_content%
[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Analyze the key points of the text below and write a comprehensive follow-up discussing the long-term implications and possible future developments. Provide actionable advice based on these insights. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

%post_content%
[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Reflect on the main themes of the following article and develop a set of recommendations that could benefit the industry or field in question. Focus on innovation and strategic foresight. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

%post_content%
[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Based on the material presented, forecast the future trends in the subject area. Suggest strategies that businesses or individuals could adopt to stay ahead. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

%post_content%
[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Act as an expert commentator on the subsequent content, adding depth to the discussion with your own analysis and expert insights into what could come next. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

%post_content%
[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Examine the conclusions of the following text and outline a future roadmap for readers, indicating potential challenges and opportunities on the horizon. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

%post_content%
[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="3000" temperature="1" prompt="Provide a critical examination of the subsequent article's viewpoints. Discuss how current trends might evolve and impact the core subjects mentioned. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

Remember to also include a link to the source to credit the original author.

<a href="%link%" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read the original article</a>

Create original content by analyzing external information sources

The second method involves generating completely new and entirely unique content by analyzing information from external sources. This method doesn’t involve importing original articles into your WordPress posts. Instead, it relies on analyzing information gathered from other sources, such as news articles, technical product descriptions, and more.

In this case, it’s advisable to use prompts that clearly convey to your chosen GPT model that you’re interested in creating a new unique article based on your scenario. Here are some example prompt templates for this approach.

Place the generated content instead of the imported article

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Construct an original article that explores the underlying themes and concepts of the provided material in a new light, proposing innovative solutions and ideas. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Write an extensive analysis on the implications of the ideas presented, drawing connections to current events and emerging trends without directly referencing the text. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Develop a forward-thinking piece on how the themes identified can be applied innovatively in a different industry or context, predicting future implications. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Create a scenario-based article that uses the central concepts as a springboard to discuss future possibilities and hypothetical situations. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Produce a personal narrative that takes the core ideas and interprets them through your own experiences or envisioned narratives, adding unique insight. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Formulate a socio-economic perspective on how the subjects discussed could potentially reshape societal norms or economic models, without citing the text. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="8000" temperature="1" prompt="Analyze the key points of the following text and write a comprehensive article on the potential future trends related to these themes, including your own unique predictions and recommendations for the industry. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

We use the %post_content_notags% shortcode in the templates above instead of %post_content% to remove the HTML tags from the article we sent to OpenAI GPT. This allows us to reduce its length and reduce the number of processing tokens.

When crafting a new, unique article, it’s important to also provide a content-matching image. You can find the details of this process in this article.

Since we’re generating a new article, we’ll require a new WordPress post excerpt for it, as the original article’s excerpt is not only non-unique but also has different content. Consequently, you can either request OpenAI GPT to create an excerpt based on the newly generated article or simply use, for instance, the first 50 words of it to save on an additional API request.

%post_content_notags[50]%

Remember that by generating content based on text analysis, you create a new, unique article that will significantly differ from the original, requiring a new post title. To do this, provide the text of the generated article to OpenAI GPT and request it to conceive a title for it.

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo" max_tokens="20" temperature="0.5" prompt="Create a short title for the following article: %post_content_notags%"]

Multilingual strategy

If you want the article to be created in a language different from the original source being analyzed, all your prompts (for both the article and its title) should be written in the language you want the output to be in.

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo" max_tokens="20" temperature="0.5" prompt="Crea un título corto para el siguiente artículo: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="5000" temperature="0.8" prompt="Desarrollar un artículo de prospectiva sobre cómo los temas identificados pueden aplicarse de forma innovadora en un sector o contexto diferente, prediciendo implicaciones futuras. El artículo debe formatearse como un bloque de contenido HTML independiente, adecuado para incrustar en una entrada de WordPress. Utiliza solo las siguientes etiquetas HTML: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Excluye todas las demás etiquetas HTML, incluidas las de estructura de página. %post_content_notags%"]

Fine tuning

Unlike other autoblogging plugins, CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever allow you to finely adjust not only the prompts in the shortcodes placed within a single post template but also their parameters, such as the maximum number of generated tokens, the creative freedom of the GPT model (temperature) and the GPT model itself (gpt-3.5-turbo-16k, gpt-3.5-turbo-instruct, gpt-4 etc). This level of customization ensures that the content generated meets your specific needs and intentions accurately.

You can use an unlimited number of prompts within a single CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever post template. For example, one prompt can be used for writing the general part, another for the pros and cons section, a third for the recommendations section, and so on. By tweaking the parameters, you have control over the length and inventiveness of each content section, giving you the power to shape your article precisely as envisioned.

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="2000" temperature="0.5" prompt="Generate an introduction that encapsulates the core themes of the following article, providing readers with a compelling overview: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="7000" temperature="1" prompt="Construct an original article that explores the underlying themes and concepts of the provided material in a new light, proposing innovative solutions and ideas. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post. Use only the following HTML tags: <p>, <h2>, <h3>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <strong>, <blockquote>. Exclude all other HTML tags, including those for page structure: %post_content_notags%"]

[openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k" max_tokens="2000" temperature="0.6" prompt="Act as an expert commentator on the subsequent content, adding depth to the discussion with your own analysis and expert insights into what could come next: %post_content_notags%"]

How to make money with an autoblog?

Analyze the key points of the text below and write a comprehensive follow-up discussing the long-term implications and possible future developments. Provide actionable advice based on these insights. The article should be formatted as a standalone HTML content block, suitable for embedding in a WordPress post.

Analyzing the Future of Autoblogging

In this article, we explore the potential of classic autoblogging and discuss how it can be used to generate unique content with real added value. While many autobloggers rely on content spinning techniques that offer little value to search engines or readers, the CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins offer advanced tools to elevate the autoblogging process.

The first strategy in classic autoblogging involves enhancing imported articles with unique, complementary content. This can be achieved by generating content that either precedes or follows the original article. By providing additional analysis, insights, recommendations, or opinions, autobloggers can create new, valuable content for their readers.

The second strategy is to create entirely new and unique content by analyzing external information sources. Instead of importing original articles, autobloggers can analyze data from news articles, technical product descriptions, and more. By using prompts tailored to this approach, autobloggers can generate fresh content that offers a new perspective on a given topic.

It’s important to remember that when generating new content, it should significantly differ from the original article. This includes providing a new post title and a content-matching image. CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever allow users to fine-tune their prompts and customize various parameters such as the maximum number of generated tokens, GPT model choices, and creative freedom.

Looking towards the future, autoblogging holds immense potential. By utilizing AI models like OpenAI GPT, autobloggers can create engaging and valuable content that keeps readers informed and interested. However, it’s crucial to consider ethical practices when using AI-generated content and to ensure proper attribution to the original sources.

As autoblogging continues to evolve, it opens up new opportunities for monetization. By providing unique, high-quality content, autobloggers can attract more traffic to their websites, increase their search engine rankings, and ultimately generate revenue through advertising, sponsored content, or affiliate partnerships.

Going forward, autobloggers should focus on staying updated with the latest advancements in AI technologies and balancing automation with manual curation. By combining the power of AI-generated content with human expertise and editing, autobloggers can create a seamless user experience and build a loyal readership.

In conclusion, classic autoblogging has reinvented itself with the help of AI models like OpenAI GPT. By enhancing original imported articles and generating new, unique content, autobloggers can provide valuable information to their readers while improving search engine rankings. With careful fine-tuning and ethical practices, autoblogging can be a profitable venture in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Read the original article: Link

Actionable Advice:

• Experiment with CyberSEO Pro and RSS Retriever plugins to enhance your autoblogging strategy.
• Create unique and valuable content by adding critical analysis, insights, recommendations, or opinions to imported articles.
• Utilize prompts tailored to the second method of autoblogging to generate entirely new content from external sources.
• Ensure the generated content significantly differs from the original article by providing new titles and matching images.
• Customize prompts and parameters to fine-tune the generated content and meet specific needs and intentions.
• Stay updated with AI advancements and balance automation with manual curation for a seamless user experience.
• Focus on ethical practices by providing proper attribution to original sources and ensuring content quality and accuracy.
• Explore monetization opportunities through advertising, sponsored content, or affiliate partnerships.

By implementing these insights and recommendations, autobloggers can enhance their content strategy, improve their website’s performance, and drive long-term success in the autoblogging industry.

Maximizing CyberSEO Pro: Avoiding 503 Errors and Enhancing Amazon Product Listings

by jsendak | Nov 3, 2023 | Cosmology & Computing

CyberSEO Pro revolutionizes the way website owners present Amazon products on WordPress sites, integrating the dynamic capabilities of OpenAI GPT to create unique and engaging content. The plugin not only simplifies the process of importing product listings, but goes a step further by enriching standard product descriptions into compelling narratives, harnessing the power of AI, as detailed in our guide “Setting Up a Fully Automated AI-Powered Amazon Affiliate Site in 3 Minutes“. Despite its sophistication, users may sometimes encounter 503 Service Unavailable errors due to frequent automated requests to Amazon’s servers. It’s important to understand why these blocks occur and how to optimize CyberSEO Pro settings to avoid them.

Why am I seeing 503 errors?

The 503 Service Unavailable error in the CyberSEO Pro’s Syndicator Log is not an issue with the CyberSEO Pro plugin itself but a response from Amazon’s servers. When you import products using a search results URL like https://www.amazon.com/s?k=iphone, the plugin sends a request to Amazon’s servers to retrieve product information.

Amazon, keen to protect its resources, sees these frequent, automated requests as potential threats, similar to a DDoS attack. To safeguard its performance, Amazon’s algorithm may temporarily block the IP address from which the requests are coming, resulting in the 503 error.

This block is not permanent, however. If you encounter such a block, it’s generally recommended to pause your requests and try again after a few hours. While the exact duration of these blocks can vary and is not publicly disclosed by Amazon, they are typically lifted within 24 hours, allowing you to resume your activities without lasting repercussions.

Optimizing plugin settings

To minimize the risk of IP blocking by Amazon and ensure proper functioning of CyberSEO Pro, adhere to the following instructions:

• Set the “Maximum number of posts” to 1 to lower the product request volume. This approach eases the demand on Amazon’s servers and maintains your server’s stability, keeping in line with Amazon’s usage policies.
• Extend the interval of “Check this feed for updates every […] minutes” to reduce the frequency of your requests. A longer duration between checks helps avoid raising red flags with Amazon for excessive requests. Increase this value to space out the requests more effectively over time.

Using proxy lists: a viable workaround

Even with optimal settings, you may still encounter limitations due to the sheer number of requests needed for your site. This is where using proxy lists can be a lifesaver. CyberSEO Pro’s ability to use proxy lists allows it to route requests through different IP addresses. Here’s why this is beneficial:

• By not coming from a single IP address, it’s less likely that Amazon will flag your requests as suspicious.
• If one proxy IP is blocked, others can be used to maintain uninterrupted service.
• Proxies can provide an additional layer of anonymity for your server’s requests.

While 503 errors can be annoying, they’re not insurmountable. By understanding the cause and adjusting your CyberSEO Pro plugin settings, you can continue to enjoy the benefits of displaying Amazon products on your site. Remember to use these tools responsibly and in accordance with Amazon’s Terms of Service to create a sustainable and profitable website.

CyberSEO Pro: Enhancing WordPress Sites with AI-Powered Amazon Product Listings

CyberSEO Pro is a revolutionary plugin designed to enhance the presentation of Amazon products on WordPress websites. By integrating the dynamic capabilities of OpenAI GPT, the plugin transforms standard product descriptions into captivating narratives. This unique approach creates engaging content that attracts and retains visitors.

The plugin simplifies the process of importing product listings, allowing website owners to easily add Amazon products to their sites. However, due to the frequent automated requests to Amazon’s servers, users may encounter 503 Service Unavailable errors.

Understanding the Cause of 503 Errors

The 503 errors experienced in the CyberSEO Pro’s Syndicator Log are not a result of any flaw in the plugin itself. Instead, they are responses from Amazon’s servers. When importing products from a search results URL, such as “https://www.amazon.com/s?k=iphone,” the plugin sends a request to Amazon’s servers to retrieve product information.

Amazon, being cautious about protecting its resources, views these frequent automated requests as potential threats, similar to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. To safeguard performance, Amazon’s algorithm may temporarily block the IP address from which the requests are originating, resulting in a 503 error.

Fortunately, these blocks are not permanent. If you encounter such a block, it is recommended to pause the requests and try again after a few hours. Typically, these blocks are lifted within 24 hours, allowing you to resume your activities without lasting repercussions.

Optimizing CyberSEO Pro Settings

To minimize the risk of IP blocking by Amazon and ensure smooth functioning of CyberSEO Pro, you can make specific adjustments to the plugin’s settings:

1. Set the “Maximum number of posts” to 1: By reducing the product request volume, you ease the demand on Amazon’s servers and maintain your server’s stability. This approach aligns with Amazon’s usage policies.
2. Extend the interval of “Check this feed for updates every […] minutes”: Increasing the duration between checks reduces the frequency of requests. This helps avoid raising red flags with Amazon for excessive requests and allows for more effective spacing out of requests over time.

Using Proxy Lists as a Viable Workaround

If you still encounter limitations due to a large number of requests, utilizing proxy lists can be a viable solution. CyberSEO Pro enables the use of proxy lists, which route requests through different IP addresses. Here’s why this is beneficial:

• The use of multiple IP addresses reduces the likelihood of Amazon flagging your requests as suspicious.
• If one proxy IP is blocked, others can be utilized to maintain uninterrupted service.
• Proxies provide an additional layer of anonymity for your server’s requests.

Although 503 errors may be frustrating, they are not insurmountable. By understanding the cause and adjusting your CyberSEO Pro plugin settings accordingly, you can continue to enjoy the benefits of displaying Amazon products on your site. Remember to use these tools responsibly and in compliance with Amazon’s Terms of Service to create a sustainable and profitable website.

Actionable Advice: Implement the recommended optimizations to minimize the risk of IP blocking by Amazon. Consider using proxy lists if you encounter limitations due to a large number of requests. These steps will ensure the smooth functioning of CyberSEO Pro and allow you to leverage its capabilities effectively.

Spock, Shellsuits and Our Collection: Documenting Gordon the Gopher’s Wardrobe

by jsendak | Nov 2, 2023 | Cosmology & Computing

As part of the Sound and Vision project, all the objects from the Experience TV Gallery at the National Science and Media Museum have been moved into our stores, including one of the original Gordon the Gopher puppets. This has given our Documentation team the opportunity to reunite Gordon with original costumes and props that form an often unseen part of our collection. This blog post will share some highlights from Gordon’s wardrobe and reveal how we catalogue museum collections to make sure they can be enjoyed even when the museum itself is closed.

Gordon the Gopher is a puppet gopher that first appeared on children’s TV in the late 1980s. He played a starring role on CBBC programmes ‘The Broom Cupboard’ and ‘Going Live!’ with Paul Smith as his puppeteer.

Throughout his career he wore a wide variety of outfits, often with his personal ‘GTG’ logo. Viewers were inspired to send in handmade clothing for Gordon and his girlfriend to wear on screen, and we have plenty of these outfits in our museum collection.

Highlights of this collection are costumes from other media entities that were popular in the 1980s. This includes a Spock costume from the TV show Star Trek, complete with latex ears and phaser, and a Mr Blobby outfit with matching boots.

Outfits were sent from across the world, with one jacket labelled ‘Made in Holland’, and including an array of sports gear, from brightly coloured shellsuits to football kits and ski goggles. Perhaps the most well-known item of clothing is a leather jacket that was gifted to Gordon by the singer Adam Ant.

As part of the Sound and Vision project, we have been able to catalogue our collection of costume and props that we have acquired from the BFI. Each item of clothing has been given its own unique number, barcode, photograph and description within our collections management system. These records can now feed into our Science Museum Group Collection website, which means that anyone can explore Gordon’s wardrobe for themselves. We have also packed every object in the collection for storage with support from our Conservation team, using archival grade materials to ensure that Gordon’s fabulous outfits are preserved for future generations.

You can learn more about Gordon the Gopher and about the History of Children’s TV on our Objects and Stories page, or find out more about the Sound and Vision project and our work behind the scenes on the blog.