Google SEO Tip: Avoid Duplicate Content by All Means
Google rankings of many Web sites suffer greatly because of a phenomenon called “duplicate content.” Our recent client, cryoserver.com was penalized (red-flagged) for this particular reason prior to signing up with us. The site was ranked on page 13 of Google SERP’s for one of their main keywords.
Duplicate content refers to “substantive blocks of content” that match or are similar to “content within or across domains”, according to Google webmaster central. Google simply reduces the ranking of both pages/Web sites if it notices similar content being posted.
Here are some examples of duplicate content and tips on how to resolve them:
Mirrored Sites
Having mirrored sites refers to the same Web site being hosted on two or more different domains. This was basically what cryoserver.com had done. They had their site hosted on cryoserver.com as well as forensiccs.com.
Use a domain-level redirect from one domain to the other to resolve the mirrored sites issue. Also, use 301 redirects for any linked-to Web pages within the redirected domain.
We asked cryoserver.com to redirect the mirrored domain to the main one. After only one week, Google removed the red-flag and now their site ranks on the 3rd page (still some SEO work is needed to get them to the first page).
The same for-sale items on e-commerce Web sites
This is very common when it comes to e-commerce sites. Many URL’s are dynamically created and linked to from the home-page or other pages. Or simply, one product is placed within different categories. To resolve this issue, you should avoid dynamically building your pages and use different description even for the same products if they’re placed on different categories (having different url’s).
Copied text to be placed on competitors Web sites
If someone copies your text and place it on their site, your site could be penalized (flagged) by Google spiders for having duplicate content. This doesn’t happen too often, but when it does, it reduces your site’s rank on Google dramatically. To resolve this issue, you should contact the site that copied your text and ask them (by using all means) to remove the stolen text from their site. If they don’t comply, you should just rewrite your own content (painful, but it’s easier and less expensive than hacking the other site and removing your text).
Print-only versions of Web pages
Avoid print-versions if at all possible. If you cannot, use a “no-follow” tag wherever you link to a print-version copy of your Web pages.
Web pages that generate a mobile-friendly version
Similar to above, use “no-follow” tags so Google spiders don’t follow the link.
If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We will respond to all questions in a timely manner.
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Hi Ali,
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Again, thank you very much. God Bless…
Islamiah
I get astonished every time a get mail from you guys, i am glad that i am in your list. you guys sent such a valuable information. very helpful for someone who is learning seo/sem thanks a ton. you guys rock, i am waiting for your next mail.
Thank you for writing that very bermafaat
For the print only, does this apply to system generated, dynamic print only pages? Or only on those print friendly pages that are created as their own unique pages?
Thanks for these tips… most helpful!
@Stephen Foley
Good to see you here. Give me an example of such “system generated, dynamic print only pages” (what a mouth-full).
my site is still not googlelized http://www.ngnmedia.com
Great post! What do you recommend for multiple language sites with the same content?
@Nicole
Very good question. I read somewhere that Matt Cutts had suggested to use language specific domains for the sites that have similar/same content in different languages. For example, if the main site is in English with a .com domain (www.example.com), the German version should be hosted on the same domain with a German extention i.e. http://www.example.de instead of sub domains such as de.example.com or directories such as http://www.example.com/de/.
fantastic
This site is extremely informative and has proved to be handy. Full of information and productive articles.
Regards,
Bradley Holton.
thanks Bradley; we do our best.
plz try to make my sites in the first page in googe
http://www.suitesjardinimperial.com.gt
http://www.mansiondelrio.com.gt
http://www.larivieradeatitlan.com
Support you, refueling
Good to see you here. Give me an example of such
You need to sign up for our Top of Google guarantee from any page on our site.
hi guys
my archeived pages in google is going up and down for some reason ???
would you plz tell me y although am not doing anything
best regards
Your answer is posted:
http://www.mastergoogle.com/blog/google-seo-tip-avoid-duplicate-content-by-all-means.php
Dear Ali,
Interesting article. You have a very informative site on SEO.
Is there a way to know that Google has penalized a site for a particular part of the site (like duplicate content, for example)
Best wishes,
I’ve never encountered a site that a particular page was flagged; rather I’ve seen either the homepage being flagged or the entire site.