Google penalizes sites for having duplicate content? - Page 2

mrandrei · #16 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 01:56 AM

Many SEO experts say the duplicate content is just a myth. And I kinda believe them. I've seen sites with duplicate contents but they rank well in Google. How come!?

lisa · #17 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 01:41 PM

I think the word people get caught up on is "penalty". It actually does say on Google's site that there is no penalty for duplicate content. (Someone pointed that out to me some months ago). But that doesn't mean Google won't ignore some of the duplicate sites. Also I think it takes other things into consideration such as popularity, PageRank, etc. In other words, if a popular site has a page with some duplicate content, then Google may not ignore the page. But if a newer site with no inbound links, PR, etc. launches a site with duplicate content, it may get ignored but not necessarily penalized (banned). There's a difference between applying a penalty and ignoring a site.

The thing we have to remember is SEO with Google is not black or white. In other words, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. Older, more established sites can get away with a lot more than newer sites with no inbound links, PageRank, etc.

Nevertheless, I try to keep all my content original.

TechieGuy · #18 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 06:00 PM

What I think is interesting is how much talk there is now about duplicate content. It seems every forum I participate in has a similar thread started.

I think Google finally decided to dispel the myths about duplicate content, hoping to alleviate all fears about publishing an article once in a while on your site.

Still, I prefer to write original content. Even if I submit a an article to multiple article submission sites, I always rewrite the article before I submit it. The topic of the article is the same, but the content is different.

Ileane · #19 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 05:36 AM

I'm getting confused about what is meant by "duplicate content".

Scenario #1. I write a post, then I add it to Digg, Reddit, Sphinn, StumbleUpon, etc. then I send a tweet to my followers is that what is called "duplicate content"?

Scenario#2. I add a post to my WordPress blog then I put that same post on my Blogger blog. That sounds more like duplicate content to me.

Scenario#3. Someone takes my post and adds it to their blog or website (it's happened to me already and I don't know how to stop it) without giving me credit.

I think some of the responses here are addressing different scenarios...(hope I'm not making things worse). Let me know which one of these will get "ignored" by Google. Thanks for bearing with me on this. I think it is a pretty important topic for everyone.

TechieGuy · #20 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 07:27 PM

Scenario #2 and #3 are what is being referred to as duplicate content. Social networks usually only add a small snippet of text, or a review by a user, rather than the full content of the web page.

Google is smart enough to know which content is the original content, and which is the duplicate, so as long as the content originates on your blog, then you have nothing to worry about. Unless, of course, you experience scenario #3, then you may want to take some action against the other site.

Ileane · #21 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 04:45 AM

Thanks TechieGuy. I got it now!

master-displays · #22 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 03:23 PM

Here's my take on "duplicate content"...
Google will ignore it if it thinks it is unintentional, and will penalize it if it thinks it is spam.
So best case is it is ignored.
Worst case is it is penalized.
Moral - Just don't do it (don't copy other people's stuff).
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Dynamike · #23 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:38 AM

If a website is penalized for having the same words multiple times on one page, will it be permanent? Or is there a way it can be unpenalized with an explanation?

Earnest · #24 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynamike

If a website is penalized for having the same words multiple times on one page, will it be permanent? Or is there a way it can be unpenalized with an explanation?

That will be keyword stuffing, not duplicate content. I'm not sure how severe a punishment it entails (haven't tested it), but there won't be any benefit for sure.

Apart from that - there is no duplicate content penalty (across sites, as opposed to duplicates within a single site).

Dynamike · #25 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:12 AM

Thanks, Earnest. To be sure, I will be more specific. On one of my website pages I have something similar to the following:

"You will get 10% off our services if you can spot how many words are spelled wrong below:
auto-man-oven-dlg-big car-cool car-bluu car-cute auto-gerr auto-fast car-speedy auto-city auto-your car"

Earnest, I threw in words above I do not use on my website page. But it has the key words repeated a lot. So is that called "keyword stuffing"?

Earnest · #26 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 04:00 AM

Actually I seriously doubt you should have any problems this way. Keyword stuffing is inherently deceptive and most commonly is included in the form of hidden text. Stuffed keywords are generally irrelevent to the page they appear on. What you are describing is not anything large-scale or deceptive. Have a look here:
http://www.google.com/support/webmas...n&answer=66358

Dynamike · #27 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:07 AM

That was nice of you, buddy. I appreciate you offereing me your time.

Earnest · #28 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:16 AM

No problem whatsoever. I hope that helps a little

surprisesaver · #29 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 01:21 AM

Google recognizes that most duplicate content is not created to be deceptive. There are of course exceptions, which are considered spam. They're being penalized for being spam but not for having duplicate content.

YARDEE · #30 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 02:55 AM

There is no such thing as a duplicate content "penalty". There is a duplicate content filter that reduces the possibility of the same content being duplicated in the SERP.

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