Home > Duplicate content
Duplicate content
Duplicate content occurs when substantial blocks of text are reused verbatim across multiple pages on a site or even different sites.
Search engines aim to filter out near-duplicate pages to avoid splitting value like links, social shares and time on page between copies. Issues arise when lengthy passages are copied rather than appropriately summarized or syndicated with follow links. Modifying a small number of words is still considered duplicative. Proper use of canonical tags, parameters or rel="alternate" attributes help search engines index the original page.
Identifying duplicative blocks requires comparison tools and manual audits. Common issues stem from template-based sites, archives, categories and product pages when presentation differs more than content. Overlapping meta descriptions cause duplicate snippets in SERPs. Redirecting duplicate pages to originals prevents confusing crawlers.
Consolidating similar pages lets the best page ranking potential without risking action. Another option involves rewriting to offer unique summaries or additions of 15-20% new content such as localized versions.
Regular content refreshments ensure no duplicates emerge from template use. Monitoring external sharing ensures attribution and follows are included to avoid penalties from accidental duplicate syndication.