How to Avoid Duplicate Content and Penalties

Duplicate content has been one of the most common issues among websites since the rollout of Google Panda. Google defines duplicate content as blocks of content that completely match or are considerably similar to another content. The good news is there are many ways to address concerns on duplicate content.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to avoid duplicate content issues and potential sanctions.

Setup 301 redirects

Site and link format restructure can lead to duplicate content issues. To minimize its negative effects, set up 301 redirects from the non-preferred URLs to the preferred ones. This way, search engine crawlers would see links to the duplicate page as merely links to the original page.

Use original content

This one is obvious but very well worth emphasizing. Create good quality content that is informative, engaging, and most importantly fresh and unique. You can do this regularly through a blog page and let your visitors share your content.

Avoid boilerplate repetition

The boilerplate content you have across sections and pages of your site might as well be seen as duplicate content. To prevent this, do not include a long copyright text on the bottom part of each page. Create a short summary instead and then link to a page dedicated for the details.

When not handled properly, duplicate content can lead to penalties from Google. And you cannot afford to lose a ticket to the first page. Fortunately, there are many ways to address such concerns. Don’t hesitate to consult with the best SEO in Hongkong should you need help on this matter.