What is duplicate content?
Duplicate content is a major concern in SEO! It occurs when identical or very similar content is available on more than one page, or when entire pages are exact copies of one another.
In SEO, every page must have unique content! If more than 85% of a page’s content matches another page, SEO tools will flag it as duplicate content. When search engine algorithms encounter duplicate pages, they will only index one, which might not be the one you prefer. In worse cases, it could be seen as manipulation, leading to penalties!
Duplicate content can also dilute your link profile. If not properly handled, the algorithm will decide which page to prioritize, causing your link equity to be spread thin across multiple pages instead of concentrating on one.
In some cases, penalties may be imposed if the duplication is seen as deliberate manipulation.
How to prevent duplicate content?
Canonical tag
One of the most effective tools for managing duplicate content is the canonical tag. By using this tag, you can inform search engines which page is the original and which ones are duplicates.
Redirects
The 301 redirect is a commonly used solution, where pages with duplicate content are redirected to the primary page. This ensures that both search engines and link equity are focused on the main page.
Noindex tag
The noindex tag is another useful tool to prevent search engine from indexing certain pages. This tag can be added to the HTML source code of specific pages to ensure they aren’t indexed.
Be cautious about which pages contain this tag, as forgetting about it could lead to confusion later when wondering why a page isn’t ranking when you want it to be indexed.
Another option is to use the robots.txt file to specify noindex pages, but this method requires careful handling as it can affect the overall indexing of your site. However, it allows you to manage multiple noindex pages in one place.
It’s important to carefully consider these options and, when in doubt, seek expert advice to ensure optimal SEO practices.