How Does Google View PDFs?

[deloriagod]

I've got a lot of experience in my newest niche and I'm writing "how-to" guides for my newest website. Generally the work isn't done while you're sitting around looking at a computer so I was thinking of offering the how-tos on my website as normally viewed webpages then offering them again as PDFs so people can save them and use them on mobile devices. But I'm curious as to how Google views PDFs. I'd like to rank to page that will contain all the PDFs, but I don't want to get nailed with a duplicate content penalty for having all of the how-tos on the site twice. I have an alternative option, but having them as PDFs would be ideal if Google won't get me for duplicate content. Does anyone have any experience with something like this?

[paulgl]

That's not anywhere close to duplicate content.

In fact, regarding pdf files, it's exactly how google tells you
to do it, although you are going backwards, if you will.

It is always great to have an html version of pdf content
and make sure it can be viewed or seen as text using the
right character format.

In other words, google says do a pdf if you wish, but make sure text and
html copy is available (or readable). In your case, you are
putting text as pdf. Same difference.

Be sure and slap your website urls in them and tell people to pass
them along!

Great idea, actually.

Paul

[deloriagod]

Originally Posted by paulgl

That's not anywhere close to duplicate content.

In fact, regarding pdf files, it's exactly how google tells you
to do it, although you are going backwards, if you will.

It is always great to have an html version of pdf content
and make sure it can be viewed or seen as text using the
right character format.

In other words, google says do a pdf if you wish, but make sure text and
html copy is available (or readable). In your case, you are
putting text as pdf. Same difference.

Be sure and slap your website urls in them and tell people to pass
them along!

Great idea, actually.

Paul

Thanks man. I just wasn't sure if Google read the PDFs and compared them to the html pages. Good to know I can go ahead with this idea And I'll be sure to slap my URL in there

[yukon]

A pdf can also get a Google Cache, just the same as an html page.

Example: PDF Google Cache

[paulgl]

I believe google can "read" them, if the right text character set is used.
And that's all they can read, I believe.

You have 2 ways to check. Upload your pdf, get it indexed, then do
a search. If google shows it using a "view as text link," you are good
to go.

The other way is to see if you can copy and paste the text of the pdf
file in the usual way. (highlight, right click, etc.)

However, in your case, you have the other available anyway.

Paul