How do I avoid duplicate content penalties for this idea?

Capitalist_Pig · 03-21-2011, 09:35 PM

I have a set of keywords with an associated affiliate that's new to the market. The keywords are pretty much an open field, with less than 10,000 SEOC in Market Samurai for all of them, and some as low as 2,000, with 30-100 searches per day for each.

The pattern is like this: "<state> <keyword>". For instance, if my keyword was "tanning bed bulbs" (it's not!), I'd be targeting "Arizona tanning bed bulbs", "Alaska tanning bed bulbs", "Arkansas tanning bed bulbs" - etc.

I know how to dynamically generate content for each of these pages, and map the URL to the the right parameters on the script - no problem. My problem, though, is that if each sales page has the same content with the exception of the state names, I'm quite sure that Google will flag it as duplicate content and my site's pages will be impossible to rank.

I can include in the script a basic spinner that would output a randomly hand-spun sales page, and that might work okay, but it would serve different content each time - and probably seriously harm my on-page SEO in the process.

To take it a step beyond, I could use the spinner script to save a set of parameters that output the same page each time the state's page is called - but would that necessarily be better?

Finally, how much can I repeat from page to page before Google starts to discredit me? A sentence? two? A paragraph?

I'm really not trying to game the system here - the service I'm advertising has state-specific offers, and the link will be customized the individual state. People search for this stuff particular to their state, and I'm going to help provide it. I just can't figure out a way to do it that's not going to get me sandboxed.

paulgl · 03-21-2011, 09:57 PM

That's not duplicate content in the duplicate content slap.

Gasbuddy.com does basically the same thing, except they
do it across a Brazilian amount of domains.

Like texasgasprices.com, arizonagasprices.com, ad nauseum.

The main page just calls a script for whatever state or region,
but the rest of the site is the exact same thing as all the
rest. In fact, they are exact copies.

You may wish to go directly to gasbuddy.com and have a
look around. Click on a state.

I love that gasbuddy.com empire. They kill a lot of myths.

Authoritative to the max. I strive to be like that.

I see no reason why you can't do what they do on a single
domain. But then, there's always subdomains.

BTW: There is no sandbox.

Paul

Fraggler · 03-21-2011, 10:19 PM

Very cool, Paul!

There are a lot of sites that go against the grain of common myths.

I usually find them when doing genuine searches myself. My day jobs requires to me to look up a lot CE manuals and the manual sites use similar scripts.

Pages are dynamically created based on the search queries and they use a templated page to fill in the gaps with the manual name. Even though the content is mass produced, the search engines seem to love it.

Capitalist_Pig · 03-21-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulgl

That's not duplicate content in the duplicate content slap.

Gasbuddy.com does basically the same thing, except they
do it across a Brazilian amount of domains.

Like texasgasprices.com, arizonagasprices.com, ad nauseum.

The main page just calls a script for whatever state or region,
but the rest of the site is the exact same thing as all the
rest. In fact, they are exact copies.

You may wish to go directly to gasbuddy.com and have a
look around. Click on a state.

I love that gasbuddy.com empire. They kill a lot of myths.

Authoritative to the max. I strive to be like that.

I see no reason why you can't do what they do on a single
domain. But then, there's always subdomains.

BTW: There is no sandbox.

Paul

I don't believe in a technical sandbox either, but I felt sure that the same page duplicated 50 times with different state names plugged in would die in Google.

Maybe not, though... and what do I have to lose?

raviv · 03-21-2011, 11:27 PM

gasbuddy.com is a 10 year old domain. Maybe they can get away with it.

IMHO, If you are starting off with a new domain, I would be careful to start off with some unique copy and once your site gains a decent domain authority and trust authority (that happens with time and also if you have good link worthy content), then you can get away with it. Google is coming down pretty hard on poor quality content sites especially new ones. I would look before I leap.

Best
Raviv

03-21-2011, 09:35 PM	#1
Capitalist_Pig HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 187 Thanks: 19 Thanked 28 Times in 23 Posts Contact Info	How do I avoid duplicate content penalties for this idea? I have a set of keywords with an associated affiliate that's new to the market. The keywords are pretty much an open field, with less than 10,000 SEOC in Market Samurai for all of them, and some as low as 2,000, with 30-100 searches per day for each. The pattern is like this: "<state> <keyword>". For instance, if my keyword was "tanning bed bulbs" (it's not!), I'd be targeting "Arizona tanning bed bulbs", "Alaska tanning bed bulbs", "Arkansas tanning bed bulbs" - etc. I know how to dynamically generate content for each of these pages, and map the URL to the the right parameters on the script - no problem. My problem, though, is that if each sales page has the same content with the exception of the state names, I'm quite sure that Google will flag it as duplicate content and my site's pages will be impossible to rank. I can include in the script a basic spinner that would output a randomly hand-spun sales page, and that might work okay, but it would serve different content each time - and probably seriously harm my on-page SEO in the process. To take it a step beyond, I could use the spinner script to save a set of parameters that output the same page each time the state's page is called - but would that necessarily be better? Finally, how much can I repeat from page to page before Google starts to discredit me? A sentence? two? A paragraph? I'm really not trying to game the system here - the service I'm advertising has state-specific offers, and the link will be customized the individual state. People search for this stuff particular to their state, and I'm going to help provide it. I just can't figure out a way to do it that's not going to get me sandboxed.

03-21-2011, 09:57 PM	#2
paulgl Plundering the Web War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 4,849 Thanks: 804 Thanked 1,199 Times in 886 Posts	Re: How do I avoid duplicate content penalties for this idea? That's not duplicate content in the duplicate content slap. Gasbuddy.com does basically the same thing, except they do it across a Brazilian amount of domains. Like texasgasprices.com, arizonagasprices.com, ad nauseum. The main page just calls a script for whatever state or region, but the rest of the site is the exact same thing as all the rest. In fact, they are exact copies. You may wish to go directly to gasbuddy.com and have a look around. Click on a state. I love that gasbuddy.com empire. They kill a lot of myths. Authoritative to the max. I strive to be like that. I see no reason why you can't do what they do on a single domain. But then, there's always subdomains. BTW: There is no sandbox. Paul
	How to Make Money off Facebook: Login to your account. Deactivate your account. Get your butt to work.

03-21-2011, 10:19 PM	#3
Fraggler Troy Steele War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 1,763 Thanks: 723 Thanked 499 Times in 319 Posts Social Networking	Re: How do I avoid duplicate content penalties for this idea? Very cool, Paul! There are a lot of sites that go against the grain of common myths. I usually find them when doing genuine searches myself. My day jobs requires to me to look up a lot CE manuals and the manual sites use similar scripts. Pages are dynamically created based on the search queries and they use a templated page to fill in the gaps with the manual name. Even though the content is mass produced, the search engines seem to love it.
	High Quality - Big Impact - Niche Specific - Low Footprint Backlinks - 15 OBL This is as Close to Natural Backlinking as You're Ever Likely to See Niches Available: General Health - Finance & Investment - Shopping & Consumer Goods

03-21-2011, 11:27 PM	#5
raviv HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 264 Thanks: 66 Thanked 44 Times in 40 Posts	Re: How do I avoid duplicate content penalties for this idea? gasbuddy.com is a 10 year old domain. Maybe they can get away with it. IMHO, If you are starting off with a new domain, I would be careful to start off with some unique copy and once your site gains a decent domain authority and trust authority (that happens with time and also if you have good link worthy content), then you can get away with it. Google is coming down pretty hard on poor quality content sites especially new ones. I would look before I leap. Best Raviv