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How do you check for duplicate content on your own site?

by scrapgirl42
9 replies
As I am reading about issues with the latest Panda update, I keep seeing people telling others to check for duplicate content on their site. Can someone explain this to me?

I have all original content on my sites, there are a few articles that I have also submitted to directories that are on my sites as well. Would this be considered duplicate content?

Also, and I don't know how to word this. My sites are all Wordpress based and I used categories on most of them. If a post falls into more than one category I put it there - so one post can be in 2 or 3 categories. The full post doesn't show when you click on the category, just a summary. Would this be duplicate content?

Arghhh!! I am pulling my hair out trying to make sure my sites have good on page SEO and everything else I can do onsite is perfect. I spent all day yesterday going through two sites with a fine tooth comb. Rewriting content that didn't flow right, adding internal links, tweaking SEO. I hope it helps because I am planning to do that with all my sites
#check #content #duplicate #site
  • Profile picture of the author sonic74
    You can check for duplicates and plagiarism on your site with
    Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Duplicate Content Detection Software

    It's a free tool
    Signature
    Get Instant Access to over 500 PLR, FREE Resell Rights Products Now!
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    • Profile picture of the author scrapgirl42
      Originally Posted by sonic74 View Post

      You can check for duplicates and plagiarism on your site with
      Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Duplicate Content Detection Software

      It's a free tool
      Thanks! I ran it on a couple of pages of one site and the only thing it pulls up are some Amazon links at the bottom. These shouldn't be a problem - should they? They are simple Amazon ads with the name of the product and a 'more details' button that takes them to Amazon.

      Another question - I somewhere that Google doesn't like it if you have several pages on your site that say the same thing, but in a different way (make sense?). If my site is about digital cameras and I am writing about different models of cameras and some are the same brand, I am going to have some duplication because the cameras will have similar features. I am not copying the content from one post to another, just writing about something else similar.

      Am I over thinking this?
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by scrapgirl42 View Post

        Am I over thinking this?
        A little ... Copyscape actually has nothing to do with the two questions you asked in your OP. If you always write original material and always publish it first on your own site and have it indexed there before re-using it, you don't need to think about this issue any more.

        There's nothing bad, or wrong, or negative, in having the material on your site also published later on other sites, and Google will not "penalise" you for it in any way.

        "Duplicate content", in this context, refers to multiple copies of the same text-file within one website, deemed to have been placed there deliberately in an attempt to game Google's algorithm. It's actually explained on their "Webmaster pages" but, as observed above, if you always write your own content and always publish it first and don't re-submit elsewhere until it's indexed, it shouldn't ever be relevant to you.
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        • Profile picture of the author scrapgirl42
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          if you always write your own content and always publish it first and don't re-submit elsewhere until it's indexed, it shouldn't ever be relevant to you.
          I screwed up with this one when I first started my sites about two years ago. I would put the article on ezine (and other article directories) then on my sites. I don't do this now, but many of those articles are still on one of my biggest sites - they make up about 20% of my content and they all link back to my primary keywords.

          Should I remove them or let them be? This site is still ranking #1 for the primary keyword and has a PR4 - if that matters
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          • Profile picture of the author wupdation
            is it the one thats is similar to that of google webmaster tool ! where we can see similar contents
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by scrapgirl42 View Post

            I screwed up with this one when I first started my sites about two years ago. I would put the article on ezine (and other article directories) then on my sites. I don't do this now, but many of those articles are still on one of my biggest sites - they make up about 20% of my content and they all link back to my primary keywords.

            Should I remove them or let them be? This site is still ranking #1 for the primary keyword and has a PR4 - if that matters
            I'd certainly leave them alone, myself. And just "do it the other way round" in future.

            There's no great downside to what you've done. It's just "lack of upside" ("opportunity cost", if you like to look at it that way).

            It's a hugely misunderstood subject: people wrongly equate "lack of upside" with "downside", and then they wrongly equate that with "Google penalties", which don't happen. Not worth worrying about at all. Clearly you have a good site, there, for SEO, with its PR-4 and top ranking.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by scrapgirl42 View Post

    I have all original content on my sites, there are a few articles that I have also submitted to directories that are on my sites as well. Would this be considered duplicate content?
    No, that isn't "duplicate content".

    It's syndicated content.

    What matters, cumulatively, for SEO purposes, is whether it's been syndicated from your site or to your site. To put it very simply, it's really important to publish your articles on your own site first and have them indexed there, and only then submit them to article directories or syndicate them in any other ways. That way, you get the collective, long-term, on-page SEO benefit (the thread linked to really is well worth reading all the way through), rather than making the mistake of ever giving an article submission site the initial indexation-rights to your material.

    I'm not a Wordpress user and must leave your other question unanswered.
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  • Profile picture of the author scrapgirl42
    Thanks Alexa, you have helped to put my fears to rest
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  • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
    Originally Posted by scrapgirl42 View Post

    Also, and I don't know how to word this. My sites are all Wordpress based and I used categories on most of them. If a post falls into more than one category I put it there - so one post can be in 2 or 3 categories. The full post doesn't show when you click on the category, just a summary. Would this be duplicate content?
    You need to select just one category for each post and stick to it. If a post is listed in multiple categories, it will appear to Google as duplicate content withing your site. You are, to all intents and purposes publishing the same content more than once on your blog.
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