Copying somebody else's product descriptions: Does this impact your e-commerce site negatively?
Two weeks ago, I acquired a client who wanted me to write product descriptions for some (not all) of his products. I proactively checked the current descriptions of his 3 to 5 products on Copyscape. I am not sure if her product descriptions were copied by her team or someone else copied hers. So I asked if she is aware of that. I was floored by her answer, "Dear, that's fine. I told my team to copy our competitor's product descriptions since we sell the exact same products, anyway."
I was like, "Huh?"
Well, gently I did my best to share with her how I understand it and how, I believe and think, that impacts her e-commerce sites' SEO negatively. I mean, I am not an award-winning SEO expert but based on what I've read, copying somebody else's product descriptions just because you have the exact same products does not give you the protection against Google's checking. Well, I believe she believed what I was saying.
Then, yesterday came another client who had the same belief as the first client I met two weeks ago. I felt the need to ask this either to SEO experts or to owners or enthusiasts of e-commerce sites.
Do you also believe that copying the exact same descriptions of somebody else's products is completely, totally, 100 percent okay? What do you say?
If I have the wrong understanding, I should update the blog I wrote about this. What do you say, e-commerce site owners?
PS: I'm sorry for a lengthy explanation. I can't help but explain the story.
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