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Not sure how to avoid similar product pages

by Moraha
4 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I'm a complete beginner on the subject of SEO but have been doing a lot of research to make sure I don't do anything wrong before I open up my website.

One thing I keep coming across is, "don't make the descriptions and titles on your product pages too similar or else search engines will flag them as being duplicate."

I don't want to say exactly what my website will be, but with a recommendation like that, I'm not sure how to go about with my website. For example, let's say I'm selling ipod cases with custom designs. I'll offer a "los angeles lakers ipod 1st generation case" on 1 page, the same design for the 2nd generation ipod on another page, and the same design for the 3rd generation on another. Literally the only difference will be the generation numbers between the pages. The description of the design would be exactly the same since it is exactly the same.

The reason I'm concerned is because I planned on having main categories be ipod - gen 1, ipod - gen 2, and ipod -gen 3. The user would click whichever ipod they have and then choose the design they like. The same designs will be offered for all generations.

How can I possibly have search engines not ignore my pages because of this? I know there are ways to have them ignore product pages but I'd hate to have any of my products ignored.
#avoid #pages #product #similar
  • Profile picture of the author .X.
    A lot of this crap is overplayed by people
    who don't know much more than you do.

    Your page should describe what your page
    is about.

    If you make a legitimate effort to provide
    some unique value from your perspective
    then everything's good.

    The people who need to worry are those
    paying $5 for a dozen articles or otherwise
    just cranking out filler with no value to offer.

    Since you're a beginner I encourage you to
    envision how you'd like to see a site - what
    is it you like, or would like to see, versus
    following the regurgitated junk people keep
    passing around.

    Generally if you're worried about what you're
    doing you're following bad advice.
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    • Profile picture of the author Varz
      This is definitely a tricky problem. I've found the most important thing is to have pages with unique content early on. If each page has the same content you will probably have a problem.

      When in doubt take a look at how other ecommerce sites do it. For example, take a look at the largest ecommerce site. They have separate pages for each product that all show up in the search engines. For example, search for "ipod touch 4th generation" and "ipod touch 5th generation" and you will see a separate product page for each in the search engine results. So both pages rank and there doesn't appear to be a duplicate content penalty.

      I think you just need to be careful and not have a separate product page for each color, each memory amount, etc. Also, if you plan on having hundreds of products that are all different brands of the same widget you will probably run into issues.
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by .X. View Post

      Generally if you're worried about what you're
      doing you're following bad advice.
      If only life was that easy.


      ****************************************

      OP, check out the canonical tag at Google help pages.

      You could use the canonical tag along with ranking a category page that displays all 3 versions of the same product, make sure to include a Buy Now button for each of the individual products on the category page, then have a link for each product pointing to the product full version sales page If the buyer needs more info. Use the individual product sales pages as followed internal supporting links with exact keyword anchor-text pointing at the ranked category page.

      That's only one approach.
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      • Profile picture of the author Varz
        Another option would be to only index one of each of the unique product pages and use noindex on all the product pages that are just an option of the main product page.

        For example, "iPod Touch 5th Generation" could be a product page that is indexed, but "iPod Touch 5th Generation 32gb" could be a product page that has noindex on it. Just another option versus the canonical tag mentioned previously.
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