Duplicate content is blocks of content within or across domains that either completely matches other content or are appreciably similar. So essentially, it’s content which appears elsewhere on the web. This could either be on the same website but on different web pages or different websites entirely. In other words, duplicate content is the similarity in the content of duplicated within one website or domain or content that is duplicated between two or more different sites across the web. While there are actually some facts as regards duplication of contents, some myths have been developed and are almost being made to look like the facts. Though these myths are actually determined from facts, they’ve been reshaped and altered such that their meaning no longer gives out the truth. Below are some myths about duplicate on page duplicate content.
There are No Punishments for Duplicate Content
While nobody will come chasing you with a cane or stick for duplicating contents on your website even though it is on different webpages, you’re most likely to lose your spot in the SEO ranking which is a way to deter you from posting exactly the same content across different pages on the same website. The best SEO agencies take proper care of these minute but important factors.
Sharing of Information is a Duplicate Content Offense
This is also not entirely true. Like I stated earlier, most myths about duplicate content actually stem from the truth hence there’s a thin and not too clear line separating the myths from the actual truth. The only time you would be committing the offense of duplicate content while posting shared information is when you refuse to acknowledge the original source of the information shared. Instead, you post or share the information like you’re the primary source. As long as you post or share the information with reference to the original author or reporter then you have nothing to be afraid of.
Reusing your Content Elsewhere is A Duplicate Content Offense, this is also another myth that has kept a number of businesses from growing. You can use your content and reuse it anywhere else that you like as long as you’re the owner of the content and you don’t violate the laws of the website or blog you’re using it. This is a different case as to when you’re lifting a content used elsewhere and reusing that content for your own personal gain without either referencing the original author of the content or using it without his/her knowledge or permission. If it’s the article on your own site, you’d better refrain from doing it, simply for the fear that webpage may outrank yours. Try using the outline of the original content elsewhere instead of copy-pasting the whole article. Another option is to convert your content into a new format. By spicing up your article with a little chipping here and there you’ll less likely raise eyebrows.
It’s Easy to get Penalised for Duplicate Content
This is also another factor that has kept many websites from getting the much-needed traffic. The time you’re likely to get sanctioned for duplicate content is when the duplicate copy is on a brand new domain or is from a high profile page such as the home page, then it looks suspicious. If it’s a press release or a blog post from an established site which is being shared across the web, there’s less likelihood that it’ll raise dust.
