Duplicate Content

[Web Gazelle]

Anyone know how to find out if a site has a duplicate content penalty? Also, does anyone know why my signature has the link in text and not an actual hyperlink?

[Katt]

I'd like to know this also. I have several domains redirected to my main site which concerns me. Everything I read about 301s and 302s means nothing to me since I'm using IIS. Any ideas?

[Katt]

Gazelle - you can't use html in your signature. use bbcode, like this :

My Site

[cbp]

Anyone know how to find out if a site has a duplicate content penalty?

Its not really a penalty - its a filter.
To tell, one of the copies of the site is not in the Google index (why would they want 2 copies of the same thing?). Google usually keep the copy they found first.

CBP

[Katt]

Thanks cbp, I feel a little better, however when I search google using allinurl I CAN find one of the domains that I don't want showing up. Should I still not be concerned?

[Web Gazelle]

Thanks for all the input. But lets say a site has been dubbed as duplicate. After a redesign and change of ownership, how would I get rid of the penalty?

[chris_g]

Thanks for all the input. But lets say a site has been dubbed as duplicate. After a redesign and change of ownership, how would I get rid of the penalty?

Hi Web Gazelle:

Once the content has been sufficiently changed and Google reindexes the site it will provide credit based on the unique content. We have found however Google is not as interested in sites that once had duplicate content and it does take them longer to come back and index the site. Until proved differently duplicate site are just not a high priority for reindexing.

[Mac 5]

You could try this site to look for duplicate content.
http://copyscape.com/

[Katt]

Wow thanks Mac! copyscape.com showed me sites that mentioned my company, products, etc. that I never knew about. Very useful tool, not just for finding duplicate content.

[Mac 5]

I've never subscribed to the copyscape website, just used the top 10 free ones.

[ruralwales]

Originally Posted by cbp

Its not really a penalty - its a filter.

CBP

I've been following the discussions on the recent changes. Now I've found my own site (www.mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk) has dropped way down the rankings for a search for:

simon evans photography

Previously it was the top match for this search.

These threads have me wondering if the web address I have acquired (www.simonevans.co.uk - which points to the above) could cause the problem. Any ideas? Thanks,

Simon.

[activeco]

Originally Posted by ruralwales

Now I've found my own site (www.mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk) has dropped way down the rankings

Not sure if this is the problem, but it's a kind of DNS mess with your names.

www.mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk is already redirected (using CNAME) to webspace.pol.co.uk.
mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk (non-www) have no address and can't resolve.
On top of that you 301 redirect (www.)simonevans.co.uk to the original url, which all works perfectly but maybe could be confusing and wrongly inerpreted by SE.

If I were you, I would try first to change 301 into html redirect with a link to www.mawddwy with a text something like "the page has moved to:" , which could lose a few visitors due to additional click, but you will be sure if this caused the problem;

or a bit risky but much better solution in the long run, do 301 from www.mawddwy to properly hosted www.simonevans.co.uk.
I believe you should pass the PR too in this way.
No guarantees, of course.

[activeco]

Originally Posted by ruralwales

Now I've found my own site (www.mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk) has dropped way down the rankings

Not sure if this is the problem, but it's a kind of DNS mess with your names.

www.mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk is already redirected (using CNAME) to webspace.pol.co.uk.
mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk (non-www) have no address and can't resolve.
On top of that you 301 redirect (www.)simonevans.co.uk to the original url, which all works perfectly but maybe could be confusing and wrongly inerpreted by SE.

If I were you, I would try first to change 301 into html redirect with a link to www.mawddwy with a text something like "the page has moved to:" , which could lose a few visitors due to additional click, but you will be sure if this caused the problem;

or a bit risky but much better solution in the long run, do 301 from www.mawddwy to properly hosted www.simonevans.co.uk.
I believe you should pass the PR too in this way.
No guarantees, of course.

[ruralwales]

Originally Posted by activeco

Not sure if this is the problem, but it's a kind of DNS mess with your names.

Thanks for the info. I've been lurking here for months, and have learnt plenty in that time.

The webspace I have been using is free (although nothing is ever truly 'free'), and everything was fine until recently. I've had the domain name redirected for a few months now. Interestingly, PR is OK for both, so that's something. I'll just have to bite the bullet and pay for proper hosted webspace.

Simon.

[gregorym]

I'm not sure if this Google filter works well. What if they drop the original site taking the copy for the new version fo the site ?
What if my terms and conditions and privacy policy are standards ?