Duplicate Content Question

[spiceboy]

I am rebuilding a site which has products in section categories. Each product in the section has a short description and a link which takes you to a product page with more information on it.

If I use the short description used in the section as the introductory copy for the product page (followed by more product text), will that incur any kind of Google duplicate content penalty?

Also, what happens if the same product appears twice in different sections in the site? Do I need to vary copy for each product even though they are exactly the same product?

Your wisdom will be welcomed.

[stymiee]

If I use the short description used in the section as the introductory copy for the product page (followed by more product text), will that incur any kind of Google duplicate content penalty?

Most likely not. Depends how much of the overall content is duplicated. The more that is duplicated the more likely it will raise a red flag. If it really is short then you should be fine.

If a product is in multiple categories and thus is shown on multiple pages only one will be ranked. The others will be filtered out as duplicate content. That really shouldn't be an issue since the item is ranked anyway.

[incrediblehelp]

Don't use cookie butter or boiler plate descriptions. Seen pages get "supplementalized" for it. Make them as unique as possible.

[bhatti]

Yes stymiee is right.

In the category pages, if the introductory para is small, then you can use same on product page, because percentage of duplication will be very less otherwise dont use it. The more unique contents on the page, more chances not gone in supplemental results.

I prefer to use the unique url for each product all over the website. Means if you have to display same product, why use different urls.

[spiceboy]

Thanks guys, feel better now. By the way Incredible, cookie butter sounds good, might add it to my site.

[incrediblehelp]

lol cookie butter does sound good. I think I meant cookie cutter, lol