Unoriginal Content Shared By Web Firm with Industry Niche

[TalkingSheep]

I have clients who have worked with Web Design companies that focus on a particular niche. As most of you may know, these type of web companies use the same content on all of their clients' sites (examples: Dentists, Law Firms, CPA's). I want to propose to this prospect for us to do a site redesign as part of their SEO contract. The site they use right now is managed by the type of web company that I have described above. But the main question is, if they keep using this site with unoriginal content - will it hurt their rank of have no effect? I plan to add plenty of original content to their site.

[SoftzSolutions]

_First of all, no need to submit reconsideration request if the content of the website is duplicate. Panda is an algorithmic penalty and therefore, there is no such need of sending reconsideration request, as it is applicable only for manual penalty.

However, what I have assumed from your post is that you are concerned about the duplicate content thing. Yes, it is a matter of concern. Try to rewrite them and wait for Google to index them and your website will be okay._

_However, if someone else is copying your content, there is no reason to be worried about. The sites that are copying your content will be penalized and not the other way round. _

[TalkingSheep]

Thanks so much for this quick response. Yes I am proposing to them a new site design as well. I would just hate for them to opt for the SEO services without a new site.

It amazes me that the niche industry website companies repurpose all their content on their  client's websites. I know of a client that was paying Findlaw $1200/month for repurposed blog content and supposed other SEO services.

[coneh34d]

Resolving issues with a site that has content that is not unique i is not as simple as adding good unique content.

Panda addresses this and the following is a good read: http://searchengineland.com/why-google-panda-is-more-a-ranking-factor-than-algorithm-update-82564.

In a nutshell, Panda "tags" your site as offending. To quote the author of the article, "Panda has been described as more of a ranking “signal” as opposed to an actual algorithm change. This means that when Panda is run it applies a “tag” to an offending site so that when the “normal” Google algo comes around, it uses that “tag” as a ranking signal (which basically tells the “normal” algo – “do NOT rank any page on this site well”).

Read more: http://www.potpiegirl.com/2011/10/how-google-makes-algorithm-changes/#ixzz2FMiCcJR3

Now. What to do. You can:

1. Replace all of the duplicate content and get all on page and off page SEO in line. This may allow the site to self correct over time or you can submit a reconsideration request to Google once it is clean (this is working more and more even for sites hit by algos).
2. Build a new white hat SEO site side-by-side with the original, using great content.

I am going through a similar situation right now, and whether you can come out of this type of algorithmic penalty cannot be predicted with 100% accuracy. It pays to hedge your bets in this case.

Cheers!