Duplicate Content Question

[CompucastWeb]

Currently, we manage a site that generates content from a database based on user search criteria such as location or type of business.  ..Although we currently rank well -- we created the website based on providing value to the visitor  with options for viewing the content - we are concerned about duplicate content issues and if they would apply.

For example, the listing that is pulled up for the user upon one search could have the same content as another search but in a different order.  Similar to hotels who offer room booking by room type or by rate.

Would this dynamically generated content count as duplicate content?

The site has done well, but don't want to risk a any future Google penalties caused by duplicate content.  Thanks for your help!

[fablau]

Thank you for your provided example, that's exactly what I meant.

You have the following "default" display:

http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/restaurants/

and the following one which is a "variant" of the first one:

http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/restaurants/?loc=all

You are actually showing the "same" listings ordered differently... so, a rel=canonical in my opinion will put you safe:

http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/restaurants/" />

[CompucastWeb]

I can't give you the specific example of the site because it's undergoing redesign

However, we have a similar issue on a sister site. It has 2 separate pages with the same listings but different categories:

By location: http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/restaurants/?loc=all

By type of restaurant http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/restaurants/

Thanks for the feed and information Fabrizo.

[fablau]

I don't understand why the content of those 2 pages are the same if they show different categories... are same listings ordered differently? Can we have a look at those pages?

[CompucastWeb]

On our site only difference is that different pages show up different results. I.e., the page with results A will have a title tag and content related to page A.  The page results for page B will also have a unique page with a unique title tag.  In that case, the listings are the same.. but they appear on two pages, each with a unique category that should have its own page.  In this case, the categories are “location” and “type.”

[fablau]

I would need to have a look at your website to understand how it is structured, but I have a very similar case on my site virtualsheetmusic.com, and I think it is a common case for e-commerce websites in general as well, and I think the best way to avoid any issues is to use a rel=canonical tag.

For example, if your page URL for a search can vary in the following way:

http://www.yoursite.com/search.php [assuming this is the "default" page display]

http://www.yoursite.com/search.php?sort=title

http://www.yoursite.com/search.php?sort=title&filter=NY

I would put a rel-canonical like:

pointing to the "default" version of the page. That would avoid any duplicate issues very easily!

Also, if you have paginated content (2 or more pages results) you may want to add the rel=prev and rel=next definitions as suggested by Google:

http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2011/09/pagination-with-relnext-and-relprev.html

I hope this helps.

[BlueprintMarketing]

Hi, if you're trying to make your website better for the end user you almost can't lose. Google wants what the end-user wants fast page loads times relevant content and easy navigation to name a few of the things that are important to Google & visitors. You'll find that if you match the two you will almost always get it right.

I hope this is been of help sincerely,

Thomas

[CompucastWeb]

Thanks for the feedback Thomas. I should note that this situation is all on one website.

[BlueprintMarketing]

I believe the easiest way to answer this. Is if you have website A & B. Well I get the exact same answer if I query whatever the keyword "example" is? From both websites? If so I always get the same answer?

If the answer to that is yes I will get the same answer to make this query the same.

From each website then I would say will have trouble with the content however if the answer is no I would say you want to examine further for how much of is identical.

I'm not fan of having identical content especially when you control it. if it is the same result. Then yes you'll get to content issues with Google and I would not recommend creating an additional website to order content from the same database because it sounds to me like you will be getting identical answers for queries is this correct?

Do understand how your gathering content from the database so it would have to be identical right? If this is the case then I would not create additional website I would created this website if you need to do different subject but if you have one already just focus on creating a better version of that website.

I hope this is of help,

Thomas