Would a free PDF download diminish SEO benefits of HTML content?

[nyc-seo]

Dear readers,

This post is a duplicate of one I just put up. Sorry about that. If you are interested in commenting or seeing other responses, please go to http://moz.com/community/q/would-a-free-pdf-download-diminish-seo-benefits-of-html-content.

Thanks.

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Hello,

I am doing SEO for a company that, as a sideline business, sells four books written by the principals; the content is directly relevant to the company's primary business focus. Book sales are a tiny fraction of our overall revenue, and we don't expect that to change, although we will continue to sell the books.

In addition to selling them, we have decided to convert the books to HTML and post them for free on our website (laid out by chapter and section). The hope is that this will result in goodwill, links, traffic, and ultimately improved search rankings.

My question:  Would offering free PDF downloads of the books (in addition to posting the HTML content) diminish the SEO benefits of the HTML content?

• If we don't offer the PDF option, people would have to visit our site to read the content (unless they bought a hard copy).
• If visitors were able to download a free PDF, they wouldn't need to return to our site to read it.
• If our corporate clients (nearly all of our clients are corporations) could download a PDF, they could then post it on an intranet instead of posting a link to our site.
• In general, do you think a visitor would be less likely to link to our site if he or she were able to download the PDF? Or would the appeal of the PDF option make it more likely that people would visit and link to the site?
• Also, if we offer the PDF option, are there any SEO issues related to duplicate content?
• Finally, if we did offer the free PDF download, would you recommend that we ask for an email address before giving the PDF?

Thank you very much!

[KeriMorgret]

I'm going to close this discussion, and ask that it be carried on at the original post at http://moz.com/community/q/would-a-free-pdf-download-diminish-seo-benefits-of-html-content

[crackingmedia]

I see you have posted the same question earlier. Is there a reason you asked the same question in two separate posts?

[crackingmedia]

Hi, that's a lot of variables and answers may therefore vary from different people, but here's my best shot:

**1. If we don't offer the PDF option, people would have to visit our site to read the content (unless they bought a hard copy).  **If the goal is getting more readership and attention for these books then I think you should provide a PDF.

**2. If visitors were able to download a free PDF, they wouldn't need to return to our site to read it. **No, but the benefits of (1) above apply I think.

**3. If our corporate clients (nearly all of our clients are corporations) could download a PDF, they could then post it on an intranet instead of posting a link to our site. **I think you could put information in the PDF and on the page where it can be downloaded from to say that you do not give permission for the PDF to be hosted on another site. You cannot guarantee that they wouldn't but I think it is unlikely a corporate would want to be seen to be going against your wishes on that. Alternatively, you could say that the PDF can be hosted on other sites, providing they include a Follow link to your site attributing your site as the source.

**4. In general, do you think a visitor would be less likely to link to our site if he or she were able to download the PDF? Or would the appeal of the PDF option make it more likely that people would visit and link to the site? ** Yes - the second option

5. Also, if we offer the PDF option, are there any SEO issues related to duplicate content? Not really, if posting on other sites they include a link to the source of the PDF on your site

**6. Finally, if we did offer the free PDF download, would you recommend that we ask for an email address before giving the PDF? **It depends what your motivation for doing so is. If you want to build an email list that you can then send newsletters and special offer emails to, then yes - as long as you make it clear that is what you will do and you get the visitor to click a checkbox confirming they accept that condition - although of course you have to give them the option to unsubscribe at a later date when you send newsletters and offer emails.

I hope that helps,
Peter