What is duplicate content and how does it impact SEO?

Question: Our 30+ ecommerce sites use duplicate content, using the manufacturer’s info – how to we overcome the problems this causes.

Answer: That’s a good question. I have actually done some consulting in the auto industry, and I know that many of the auto websites are plagued by duplicate content.

So the easy answer is to tweak the content that comes from the data feed so that it has a local angle to it. Secondly, the goal is to identify niche searches that are locally relevant, or products that only that particular dealer has.

But there’s no way around the problem. If 20 websites in your network all have the same content, Houston we have a problem! You have to train the local dealers to create local content that’s unique to them such as blog posts, inventory alerts, and social media mentions that are local and unique.

It’s all about creating unique content that expresses your unique value proposition, and you have to educate the dealers to create that uniqueness. You can’t be lazy!