What is Duplicate Content?

Ecommerce SEO Glossary > On-Page SEO > Duplicate Content


What You Need to Know about Duplicate Content

Internal Duplicate Content Issues

This problem frequently occurs through URL parameters, session IDs, print versions, and www vs. non-www variations. Each duplicate splits ranking signals and wastes crawl budget.

Canonical Tags Solve Most Problems

The rel=canonical tag tells search engines which version of duplicate pages to prioritize. Implement canonicals on product variants, filtered pages, and paginated content to consolidate ranking signals.

Ecommerce Platforms Create Duplicates

Shopify and other platforms often generate duplicate content through product sorting, filtering, and tracking parameters. Configure canonical tags and use parameter handling in Google Search Console to prevent indexing issues.

Scraped Content Rarely Hurts You

When other sites copy your content, it rarely damages your rankings directly. Google typically identifies the original source. File DMCA requests for deliberate theft, but don’t panic over occasional scraping.

Product Descriptions Across Categories

Using identical manufacturer descriptions or showing the same product in multiple categories creates internal duplication. Write unique descriptions for high-value products and use canonical tags for legitimate duplicates.

301 Redirects for Permanent Duplicates

When consolidating truly duplicate pages, use 301 redirects rather than canonicals. This passes full link equity and removes the duplicate from Google’s index completely, strengthening your remaining page.


Frequently Asked Questions about Duplicate Content

1. Does duplicate content cause a Google penalty?

No direct penalty exists for duplicate content. Google simply chooses which version to show, often filtering out duplicates. The real issue is diluted ranking signals and wasted crawl budget.

2. How much content similarity counts as duplicate?

No specific threshold exists, but substantially similar content with only minor changes qualifies. Google focuses on unique value—if pages serve the same purpose with nearly identical text, they’re duplicates.

3. Should I use noindex or canonical for duplicates?

Use canonical tags when the duplicate serves a legitimate purpose for users. Use noindex only when you don’t want the page indexed at all, like thank-you pages or internal search results.

4. Can I copy content from my own other websites?

Yes, but use cross-domain canonical tags pointing to the original. Without proper canonicalization, Google may choose the wrong version to rank or filter both pages from search results.


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Related Terms

Open Graph Meta Tags

Open Graph tags control how your content appears when shared on social platforms, specifying the title, description, and preview image displayed in posts.

Open Graph Meta Tags

On-Page SEO

On-page SEO optimizes individual pages through content, HTML elements, and UX to improve rankings and drive targeted traffic.

On-Page SEO

Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager lets you deploy tracking codes and marketing tags through a visual interface without editing website code directly.

Google Tag Manager

Meta Redirect

A meta refresh redirect is an HTML-based redirect that’s slower and less SEO-friendly than proper 301 server redirects.

Meta Redirect


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