londonguy -- Splitting up the article doesn't do any good either because it's still the same words, no matter how they're split.

There's some software out (very unethical) that will duplicate a printed article, shuffle the words and replace them with other words so that it still is the same context, and they're calling this "repurposed articles" ... and lots of not so bright cheaters are doing this. Google is wise to it though, and are taking actions against it.

So rather than accidently be nailed by a filter set up to grab those kinds of people, you're better off to avoid any similar patterns to begin with.

What you can do is add other supporting content around the reprinted article and it'll give you a well enough mix between what's yours and what you've reprinted.

For example, if you're reprinting an article about Refinance Loans, it'd be nice to perhaps add a small paragraph (supporting content) at the left or right of the reprinted article that quotes some official stats on Refinance Loan rates, etc. Then you could add some links to Lenders, etc.

Google and other SEs like it when you link out to other sites that are themed with the topic that your site is about. This helps Google to understand your site a lot more and rank it accordingly.

Don't buy into the myth that linking out is bad, or that PR means a lot. Because neither is true.

My directory has over 2500+ outgoing links to other sites. My site isn't suffering at all.

The PR right now is 5 on the index page, and most of the inside pages have PR 5-3, all the way down even to the lowest categories.

I just did a major restructure and moved all of it, so right now Google is playing catch-up with the 301s because we moved over 22,000 categories and changed the URL format.

Drew, thanks for the welcome and looking forward to seeing you over at IHY.

The owner of IHY (Doug Heil -- a.k.a. ihelpyou) is also from SC, Charleston area.

This forum will be a learning experience for me too, because I know very little about Real Estate.

I have categories in my directory for Real Estate and we have quite a few sites listed, and lots of submissions in Queue. We also do very well in the SEs for different real estate related queries and do get traffic from those searches.

So, understanding more about Real Estate will help me to define our Real Estate categories a bit more.

Deb, I appreciate the information. Great stuff.

So just final clarification:

Duplicate content on my site doesn't help the SE ranking. But it doesn't hurt it either? - meaning it's the equivilant of not having it all the site at all?

I just want to make sure I can continue to post some duplicate content without it having a NEGATIVE effect on the rankings. Then I can supplement it with some original content allowing the SE to look favourably on my blog and ultimately my website.

Oh, np.

Yep, that's exactly what it means. If you add duplicate content and supplement it by adding supporting content, your site will do much better.

If your site consists ONLY of duplicate content, it risks being hit by a duplicate content filter. A duplicate content filter doesn't mean it's not in the index anymore -- it just means it will be at the very bottom of the pile.

Sometimes that pile can be in the low 400s and no one even really searches beyond the first 4-5 pages.

Now that Google is starting to focus on local search, it'll create a better market for sites to do well in their own neighborhoods.

So, getting themed links in/out, and content that's themed toward your topic will be a win-win in the new Google era.

hope this helps.

Who wants a national real estate link engine broken down by state, then city. Search rosters of agents and offices?

I will create it and set it up if there is interest. FREE to all Real Estate Agents. A place to submit links where your sites can be found. Maybe profiles, who knows.

I have some really cool ideas if anyone wants to post theirs.

Brian

As to Google and backlinks....

someone claimed that Google doesn't show all backlinks to thwart competitors.....??

As far as I can tell, NOBODY in the SEO business has ever been able to explain why Google shows only a small percentage of backlinks with the link: filter. That's the first I've ever heard the "competitive thwarting" concept.

I'd have my doubts if that is their true reason. First, you can get backlinks from other engines. LinkSurvey.com provides avery good, comprehensive tool to find backlinks. We use it all the time here.

Second, you CAN get Goolgle to cough up ALL the backlinks that they see to a domain. It's easy. Just put ".yourdomainname.com" int a Google search, and there they are. Use the leading period, and then your domain name, with or without quotes.










Forget about it.

A quickie from a newbie here - I'd rather have one good link than a 1000 inbound so so links.

Link exchange is going the way of the keyword and the dodo.

Often a person will ask to trade links and stick yours on a PR 0 page which is not at all good.

You really need to be on a high PR page of 6 and up otherwise don't bother.

There are great places to place links for tons of incoming traffic if you look around

yes, the link exchange thing is really deflated in the last while, and duplicate content is questionable, case in point;
one of my sites placed first with all the engines within it's industry. One day I noticed an associates site that jumped to first place. Guess what, every page on thier site that responded to the industry queries where direct copies of my pages. They held first spot for a month until they removed them following a polite 'cease or pay' notice.

Back to links, make sure your linkchecker reviews the robots.txt file. Links on disallowed pages are totally pointless. Further, links on pages that surfers can't see, are pointless.

It's almost more important to first figure out what NOT to do and then to figure out what TO do, when it comes to SEO-- because black hat tricks can get you banned from google indefinitely.

I highly recommend Lynda.com's training on SEO. Check it out. They'll explain what is unethical and why-- so that you can avoid a misstep that can cause you to be banned.

finding real estate related link that are on topic is a great way to promote. Check out one of my 51 directories, They sell as a package deal. It has a PR 3 for now but should increase.