Duplicate Content - Cause For Banning You From AdSense?

This discussion has been around for some time. There are many AdSense packages floating around the Internet offering you different website templates filled with relevant articles from ezine sites. Other sites reproduce recipes that are public domain and in each case the website owner is worried that Google will ban them because they are offering duplicate content. Like most hysterias, people react out of fear rather than knowledge.

Well let's see what Google has to say about the matter, "Do not create multiple pages, subdomains, or domains with substantially duplicate content." What does this mean? Are sites that use articles from ezine sites going to be banned because they are using duplicate content? Is Google going to ban all those recipe sites that post duplicate casseroles, pies and cakes? The answer is simply, "no."

Google's statement refers to "mirror sites." This is a website that contains the exact same information as another website. In other words, they're twins. People do this in an attempt to raise their page rank in the search engines and increase their AdSense income. However, like all good panics the truth gets obscured along the way and sometimes intentionally. For where there is panic there is opportunity for individuals to profit.

Let's look at this logically. If Google had a duplicate content filter then national, regional and local news sites that syndicate the news using AP or Reuters would all be banned from Google. Many retailers as well would be banned for promoting the same products or using the same promotions as their competitors. Affiliate sites that allow members to promote their products or even the giant eBay on which there are similar products would be banned. I almost forgot about all the ezine sites that would be banned because of similar articles being circulated.

Follow the lyrics from an old song, "Don't worry, be happy." As long as you have the right to use duplicate content and your site is easily distinguishable form other sites you have nothing to worry about staying in the good graces of Google. However, if you use articles without permission or other content then yes, you deserve to be banned.

There are two bits of advice that will be helpful in maximizing your AdSense income and getting a higher page rank in the search engines. First, rather than use an article from an ezine site or other legitimate site, rewrite the article in your own words. This makes your content unique and it will elevate you when Google examines your site for relevancy. Second, make sure your web page is properly optimized. A web page that is optimized will benefit you more than anything else.