[Renaissance-Design]

I just did a quick Google for a couple of my targeted keywords, and the #1 spot has been taken completely out of nowhere by a site that seems to be hosting multiple identical pages with only the name of the location changed.

I'd call the tactic grey hat at best, but I'm curious as to how Google doesn't come down on pages with geographically-spun content. Seems a fairly easy catch. Thoughts, anyone?

[Spitfire]

Just for clarification, I assume the site in question Digital Atom? In my search results, you're #3 and they're #4.

I'm with you on this Chris, those sort of copy-cat dynamic pages are very dark-grey hat tactics. From my SEO experience, Google doesn't give a hoot about duplicate content and there aren't any actual penalties for it. If you do have a number of pages all with the same (or similar content) aimed at the same keyword phrase then all Google will do is pick one of them to rank highly for that term and leave the others languishing further down the results pages.

However, looking at a few of their pages, they are all aimed at different keyword phrases (ie: the various Welsh locations) and I'm sure that's exactly what Google sees as well. Which is annoying as hell when you've put the time and effort into creating unique content and get beaten by someone else using a template page and a few bought backlinks.

This post has been edited by Spitfire: 26 October 2011 - 01:59 PM

[Renaissance-Design]

H'mm. I thought Google didn't tailor the results if I'm not signed in?

Yeah, it's a royal pain. Annoying thing is, I thought about doing the same a couple of years ago when I subcontracted to do the same sort of thing for a network of dating sites (I know, I know - but I had bills to pay). I decided against it because I thought it was particularly scummy and spammy and I figured it was something Google would cotton on to and penalize. Here we are in 2011 and someone's using the same trick to jump straight onto Page 1 of the SERPs and go toe to toe with me in my own backyard.

I know search isn't the be-all and end-all - I can't even remember the last time I saw Mark Boulton Design on a SERP - but I hate seeing black- and grey-hat tactics succeed. Seems detrimental to the health of the web.

[terydinho]

Area pages are fast becoming a really easy way to get a site ranking in local areas - loads and loads of companies do it.

Although, the ones I have seen have very unique, copywritten content for each area, so it isn't a template as such - hmmmm

I suppose, if the content isn't identical, what can google do about it? It isn't a duplication...

Would be hard pressed to find a way around it

[Spitfire]

Renaissance-Design, on 26 October 2011 - 02:29 PM, said:

H'mm. I thought Google didn't tailor the results if I'm not signed in?

Maybe it's regional results? Or even the ever annoying Web History turning itself back on.

[robsticles]

I get a trojan horse warning for the digital atom site so maybe best stearing clear. Avast Warning

This post has been edited by robsticles: 26 October 2011 - 07:44 PM

[Groove587]

Renaissance-Design, on 26 October 2011 - 02:29 PM, said:

H'mm. I thought Google didn't tailor the results if I'm not signed in?

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