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I'm developing copy for a website topic page with four detail (sub) pages. Each detail page focuses on a specific type of add-on module. The topic page will have overall information about all four modules for visitors that want the sound bite, with nav and embedded text links to the detail pages.

Is there a rule-of-thumb about the amount of repetition that's acceptable to the SEO algorithms? The sound bites won't repeat the lead paragraphs on the detail pages but the content will be very similar.

(The detail pages are working out to be 700-900 words. The summary page will be developed after the detail pages are completed.)

thx, m2

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Hi M2, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'd enjoy taking a look once the pages are complete. Happy writing... – Ben Robbins Mar 1 at 23:15

2 Answers

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It's true that any amount of copy/paste can get you into trouble. Sometimes you can re-organize paragraph content from a detail page as bullets on a summary page. With detail pages of the length you are describing, there is ample opportunity for paraphrasing on your summary. While copying can hurt you, similar concepts work great. Google likes to see lots of synonymous terms used, in addition to the most popular keywords, so mix it up a bit on the detail pages. Use the most valuable keywords from the detail pages for headers (but not H1) and anchor text on the summary page.

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Thanks Ben, condensing the relevant info into bullets is perfect, it works for readers and spiders. Signed, Astray in the Topiary – m2 Feb 28 at 14:09
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Short Answer: Do NOT Copy and Paste Any Paragraphs!

As with your visitors, search engines do not want to read the same redundant information over again. The most important rule--far more critical than number of repetitions--is:

To write for your visitors to keep them engaged and informed!

If you follow that, then you will be most probable to have the right amount of repetitions.

However, to go in more technical detail and provide some directions:

  1. Make sure each module excerpt on the main page is indeed a summary of what is to come on the module page itself.
  2. Link the most relevant string of words in 8each module paragraph on the main page* to the respective module page.
  3. Just as with the module summaries on the main page, you may write a few sentences on each module page about the whole suite (represented on the main page) and use a phrase in that paragraph to link to the main page. This will be slightly different on each module page, since each module relates to the whole at least slightly differently.
  4. If applicable to your situation, write about the relationship of one module to the other and link the sub-pages appropriately.

Doing the above will help ensure a fluid experience when educating your visitor on your modules, as well as a great highly-relevant internal link and content structure within the 5-page website.

Of course remember to handle your title, Header and other tags appropriately with seo-friendly techniques as well.

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