How Unique is Unique?

[nlbrt]

We're trying to populate our website with lots of content. We'd like to reuse some where possible on other sites but don;t want to get a duplicate content penalty.

How unique does the content have to be on the other sites? Can we just change one word per sentence?

[Larwee]

nlbrt, if you are curious about or confused about duplicate content, you will find this thread to be very informative Duplicate Content: It’s Not What You Think!

[Linda Buquet]

Hi nlbrt,

Welcome to 5 Star.

"We'd like to reuse some where possible on other sites"

Are you talking about reusing your own content on other sites you own or using other peoples article and re-writing them. If it's other people's content you have one set of rules regarding copyright issues. Not saying you plan to but IF you scrape other peoples content they can get you in trouble with your host and even possibly get your site shut down. Then there's the duplicate content search engine issue which has it's own set of criteria.

Here's the most comprehensive article about duplicate content
from the search viewpoint, written by one of our resident experts.

Duplicate Content: It’s Not What You Think!

[lexiseek]

Although it could take more time, original content is always a better bet. It makes you "unique" in an internet full of websites..