Introduction
Having two websites in the same niche can be strategic, but it may also lead to problems with Google indexing, especially if you publish similar content on both websites. In this article we will discuss how to avoid duplicate content, properly manage existing articles and images, and effectively redirect old posts to new versions.
The Problem of Duplicate Content
What is Duplicate Content?
Duplicate content occurs when identical or very similar content appears on more than one website. Google tries to index unique content to provide the best search results for users. When Google detects duplicate content, it may decide to index only one of the websites, which can lead to a decrease in visibility for others.
Impact on Indexing
If Google discovers that two websites have similar articles and the same images, it may decide to index only one of them. This is problematic because it reduces the visibility and potential traffic of the other website. Duplicates can also lower a website’s ranking, as Google tries to avoid duplicating content in its search results.
How to Solve the Problem?
Creating Unique Content
To avoid duplicate content problems, each website should have unique articles. Here are some steps you can take:
1. Writing New Content: Create completely new articles for each website. Avoid paraphrasing content that already exists on another website.
2. Unique Images: Use different images on each website. You can create original images or use stock resources.
Managing Old Posts
When creating new unique content, it’s also important to manage existing articles. Here are some steps you can take:
1. 301 Redirects: To redirect traffic from old posts to new ones, use 301 redirects. A 301 redirect informs browsers and search engines that the page has been permanently moved to a new URL.
2. Updating Content: If you don’t want to create entirely new articles, update existing content to make it more unique and add new images.
Technical SEO
In addition to creating unique content and managing old posts, take care of technical aspects of SEO:
1. Canonical Tags: Use canonical tags to inform Google which version of the page is the main one. This may help avoid duplicate content problems.
2. Google Search Console: Monitor your websites using Google Search Console to quickly identify and resolve indexing issues.
How to Perform 301 Redirects?
301 redirects are crucial for maintaining SEO value on old websites and directing traffic to new ones. Here are steps to follow:
1. Accessing the .htaccess file: If you use Apache, the .htaccess file is where you can manage redirects.
2. Adding a Redirect Rule: In the .htaccess file add a redirect rule for each old URL to the new one. For example:
“`
Redirect 301 /old-post.html http://new-website.com/new-post.html
“`
3. WordPress Plugins: If you use WordPress, you can use plugins like Redirection to easily create and manage 301 redirects.
Monitoring and Optimization
After implementing redirects and creating unique content, it’s essential to monitor results and make further optimizations:
1. Traffic Analysis: Use Google Analytics to monitor traffic on new websites and check if redirects are working correctly.
2. Visibility Analysis: Regularly check visibility in search engine results using SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
3. Regular Updates: Keep your content up-to-date and add new articles to attract traffic and improve rankings.
Conclusion
Solving duplicate content problems in two websites requires a strategic approach that includes creating unique content, managing existing articles, and technical SEO. 301 redirects are a key tool for managing old posts and directing traffic to new, unique pages. Regular monitoring and optimization will help maintain high visibility in search engine results and increase traffic on both websites. By following these steps you can improve SEO on your websites and avoid duplicate content problems.
