Can copying content from other websites impact my SEO?

Lia Bartley

We get it – writing can be a time-consuming task. Whether you’re creating content for a new website, or committing to uploading a regular weekly blog, it can be tempting to cut corners as life hurtles by.

In this blog, however, we’ll outline the major risks – both in terms of search engine optimisation (SEO) and the law – present for those who choose to take shortcuts by lifting content directly from other websites.

Is copying content really that bad?

Firstly, let’s explain what constitutes duplicate content, before we outline the risks involved.

Duplicate content refers to content that is very similar, or identical, to that of another website.

Duplicate content can also appear on your own website, if you decide to cut corners and copy and paste the same information on different pages, to save time.

But how does duplicate content affect SEO? Well, for starters, Google prefers to rank and index pages that have unique, distinct content – in other words, pages that have something original to say.

In some cases – rarely, but it does happen – Google can even penalise your site if it finds you have been duplicating content deliberately. This could result in your website getting de-indexed from the search engine results pages (SERPs) completely – meaning you won’t appear in Google’s search results.

What are the legal repercussions?

Copying and pasting content – whether that’s from another website, journal, e-book or other document – is illegal without permission from the author. Exceptions to this rule can involve when you are quoting directly from a source, for example, and clearing indicating that this is the case. If you aren’t careful, copying and pasting someone else’s work could result in legal action being taken.

If you’re a business owner with time constraints, don’t take shortcuts on your content. Reach out to the team at Engage Web today to have your website, blogs, lead magnets and more written and edited by our team of experts.

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Lia Bartley

Content Editor at Engage Web

With years of experience in the financial sector, Lia has swapped the world of mis-sold PPI in exchange for life as an eagle-eyed editor at Engage Web, ensuring our wonderful clients have equally wonderful content on their websites.