When it comes to SEO, we always run into all kinds of problems, and columnist Ryan Shelle believes that duplicate content is one of the easiest problems to solve. In this article we'll walk you through why duplicate content is the easiest to fix and what you should do.

The term "duplicate content" terrifies many email list webmasters and SEOs. But the truth is, not all duplicate content is created equal.

Since content is a core element of good SEO, many people try to manipulate results by using the old "copy and paste" method. Google penalizes this approach, so it should make your heart dread.

However, don't panic if you accidentally create some duplicate content on your site. Below, we'll take a look at how Google handles duplicate material, and I'll share some tips to ensure your site's content is fresh and unique.

To better understand how Google handles duplicate content, you need to read their overview here. If you fear punishment, let me help you cite this abstract from the article above more easily.

"Unless the intent of the duplicate content is deceptive and to manipulate search engine results, duplicate content on a site is not a reason to take action against that site." - Google

Okay, so now you know Google isn't here to crack down You, but if you have duplicate content, you should take some time to clean it up. Duplicate content is generally divided into three categories: exact duplicates, approximate duplicates, and cross-domain duplicates.