HubSpot SEO Certification Practice Test

Why is having duplicate content an issue for SEO?

1. It can improve your ranking potential

2. It can increase website traffic

3. It can dilute your ranking potential

4. It can enhance user experience

The correct answer is: It can dilute your ranking potential

Having duplicate content is a significant issue for SEO primarily because it can dilute your ranking potential. When multiple pages on the internet present the same or very similar content, search engines face challenges in determining which version to index or rank. This confusion can lead to a situation where the authority and relevance of these pages are spread thin, causing them to compete against each other instead of working together to boost visibility. As a result, rather than consolidating the ranking signals to enhance the performance of a single page, search engines may split the ranking potential across the duplicates. This fragmentation can negatively affect your site's placement in search engine results pages (SERPs), making it harder for any of the duplicate content to rank well. For SEO, it is crucial for content to be unique and high-quality to ensure that it can effectively capture user interest and establish authentic authority on topics. By avoiding duplicate content, a website can enhance its overall SEO health and improve its chances of ranking higher in search results, ultimately leading to better visibility and increased organic traffic.