Thin content with little or no added value

Summary

Matt explains the concept of 'thin content with little or no added value,' commonly flagged in webmaster tools. He discusses examples like doorway pages, thin affiliate sites, and low-quality syndicated content, highlighting how such content adds little value for users. He emphasizes the importance of creating original, insightful, and unique content that offers real value, such as personal reviews, original research, or user-generated content. Matt encourages site owners to evaluate their content from a user’s perspective and improve it to enhance user engagement and avoid penalties.

Takeaways

• 🔑 Thin content refers to pages with little or no added value, offering minimal usefulness to users.
• 🚪 Doorway pages are a type of thin content. They typically exist to rank for slightly different keywords but offer no real value beyond the city or keyword change.
• 💻 Thin affiliates are pages that use affiliate feeds without adding original insight, reviews, or research, competing with many other identical sites.
• 📰 Thin syndication involves pulling content from article banks or low-quality sources without adding unique content or value.
• 📝 Unique content means more than just slightly changing or 'spinning' an article. It should involve original writing, experience, or detailed reviews.
• 📊 Original content, such as personal reviews, user-generated content, or product videos, adds value and helps differentiate a site from others.
• 🔍 Websites that are primarily composed of thin content, whether affiliate feeds or syndicated articles, are often penalized by search engines.
• 💡 Improving a site involves removing thin content and focusing on adding unique, valuable content that engages users.
• 🌟 Websites should aim to offer content that users find useful, interesting, and worth returning to, such as in-depth product reviews or personal insights.
• 📈 The goal is to create content that users enjoy, bookmark, and share with others, thereby improving the site's overall quality and value.

Q & A

What does 'thin content with little or no added value' mean?

Thin content with little or no added value refers to pages or websites that provide minimal original information or insights. They often have content that's duplicated, lacks originality, or offers no significant benefit to users compared to other sources.

What is a doorway page?

A doorway page is a web page created solely to rank for specific search phrases. These pages usually contain very little content and serve as an entry point for visitors, often leading them to another page. They don't provide substantial information and often vary only slightly by keyword or location.

Can you give an example of a more subtle doorway page?

Yes, a more subtle example would be a Direct TV installer creating separate pages for every city in Colorado, with the only difference being the city name. While each page may appear relevant individually, they offer no additional value because the content is essentially duplicated across all pages.

What is a 'thin affiliate' site?

A thin affiliate site is a website that uses affiliate programs to earn commissions but provides little to no added value. These sites often take product descriptions from an affiliate feed and display them without any original insights, reviews, or analysis, resulting in a lack of unique content.

How can affiliates add value to their content?

Affiliates can add value by including genuine reviews, insights, personal experiences, or additional information about the products they are promoting. For example, sharing opinions, comparing products, or providing comprehensive reviews based on personal use adds originality and usefulness to the content.

What does 'thin syndication' mean in the context of web content?

Thin syndication refers to the practice of pulling in content from other sources, such as low-quality article banks or RSS feeds, and posting it on a website without adding any original analysis, commentary, or value. These sites often feature content that has been republished without meaningful changes.

Why are thin content sites considered undesirable by search engines?

Thin content sites are considered undesirable because they offer little value to users, often duplicating content found elsewhere or failing to provide any unique insights. Users tend to find these pages unhelpful, and search engines aim to prioritize websites that offer valuable, original content.

What actions can website owners take if they receive a 'thin content' warning?

Website owners can remove or improve thin content by adding original insights, research, or user-generated content. They should aim to create pages that provide value, such as genuine reviews, expert analysis, or unique perspectives, rather than simply reposting or duplicating existing material.

Why should website owners avoid using only syndicated content?

Website owners should avoid using only syndicated content because it doesn't offer anything new or unique for users. Relying solely on such content makes the site unoriginal and less valuable, which can lead to lower search engine rankings or even penalties.

What is the recommended approach for creating valuable web content?

The recommended approach is to focus on creating original content that is informative, insightful, and engaging. This includes writing from personal experience, conducting research, providing expert analysis, or offering user-generated reviews to make the website more compelling and useful to visitors.