Content is an integral part of search engine optimization. When optimized well, it contributes to enhancing many key SEO signals that search engines use to judge the quality of a website. But let’s face the fact: optimisation is not the only factor that matters for good SEO. Instead, the quality of content also plays a pivotal role in this regard.
When it comes to discussing content quality, we can’t ignore plagiarism. Why? Because it directly impacts the originality, which is one of the main factors search engines use to measure the strength of a page. That’s why it has become essential to check for plagiarised parts before publishing any type of text on the internet.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the key reasons why plagiarism detection has become so important in SEO. We will also share the most effective way to identify and prevent plagiarism.
So, let’s get started.
Why Is Plagiarism Detection So Important For SEO?
Here are the prominent reasons that necessitate plagiarism assessment at all costs:
Violates Google’s Spam Policy
Google’s spam policy directly states that content meant to manipulate rankings in any way is not allowed. The presence of plagiarism hints that you are trying to rank higher by copying someone else’s content. So, Google takes it seriously and may penalize your site on different levels. So, you have no choice except to identify and eliminate plagiarized parts before uploading your text to your site.
Confuses Web Crawlers
When web crawlers see duplicate material, they struggle to decide which page is original. Even a few copied portions can confuse them to the point where they may index the wrong page or give lower priority to your content. This reduces the visibility of your website in search results and can slow down the discovery of new pages. That means your text must be plagiarism-free to help crawlers read and index your pages efficiently.
Lowers Dwell Time
Another reason why plagiarism assessment matters so much is that it significantly affects how long visitors spend on your site. You may be wondering how. When readers encounter repeated information, they are more likely to lose interest and leave the page. And if they find out the text has been copied, their trust in your website drops even further. If your audience stops believing in you, it can hurt the perceived value of your site in search engines’ eyes.
Increases Bounce Rate
When users don’t stay for longer, that means they leave your website within the very first few seconds. Their quick exit signals to search engines that your content may not be valuable or relevant. In SEO terms, it increases bounce rate, which is a key metric that contributes to defining whether your website is truly helpful. Over time, a consistently high bounce rate can lower your search rankings and reduce organic traffic to your site.
Reduces Engagement Rates
Engagement metrics, such as time on page, comments, likes, shares, and page interactions, reflect how users engage with your content once they visit. When your information seems to be stolen or copied, readers are less likely to interact with it. This is because searchers value original, practical content today. They often skip pages with generic or recurring material. This drop in engagement signals to search engines that your pages are less valuable, potentially negatively affecting your rankings.
Ruins User Experience
One more strong reason why you must check your content for plagiarism is that it ruins user experience, which is still a direct ranking factor, according to Backlinko. As mentioned earlier, nearly all searchers visit your site to find original information. However, when they encounter something that they have already seen across different sources, it creates disappointment. This makes them think your website is not a credible source of information, so they never return.
Reduces Backlink Opportunities
By not checking your web material for plagiarism, you actually publish low-quality content. Other websites and blogs are less likely to link to pages that contain copied or duplicated text, which reduces your chances of earning valuable backlinks. However, when your content is well-optimised, properly researched, and free of any duplication, there is a higher chance that other sites will reference it and link back to your pages. So, don’t ignore plagiarism detection at all.
What’s The Best Way To Check Plagiarism In Content?
When it comes to detecting possible plagiarized parts in web content, simple, careful proofreading is not enough. This is because manually checking your text against countless online sources is almost impossible. Even if you search random parts by enclosing them in quotations on search engines, you are likely to miss subtle matches or paraphrased content.
That’s why you should go with the automated method, which is using sophisticated plagiarism detection tools. This allows you to compare your written text across the entire web without involving any manual hassles. All you need to do is access a free plagiarism checker, upload your text, and run an originality test.
The tool scans every sentence and finds all the possible traces of plagiarism. Besides that, it also highlights the matches for easy identification. Once identified, it becomes easier to fix that unseen plagiarism. So, if you want your SEO to be good, don’t hesitate to capitalise on this method whenever needed.
Wrapping It Up
In short, plagiarism doesn’t just violate search engine policies but also hurts key SEO metrics like bounce rate, dwell time, engagement rate, etc. Moreover, it also creates confusion for web crawlers, which may lead to page indexing issues and a waste of crawl budget. That’s why you are left with nothing except checking your content for plagiarism before uploading it to your site. The good thing is that advanced plagiarism checking tools are always there to help you in this regard. So, make sure that you take their help to confirm text originality so that your website’s SEO remains strong.
