Google Translate for Unique Content

[edreamsbcn]

We are considering using the Google Translation tool to translate customer reviews into various languages for publication as indexable content both for users and for search engine long tail visibility and rankings.

Does anyone have any experience, insights or caveats to share?

[Marcus_Miller]

This is worth a read:

http://www.webpronews.com/google-duplicate-content-2011-12

It is not review specific but I think the point stands - don't use Google Translate for website content and if you want to do this, get them rewritten by a translator.

Point being, if your reviews are auto translated, it will not be perfect language so.... is not great content and in some respects, having barely coherant reviews could be a negative equity and is certainly not going to add that credibility you were looking for.

So, no real problem with translating them, but don't use Google Translate for it.

Hope this helps

Marcus

[edreamsbcn]

Thanks Marcus, hadn't see that.

Sounds like what MC is saying is that translated text is not suitable as unique content but if the translated content is quality checked and edited then it could in principle be used.

[Marcus_Miller]

Yep, I think that is pretty much on the money.

Also, if you want reviews, you could always put them in sub folders and geotarget the sub folders as well so.

www.yoursite.com/en-reviews/

www.yoursite.com/fr-reviews/

Then, if you add these folders in webmaster tools and geo target them you should keep everything nice and clean and avoid the wrath of whatever white and black animal Google unleash upon the web next!

Hope this helps.
Marcus