Is This Duplicate Content Hurting Our SERPs?

[lbohen]

We sell 1000s of audio book title, many of which are published in more than one format (abridged, unabridged CD, and/or unabridged MP3) by the same publisher. Currently each title has its own page but the basic description of the title (story) is the same. Here is an example title that is offered in three formats.

44 Charles Street - Danielle Steel - abridged CD audiobook

44 Charles Street - Danielle Steel - MP3 CD audiobook

44 Charles Street - Danielle Steel - CD audiobook

Each of the above pages has a different page title, a different URL, a different meta description however much of the body (from [Listen to a FREE Audio Clip] down is the same.

Is this duplicate content hurting our SERPs?

[JustinTaylor88]

Its is unlikely it is doing your SERPs any good as Google does generally penalise duplicate content.

To solve the issue, you could add in rel=canonical tag into the duplicate pages, this will tell Google the dominant version of the content

http://www.seomoz.org/learn-seo/canonicalization

If you take this approach, i would make sure that prominently on the page you include cross link to the other pages

[EGOL]

I combined items like this on a single page with options.

[RAN_SEO]

First of all - no, this is not good for SEO. not sure that at the moment it is hurting your website but it is far from begin best practice and might cause problems in the future.

I think that EGOL's solution is the best for this issue,

Combining all the 3 versions into one page with "select your format" is the best solution for users and search engines.

if you take this approach (although it means that you need to develop it into your website) the best thing will be to 301 redirect all the URL's into one for every product.

If you rather leave the pages as they are and only deal with the duplication then Canonical tag, as Justin suggested, will be good practice.

I would go with solution NO. 1

Good luck!