Will linking to very similar (or duplicate content) hurt SEO

[Liggins]

One of my clients started working with a traditional PR company to get media placements and they've placed articles on some very excellent and relevant sites. However, the article's content is nearly identical on each site. We would like to link my client's site to these articles, but will the duplicate content hurt SEO? Because there are some very minor variations within these articles, will that be enough of a difference where we don't need to be concerned if we did link our site to each article?

[aap82]

I guess if it really is duplicated content its not recommended. If its very similar content but not duplicated it shouldn't hurt your SEO

[gazzerman1]

you say "We would like to link my client's site to these articles"

How do you mean? Please explain a little more

[max.favilli]

Yes, linking from duplicate content means potentially loosing SEO value.

google could detect those articles as duplicate and do not include some in the index, result the backlink will bring no value to you.

if google do not detect those articles as duplicate you should still ask yourself if it's really what you want to be linked from extremely similar articles. Because that's a signal, the content of the article where the link is placed, google will use to choose the keywords you will be ranked for. Same article content same keywords you are feeding google.

[LinkWheelOldSchool]

This could get you in trouble, even if the articles are not identical, but fairly identical. It's like those crappy spun articles people were (or still are) using for building contextual links. Most of the won't get indexed and if you have too many of them. The main problem is if those similar articles are also posted on your website. If yes, it could hurt you, if not, there's no risk but just as max pointed out, the backlinks will have no value.

[Liggins]

Yea, sorry I misspoke there. What I meant is that I was thinking of reaching out to these various sources and asking them to link to our site where it was mentioned in the article. I was just concerned whether links from many very similar (or duplicate) articles would do more harm than good. I think I go my answer, which is that it probably won't build much positive benefit, and there is a risk of negative effects, so I will avoid this tactic.