Franchise-Like Duplicate Sites

[GavinAdv]

I know that ideally businesses that operate as franchises should have 1 site with separate location pages. However, I have a slightly different issue.

Each location is owned by a different parent company, and named accordingly. For example, there is "Location by XYZ Company" and "Location by ABC Company." In addition, each location, while carrying similar products, does not carry the same exact products and brands.

So my question is how would you go about writing the content for each of these sites, keeping the same tone but avoiding duplicate content?

[donsilvernail]

Avoiding duplicate content is easy, do not copy the content written for one site and paste to another site. The key here will be creativity. Writing uniquely different content that is specific to each location is a challenge but it will pay off in the long run.

Say the service is doggy day care, the content can be uniquely different from each location while promoting the services located at each location. Just write it differently. Use terms common to each location while being specific to services. Maybe one service in the scenario is outside playtime. One location may have a Nancy who runs the dogs out side and has unique qualifications then Bob who does the same thing at another location. Same service different content.

Is the site an online store that sells products online?

[Matt-Williamson]

As Donald says you can rewrite content for each location and give it a location specific flavor.

One thing I would also recommend when working on something like this is spend the time trying to get some user generated content such a reviews and testimonials. This will give it a more unique local feel.

If each location has similar products but not exactly the same could you slightly vary product focus and weight of content accordingly.

I don't know you setup or budget but you could even look to get different writers for different locations. You may even look to get different business owners/franchise managers to have input on the content for their site. In some situations you may even have some keen to write some content that you can proof/edit.

Hope this helps

[GlobeRunner]

When it comes to duplicate content, Google typically compares one web page versus another web page. So, if the site does have a different company name (franchise name) and carries a different set of products or a some similar products, then it sounds as if the pages on the site won't be considered duplicates. They may be similar, but not necessarily duplicates. It would be best to make sure that each site doesn't use the same exact web design template, as well.

You can run the site through Copyscape.com and Siteliner.com to identify duplicate content issues with the sites. Most good writers will be able to write the content in a way that talks about the same products or services but doesn't include the same text as other sites.