Press releases and duplicate content

[A_Q]

Hi Mozzers,

What does Google think about a press release, appearing on lots of websites (relevant websites) as part of a link building campaign.

Does the fact that this press release content is duplicated across lots of sites have a negative impact?

Thanks in advance

[KevnJr]

Hi A_Q

I always considered all PR sites as "nofollow" links, I still use them but don't see most of them when I check our inbound links, except for the association groups we pay to be in, but I don't see them as PR sites, more industry news.

KJr

[EGOL]

Google might consider it a "link scheme" - especially if the press release contains multiple links with keyword optimized anchor text.

You can read what Google has to say about link schemes here.

[A_Q]

Hi KJr,

Thanks for the response, the sites the press release is being published on are not PR sites, but sites relevant to the industry in question - they are follow links, not nofollow links.

[A_Q]

Hi EGOL,

Thanks for the information - really helpful.

The press release in question in not high volume - it's featuring on around 10 - 20 relevant industry websites, and links are pretty natural in their implementation. Do you think this approach would still be considered a "link scheme"?

[EGOL]

When I see Google calling things spam, I steer way around them.

Other people have business models that flirt with the limits for another increment of competitiveness.

So, your idea of "pretty natural" goes up against something that Google sees as manipulation of their product and exploitation of their searchers.  They can nuke websites with the touch of a button or by the passage of a robot.

I have not used press releases for fifteen years.

[A_Q]

Hi EGOL - Thanks again for your help!