Duplicate content question.

[Worsin]

Ok here is the scenario.

I work enrollment center for a boarding school company. The schools we represent and all the other enrollment offices have their own websites but the descriptions of the schools and testimonials are all the same.

My question is if i am using the same descriptions for the schools we represent as say 5 other websites owned by other companies how does this affect my ranking?

Also, if using duplicate content does affect ranking how can i work around these issues so google and other search engines do not flag my site as just another duplicate of another site?

Do i have to rewrite all the school descriptions?

Also in regards to content like testimonials, obviously by law i cannot alter those nor would i want to. Currently all the other offices place testimonials for each school on 1 web page.

Would it benefit me to separate the testimonials and place them each on their own page?

Would this keep me from being flagged as a duplicate of some other site?

If anyone has any ideas or can point me to a article or something that goes over duplicate content in detail it would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Worsin

[Worsin]

224 views and not 1 response? Come on people help a newcomer out.

This doesnt give me a very good impression of these forums!!

[Gooner151078]

IMHO you do not need to worry too much. Remember the Google mantra "Don't be Evil". As long as you are not intentionally doing anything malicious.

FMCG companies selling the same product will always have duplicate content in some cases and your case is comparable.

Plenty more information on Duplicate content here.