When we work with clients to customize their websites, we write “original content” pages that are optimized for specific keyword phrases.  And, the topics range widely.  The most unusual page we have written was for an agent who sells in an upscale neighborhood where all the homes have septic tanks and well water.  We wrote a page describing how easy it is to manage septic tanks and well water.  That was really original content!

However, there seems to be a fair amount of confusion about original content.

Why You Need Original Content

There are really two reasons.  One has to do with your site visitors.  Your visitors have all seen the standard buyer/seller information pages.  It’s so overdone, most visitors don’t even land on those pages.  Your visitors want to see something different.  They want some insight about the communities and neighborhoods in your geographic area.  They want information about the market, property taxes, things to do in the area, and a variety of other types of information depending on your market and your niche.

The second reason you need original content is for the search engines.  They won’t be impressed if the pages on your site can be found in 12 other places on the Internet.

So, What Is Original Content?

You might think that the answer to that question is pretty simple.  But, I find that people interpret “original” in all kinds of ways.  The following explanations do not define original content:

• None of my competitors have this type of information on their websites
• Everyone asks me about this topic
• I found all this information myself
• I used several resources to get this information

Just because you copied information from several resources doesn’t mean you’ve got original content on your site.

Original Content – The Real Definition

Original content is text on a page that a search engine (or a person for that matter) can’t find anywhere else on the Internet.

Think back to your school days.  When you were assigned a topic for a paper, you had to do research.  You’d read as much information on the topic as you could – or as much as you had time to find.  Then, you’d write a paper using what you learned from your research.  But, the actual content of the paper would be written in your own words.

THAT’s the type of original content you need on your website.