Duplicate content

Want to avoid but is this OK

[Visit Thailand]

One site we have has a lot of info on it. I would like to create a new site that focuses on just one topic rather than hundreds.

The exisiting site already covers this topic but I want to create a new site with just that topic on it. The layout of the site would be very different from the exisiting site. The whole look and feel of the site would be different.

Utlimately though it will have the same content (at least on that one topic).

Is this duplicate content?

Personally I do not regard it as duplicate as the site has a completely different structure look and feel. Would SE's think the same?

[webtress]

Duplicate content relates to the textual content not the look and feel. You have a couple of choies to avoid duplicate content. 1. Remove the content from the first site. 2. Rewrite the content on the second site. There are many ways to the same thing. In other words, there are lots of options to relay the exact message.

[goodroi]

Just make sure that the content is rewritten or reformatted so that the sentences are not in the same order and you'll be fine.

[chrisnrae]

I agree. Just do a quick re-write of the content and you should be ok. Then also be sure to add even more content on said topic to the new site.

If both sites are going to contain the exact same content on the exact same subject, than, from a SE standpoint, why would they want to list both? Spiders don't see a true "visual" version of your site in the same way a human does, only the data it contains.

And make sure you research cross linking before you decide whether or not to interlink the two sites.

[Robert Charlton]

Visit Thailand - I'd be very cautious about this. Google is not only zapping duplicate content... it appears to be zapping similar content on related sites for overlapping search phrases. Take a look at this thread....

Similar sites on same IP address
Ranking issues
[webmasterworld.com...]

"Similar" I think has to do with IP address, source of inbound links, and content. Search targets don't have to be intentional... if the sites are sufficiently related, just having the phrases prominent on both sites might be enough.

I think that the linking pattern of the sites (not just cross-linking, but related inbound link sources) is a very important factor, though not one that I've been able to test.

[Visit Thailand]

Thanks for the replies all and for the useful link Robert.

I must admit the same server issue was making me a little nervous, it is just a pity not being able to make use of a domain name that is right on top of this topic, without effectively trying to hide the fact that I own it etc.