Will having the same navigation setup be seen as duplicate content?

The same CSS navigation setup on more than 1 site? Help.

[frenzy77]

Hey guys:)

Not sure about this one. Well...I'm setting up a site and was wondering about the duplicate content penalty.
->I know it has to do with the content of the site but will having a *similar structure* also have penalties?

For example:

I have a *CSS navigation* on one site and the second one i'm putting together also has the *same* CSS navigation setup.

*The keywords are not the same. Just the CSS navigation setup. -->The hover state, block, etc.--<

->The reason i ask is because both sites have similarities in the html and css setups.

Kind of like those templates you can use and just place your info into.

->The site i'm setting up is *not* a purchased duplicated template. I created the site but was thinking that i might be penalized for having *another* site that has similarities in it's setup of programming.

-->I have seen sites that look the same, with some minor changes in the sites. Such changes are usually just color. But those entire sites are usually a copy of an existing site only with color changes. These sites ALL have large pr but look the same.

Well...just need to know if i'm right or wrong. Maybe not a penalty type situation, but just want to be sure i don't make mistakes.

Q.1. Will it receive a penalty if i use the same structure? On more than one site.
->CSS navigation layout, html layout.

Q.2. One last thing, do you guys have a website that
you designed and then later just used as a template to create more websites of the same design?
(navigation) With of course some minor tweaks in the style of the website. And added new unique content, colors, few new images etc.

->What were your results? Still recieved good rankings in the engines?

Site info:

->Content and kws are Not duplicated. All new content and kws on All sites.

Ok. guys I'll wait for your replies.
Thanks for your help:)
I appreciate your advice as always.

Thanks again:)

frenzy77

[caveman]

My opinion: I don't think that templates by themselves cause harm.

Templates are used by spammers and have been for a long time now. The SE's know this of course, and so I think that multiple sites from one template may potentially raise a red flag, just like lots of other practices raise red flags. But there's a huge difference between a red flag (whatever that is), and a penalty.

IMO, it's all a matter of degree.

If a spammer is generating hundreds of sites off of one template, the chance that the sites will be flagged for inspection may go up. If one site is taken out, the templates will make the others far easier to find. Also, it's possible that these sites might be more subject to being taken out by some filter or algorythmic element ... maybe related to linking patterns, or IP address issues, or WHOIS data, etc.

But OTOH, if we're talking about three or four sites, and each site truly deserves to be a stand alone site, and each site features differentiated, unique content, and shows its own unique backlink pattern, then I don't see any issue at all.

So, what if we're talking about fewer than hundreds of sites but more than three sites? Let's say, fifty sites. And what if they're all affiliate based, with thin content, albeit in different categories? I dunno for sure, but I wouldn't do it unless I didn't care about losing all those sites.

Like I said, IMHO, it's a matter of degree. It's also a matter of common sense. If you care about keeping the sites long term, you might ask yourself this question: Would you would be willing to walk up to a Google or Yahoo! or MSN engineer at the next conference and show them your sites? ;-)

[frenzy77]

Hey caveman:)

Thanks for your input:)

If i had multiple sites, i don't think i'd tell them;) So i guess i'll design them differently.

One question though. I'm using a table based structure that allows the content to be seen first instead of the navigation. Would you think that this would be allowed to be placed in all the sites. I read that engines and designers want better accesibility for the blind and xhtml etc...

Would you think that would be ok to use?
I don't know where i would find more designs to use to place the content into.

It's really a table with a blank page setup so the content is viewed first.

Well hope to hear from you soon:)

Thanks for your grear response!
I appreciate your time in answering:)

Thanks again.

frenzy77

[caveman]

Well, again, it's a matter of degree. I don't know what you're up to with the sites, but if there are not too many of them, and they're really differentiated and unique, I would not see a problem with using one template. If OTOH, you're churning them out and/or they're not that differentiated, then yes, certainly the risks of using one template for all of them are increased.

[frenzy77]

Thanks for answering caveman:)

Sorry about taking so long to post. I've been busy
with a site i'm working on. Well,... i do not have multiple sites yet. I only have 1 site up and running right now. The one i'm working on will be the first affiliate site i will launch. But i plan
on creating more than one. That's why i asked about using a template. Well, Thanks again for your response caveman.

Talk ya soon:)

frenzy77