Today's SEO Tips entry was via NetBlazin
"Write your own product descriptions. Don't reuse the same canned copy from vendors that every other reseller is using."
It's a tempting solution when you get a nice new XML datafeed, CSV or database of products. We could save hours of time just my using the out of the can descriptions!
Before you do however, pause a moment and ask yourself:
If a customer is searching for this product, why would Google show your (identical) page, rather than the official (source) website? Which likely was there first, as more links and authority.
This ties in with one of Google's primary search goals of delivering relevant results to users as quickly as possible, what possible use would there be returning what is essentially the same page twice? If the first one wasn't useful, the second one isn't going to be either, it's wasted real-esate, hence the duplicate content filter.
Possible solutions? You could rewrite the descriptions, you could even get creative with some searching and replacing, but it's a little narrow-minded. Where's the added-value? Why does your site exist? Either inject something of your own creation or see if you can harness user-generated content?
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Previous SEO Tips:
SEO Tip #10: Competitor Link Research
SEO Tip #9: Good usability means good SEO
SEO Tip #8: SEO Success = ROI not rankings
SEO Tip #7: Localise, don't just translate
SEO Tip #6: Get the on-page basics right
SEO Tip #5: Check the use before date
SEO Tip #4: Integrate SEO and PPC Campaigns
SEO Tip #3: Using Twitter
SEO Tip #2: Create Unique Content
SEO Tip #1: Stop! Keyword Research