Search Engines using Smoke and Mirrors to Hide Flaws

Over at the ABestWeb affiliate forums X10, who deal in consumer electronics, are announcing a new feature to their affiliate program: A free website, all ready to go. Some of the members are concerned over "duplicate content" penalties and the X10 rep steps in to dispel a few myths about Search engines and ranking penalties. The concern over duplicate content penalties is a very common one, and as Heather Paulson points out, it's a myth. In fact, there are an enormous amount of myths floating about the affiliate and search marketing forums, particularly amongst those new to scene. Some of those myths have been carefully planted and nurtured by the Search engines themselves, presumably in an effort to put the fear of god into newbie seo's and affilate marketers and limit practices that can hurt Search relevancy. Some of them are almost certainly the work of over active imaginations on the part of the marketers and promoters. Let me run through the points Heather makes in response to the duplicate content query and add some commentary on each.

More Sex, Lies, and Penalties in Search? Do add any the post didnt cover, i think it's quite a few. It would be interesting to find out what we collectively feel is bullshit and what we know to be true. Wonderful stuff from Nick Wilson is the publisher and founder of Register here to participate.