How many times have you wondered when you’ll find the time to update your veterinary blog? With so many responsibilities demanding your attention, it can feel impossible to focus on marketing your practice.
Crafting your blog doesn’t have to be an all-consuming chore. There are plenty of ways to save time on blog writing, without sacrificing the quality of your content.
We have good news – not all content needs to be completely original. Curating content from high-quality sources around the web is a great way to amass knowledge for your readers. Think of yourself like an art curator, choosing only the best pieces for your collection to make a statement all your own.
That’s the key – all content must be valuable, and you have to tailor it to fit your voice. Content curation may save you the struggle of starting from nothing, but it’s not a free pass to copy-and-paste someone else’s work. It’s essential to say things in your own words, and attribute your sources wherever necessary.
The benefits of adding original ideas and opinions to curated blog posts go beyond just avoiding plagiarism. We’ve given it a lot of thought (so you won’t have to) and came up with four reasons to avoid duplicating blog content.
Reason #1: Improved visibility.
Duplicate content is a punishable offense – according to search engine algorithms, that is. When you copy content from another source, it can damage your SEO results and bury your website in obscurity.
Google frequently updates its search algorithms to avoid irrelevant repetition and to cut down on spam-like content. Research suggests that 29% of Internet pages have some form of duplicate content. Since this problem is so widespread, search engines have grown vigilant in their efforts to identify the original content (using its publishing date), and rank near-identical content extremely low on search engine result pages.
Avoid the SEO abyss by phrasing content in your own way. This will keep your blog posts fresh and your content new, allowing search engines to rank your page properly nearest the top – where it belongs.
Reason #2: You can beat Dr. Google.
One of the best ways to fight back against misinformation is to reach clients where they turn most – Dr. Google. When you rank higher on a search engine result page, pet owners are more likely to stumble across your blog.
Including hyperlinks to external resources is a great way to improve visibility, while also giving credit to your sources. This has the combined result of increasing website traffic and extending the time each pet owner spends on your site.
Tip: Reclaim client education before the pet owner even leaves the clinic with informational print-outs that clients can take home for reference. Rather than turning to Dr. Google with their questions, you’ll have already provided the answer.
Reason #3: You’ll build trust with pet owners.
Despite the potentially negative influence of Dr. Google, a 2017 clinical study shows that pet owners still consider veterinarians a trusted resource for pet health information.
When you add original thought and give your professional take within blog content, you not only avoid plagiarism, but also establish yourself as an expert in your field. Duplicating content and forgetting to attribute your sources can damage your reputation as an honest, trustworthy practice.
Plus, adding hyperlinks to external resources adds weight and authority to your claims. When your blog is rife with unattributed information, it can appear as though you are just sharing your opinion – and while that’s good, it’s best mixed with your educated knowledge.
Reason #4: You can add personality.
Educational content can be difficult for the average pet owner to digest if the vocabulary is too technical, or if the phrasing is too dry. When you duplicate content without adding your own twist, you forgo an opportunity to develop a unique, recognizable voice for your clinic online.
Adding personality to your blog is an important step towards engaging new clients and maintaining the interest of loyal pet owners. When your content is both informative and entertaining, they are more likely to read what you have to say.Whether intentional or not, publishing duplicate content will dilute your visibility and prevent pet owners from connecting with the valuable information your veterinary practice has to offer.
So when the time comes to write your next blog post, consider these four reasons to avoid duplicating content. With just a touch of personalization, the possibilities for content success are endless.
Looking for more veterinary blog inspiration? With a WebDVM website, you’ll get access to all kinds of fun and informative content to post with your comments and opinions!
