My WebSite has two sections with overlapping, or redundant articles on the same topics. Google is only listing one or the other article in Search Results. What should I do to have both pages (similiar but unique content ) to be listed?

[docjamesmd]

My Web Site has two sections with overlapping, or redundant articles on the same topics. Google is only listing one or the other article in Search Results. What should I do to have both pages (similar but unique content ) to be listed?

Example:

http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_week_12.htm

http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_12_weeks.html

[RyanKent]

When I suggested combining the two articles, what I meant was to sit down with both articles and merge them into one article. This wouldn't be a simple copy and paste the two articles together. Instead you would logically merge the content, excluding any duplicate information.

When you are finished, review the article and then ask others to do so as well. Each article offers a lot of content. To help you better target key terms you can split the final article up into two articles.

I know this sounds confusing so I will clarify. Lets say you have Article A and Article B. Each article covers the same topic and contains about 1500 words. Upon reviewing both articles you realize about 1000 words are the same. The goal would then to merge the 500 unique words into the first article and make a single 2000 word article.

Once that process is complete, you can then set out on your original goal of targeting more key words. To do that, you can break your 2000 word article into two (or more) articles, each targeting a couple phrases.

[docjamesmd]

Hi Ryan

I have thought of combining the two articles into one, but was concerned about the added content as being duplicate.  etc....

[RyanKent]

Google recognizes there are two pages with the same content. You have two options:

1. Let Google know these pages have the same content but you are choosing to keep both to provide a better user experience. This can be achieved by adding the canonical tag to your head code. Since you specifically stated you wish both pages to be listed, I'll move on to option 2.

2. You need to offer a significant variation between the two pages. Google is looking for UNIQUE content. Your header, footer and both side bars offers identical content on both pages. That is a common practice, but it also works against you in this instance. These two articles clearly are discussing the exact same subjects and Google recognizes it as such.

It is very clear you are using these two pages in an attempt to rank for more key words. Google's system is designed to prevent your efforts. Even if you were to get through, it is only a matter of time until an adjustment is made and one of the pages gets filtered out.

Look at your site from a reader's point of view. If a visitor read one of those articles, would they gain anything more by looking at the second article? Try combining the two articles into one, and then possibly further segmenting them. Some ideas:

• pregnancy 12 weeks from a doctor's point of view

• pregnancy 12 weeks from a mother's point of view

• pregnancy 12 weeks from a father's point of view

You can also look at "pregnancy complications" or sub-topics such as "Signs my baby is healthy". The ultimate goal of this process for you will be to offer more opportunities to use this content to target more key word phrases.

You want to decide "What is in the best interests of my readers" then take those steps. Currently you give the clear impression you wish to get traffic on your site so you can sell the items listed.

[CodyWheeler]

You found the issue here with your question. They have similar content, so Google is showing only one. I would try to change the on-page SEO attributes of your articles to target different keywords.

It's not very often that Google is going to show the same site for the same search unless the articles are quite unique. They strive for diversity in their links.

You may be able to accomplish a little more uniqueness by changing the Title, H1, name of the article, subheadings, content, incoming links, etc.