Is Including News Feeds on a Page a Bad Idea?

Discussion in 'Google' started by potentmix, Nov 23, 2007.

  1. #1
    I've been including news feeds with headlines and snippets on some of my pages, anywhere from two to five news items. They can change almost hourly.

    Someone told me when I implemented this that it could do wonders in terms of continuous fresh content for the bots, especially Googlebot. However, in looking over some more recent comments on this, I'm wondering if it's a bad idea. One comment was thus:

    I'd love to hear whether this advice is current, and whether I should consider taking the news feeds down. It never occurred to me that there could be such a thing as updating too frequently. I know updates can take place on sites like CNN and MSNBC several times a day, but they're trusted, and my sites haven't reached that point.
     
    potentmix, Nov 23, 2007 IP
  2. aeromit

    aeromit Guest

    Messages:
    113
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    Well if the content of the nes is relevant to the page content taht might help.... look at the things this way. Search engines (especially Google) like pages that are seful for average web surfer.
     
    aeromit, Nov 23, 2007 IP
  3. allout

    allout Prominent Member

    Messages:
    5,000
    Likes Received:
    461
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    340
    #3
    It is a good idea as long as you are using in conjuntion with quality original content of your own. The ones who run into problems with Google are those that use only live feeds. These are auto feed sites are often flagged for duplicate content. Only use feeds as a supplement to your content.
     
    allout, Nov 23, 2007 IP
  4. potentmix

    potentmix Peon

    Messages:
    402
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    That's exactly the way I use the news feeds, as a complement to other content, and not as the main substance of the page.
     
    potentmix, Nov 23, 2007 IP
  5. AngelaE8654

    AngelaE8654 Active Member

    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    27
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    85
    #5

    I agree. News feeds, especially if they relate to the subject of your website, can be really good for the people who access your site (remember, "build your site for people, not for Google"). As long as they're not overdone or done wrong, I don't see why Google would penalize you for it.
     
    AngelaE8654, Nov 23, 2007 IP
  6. potentmix

    potentmix Peon

    Messages:
    402
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    Yes, the feeds are always on-topic. I use them both on static .html and blog pages.
     
    potentmix, Nov 23, 2007 IP