A rare problem where embedded/transcluded content causes duplicate indexing issues.
Do you ever reuse the same block of content, like a product guarantee or a footer, across dozens of pages? I know that feeling of saving time by copying and pasting, but it creates a hidden problem for Google. I want to share a sophisticated, yet common, issue that can secretly hurt your site’s quality score.
I am going to explain exactly What is Transclusion SEO Issue? and show you how to safely reuse content without triggering duplicate content filters. I will give you simple, actionable tips for every platform and industry to ensure your unique pages stand out. This focus on content originality will protect your site’s authority and rankings.
What is Transclusion SEO Issue?
Transclusion is when one piece of content, often a block or snippet of code, is pulled into and displayed on many different web pages. The Transclusion SEO Issue arises when a large portion of a page’s visible text is comprised of this repeated, transcluded content. Search engines may then view the page as thin content or duplicate content because its unique value is overshadowed by the copied text.
I view this issue as a balance problem: the repeated content is often necessary, but it dilutes the relevance of the unique text on the page. For example, a long disclaimer or a giant block of company history transcluded onto every page can make the actual unique content seem small. My strategy is to minimize the transcluded content and maximize the unique, value-driven text on every page.
Impact of Transclusion Across CMS Platforms
The risk of the Transclusion SEO Issue is tied to how heavily a CMS relies on templates and reusable blocks for page building.
WordPress
On WordPress, the issue often arises from themes or page builders that use reusable “global blocks” or shortcodes for large chunks of content, like testimonials or legal notices. I manage this by ensuring the unique content on my pages is very long and detailed to outweigh the transcluded portions. I also avoid putting excessive transcluded text near the top of the page.
Shopify
For my Shopify stores, the Transclusion SEO Issue is common with template sections like shipping policies or “free returns” banners that appear on every product page. I ensure that every product description is highly unique and detailed to compensate for the necessary repeated footer and navigation code. I rely on the unique text to dominate the page’s content signals.
Wix
Wix users should be careful not to rely on duplicating entire sections across multiple service pages, as this is a form of transclusion. I make sure every page has a unique goal and focuses on different aspects of my business. I only use the basic, minimal header and footer blocks, where repeated content is unavoidable.
Webflow
Webflow’s CMS is ideal for safely managing transclusion using symbols for headers and footers, which are necessary structural code. I ensure that the content within the CMS collections (where my unique articles and products live) is rich and original. The clean code produced by Webflow helps keep the structural code light.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, I enforce a low percentage of transcluded content on all informational and commercial pages. I build technical solutions to ensure that reusable elements, like navigations, are implemented with the least amount of code possible. This high control over the code minimizes the transclusion issue.
Transclusion Application in Different Industries
I focus on ensuring the unique, high-value text is never overshadowed by necessary boilerplate or repeated content in each sector.
Ecommerce
In e-commerce, I solve the Transclusion SEO Issue by ensuring my product descriptions are comprehensive, containing unique details, usage tips, and customer-specific FAQs. This unique content easily outweighs the necessary transcluded components like the shopping cart button and global navigation footer.
Local Businesses
For local businesses, I focus on minimizing the repetition of general company information and instead use unique, locally focused testimonials or case studies on each service page. I ensure the text that describes the specific service is long and detailed. This unique content adds high value.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
With SaaS, the Transclusion SEO Issue can appear when documentation uses the same template introduction on many feature pages. I ensure the documentation is highly unique for each feature, focusing on specific code snippets and examples. The unique technical content must dominate the boilerplate language.
Blogs
For my blogs, I ensure the articles are long and authoritative, easily outweighing any repeated elements like the author bio box or social sharing buttons. I never use the same introductory or concluding paragraphs on different articles. The unique value of the article must be clear and substantial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Transclusion the same as duplicate content?
No, Transclusion is the act of reusing content, but it only becomes an SEO issue (a type of duplicate content) if the repeated content makes up a very large portion of the page, leading to a thin content signal.
What is the safe percentage of transcluded content?
There is no official number, but I aim to ensure that no more than 20-30% of the visible text on a page is transcluded content. The remaining 70-80% must be unique, high-value text.
How can I safely reuse content without the issue?
I safely reuse content by putting it in necessary structural elements like the footer and navigation, and by ensuring the unique content is always much longer and more detailed than the transcluded parts.
Should I hide transcluded text from Google?
No, I should not hide the text. Hiding text is seen as cloaking, which is a big penalty risk. Instead, I should focus on adding more unique text to reduce the proportion of the transcluded content naturally.
