SEO Effects of Quoting? Explaining the Correct Quoting Methods in Blog Articles

Are you wondering about the impact of quoting information from other sites on SEO?

If you’re involved in creating web content, you may find yourself wanting to cite high-quality information or research results from other sites in your own articles.

However, using someone else’s text or images as if you created them yourself can be problematic not only from an SEO perspective but also in terms of copyright.

In this article, we provide detailed explanations about the correct citation methods and the SEO effects of citations.

By citing appropriately according to the rules, you can enhance the credibility of your article and increase user satisfaction.

If you write for a website or blog, be sure to learn the basic rules of “citations” in this article.

SEO Effects of Citations

In conclusion, the presence or absence of “citations” does not directly impact rankings.

However, the SEO impact of citations can be positive or negative depending on how they are used.

Appropriate Citations Enhance Credibility

Citations as support for claims increase the credibility of information and user satisfaction.

Have you ever questioned a claim while reading an article, thinking, “How can they say that?”? At such times, seeing not only the author’s opinion but also objective data and official information as evidence should increase your sense of satisfaction.

Satisfying users ultimately enhances SEO ratings because Google, which evaluates pages, prioritizes user experience.

1. If you focus on the user, everything else will follow.
Google has always prioritized user convenience. …

Source: 10 Facts Google Wants You to Know

Furthermore, Google nowadays emphasizes “E-E-A-T.”

E-E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, and it is one of the criteria Google uses to evaluate websites.

Quoting statements from experts in the field or citing data released by public institutions, while clearly indicating the source, enhances the credibility of information.

As a result, it can have positive effects on SEO.

Quoting Without Providing Unique Value is Detrimental

Copying entire texts or images from others and directly posting them on your site violates Google’s guidelines.
Reference: Google Search Central – Scraped Content

This is not “citation” but rather “unauthorized reproduction,” which could lead to legal issues.

Even if you don’t copy all the text, pages that don’t provide any unique value are unlikely to have a positive impact on SEO.

This is confirmed by the statement of Google’s John Mueller on the question-and-answer site “reddit.”

If it’s just a rehash of someone else’s content (quoting it) with no added value, then that doesn’t really leave a good impression, neither to Google, nor to users.

Source: reddit – How can I quote content without it being labeled as duplicate

It’s crucial to understand that citations are meant to support your own claims.

So, how can you cite properly in specific formats for it to be appropriate?

When citing, you need to remember the correct citation methods from three perspectives:

• SEO
• Copyright
• Usability

First, let’s explain the correct citation methods from an SEO perspective.

Correct Citation Methods from an SEO Perspective

From an SEO perspective, it’s essential to adhere to the following two points when citing:

Let’s explain each in detail.

1. Use the Citation Tag (Blockquote)

When citing, use the citation tag (blockquote).

The citation tag is one of the HTML tags.

Since HTML is a language that computers can understand, using the citation tag can inform search engines that “this part is a citation.”

In 2015, Google’s John Mueller denied that Google uses the citation tag as a signal, but the current situation remains a black box.
Source: YouTube – English Google Webmaster Central Office-Hours Hangout

Since there is no downside to using the citation tag, it is recommended for those focusing on SEO to describe citations using the tag.

2. Indicate the Source Page with Anchor Text

Show the source page using anchor text.

Anchor text refers to the text displayed in blue links (also called link text).

Some people only mention the URL for the source, but this is not recommended.

This is because using only the URL makes it difficult for users and search engines to understand the content of the linked page.

Even in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide, it is mentioned:

Create anchor text that provides basic information about the content of the linked page.

Source: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide – Writing effective link text

If you are conscious of SEO, link to the source with “easy-to-understand text.”

In the next chapter, we will explain the correct citation methods from the perspective of copyright.

Correct Citation Methods from a Copyright Perspective

When quoting someone else’s work, it is necessary to follow the rules specified by copyright law.

If you do not follow these rules, the quotation will not be recognized as legitimate.

There is a possibility of penalties for “copyright infringement.”

There are four points to keep in mind when quoting, so be sure to check them.

(1) There must be a necessity to quote someone else’s work.

(2) Use brackets or other means to clearly distinguish between your own work and the quoted part.

(3) The relationship between your own work and the quoted work should be clear (your work is the main part).

(4) The source must be indicated (Article 48).

Source: Agency for Cultural Affairs – When a copyrighted work can be freely used

Just looking at the points may not be clear, so let’s explain each one in detail.

* The author of this article is not a legal expert. It is recommended to check the above site of the Agency for Cultural Affairs on your own.

1. There Must Be a Necessity to Quote

In simple terms, it means whether the “purpose of quoting” is legitimate.

For example, quoting for purposes like “want to increase the amount of text” or “want to use it because the image is beautiful” is not allowed.

Quoting that has no relevance to the content or explanation is considered to lack “necessity.”

Although it may be a bit difficult to judge, it is important to think about whether quoting is necessary in the first place before quoting.

2. Clearly Distinguish Between Your Own Work and Quoted Part

It is necessary to clearly indicate where your own work ends and where someone else’s work begins.

Quotation marks (” “) are often used to indicate the boundaries of the quotation.

As explained earlier, using the blockquote tag on a web page visually distinguishes it, so there is no problem.

3. The Relationship Should Be Clear

Your own work should be “main,” and the quotation should be “subordinate.”

If more than half of the page consists of quotes from other sites, it cannot be considered a legitimate main-subordinate relationship.

This applies not only to the “quantity” of quotes but also to the “quality” (content).

Your own claims or considerations should be the main focus, and quotes should be used as “supporting roles” to back them up.

4. Source Must Be Indicated

Quoting without indicating the source is a rule violation.

Always indicate “where the quoted information comes from.”

If the source is a web page, include the page title and link along with it.

The above is the correct way to quote from the perspective of copyright.

In the next chapter, we will look at the preferable quoting methods from the perspective of usability.

Correct Quoting Methods from a Usability Perspective

In this chapter, “usability” means being “beneficial” to users.

From the perspective of usability, the correct quoting methods are as follows.

Let’s explain each one.

1. Quote Reliable Information

Quoting information from an unreliable source is not effective.

Users will not be convinced if based on unreliable information.

Try to find information from reliable sources as much as possible.

For example, information from a company’s blog is more reliable than an individual’s blog, and information officially announced by a government or public institution is more credible than a company’s blog.

Moreover, people often consider information published as books or papers more reliable than information on web pages.

Highly reliable research or papers can be searched using sites like the following (just an example).

• Google Scholar

You can also search for papers or documents on the web by using Google with “filetype:pdf keyword.”

By searching this way, you can narrow down to “PDF” documents related to the keyword, so please make use of it.

2. Quote Primary Information

A common mistake when quoting is directly using information listed on other sites as the source without checking the original (primary information).

This practice, quoting without investigating the original source, is referred to as “secondhand quoting.”

Texts listed as quotes on other sites may have been modified.

Due to its lack of reliability, always confirm the original source and quote from there.

By doing so, users can quickly access primary information.

Frequently Asked Questions about Quoting

In this chapter, we will answer four common questions about quoting.

1. How many times is it acceptable to quote within one article?
2. Is it allowed to use quote tags in places other than quotes?
3. Is it necessary to obtain permission from the source?
4. What should be done if information from another site is referenced to create one’s own content?

1. How many times is it acceptable to quote within one article?

There is no clear criterion like “up to ○ times per article” for quoting within one article.

However, as mentioned earlier, excessive quoting where quotes become the “main” content may potentially constitute copyright infringement.

From an SEO perspective, a content heavily relying on quotes may be viewed negatively as it lacks originality.

Be cautious not to let quoting become the main focus.

2. Is it allowed to use quote tags in places other than quotes?

Using “quote tags” in places other than actual quotes is not recommended.

Using “quote tags” where it is not a quote may lead search engines to perceive that “this page has minimal original content,” potentially impacting SEO negatively.

If you use quote tags for decorative purposes, it is more appropriate to use CSS or other methods for styling.

3. Is it necessary to obtain permission from the source?

If quoting follows the rules of copyright, there is no need to obtain permission from the source.

However, when engaging in “reprinting” (publishing something listed on another site directly on a different site), obtaining permission from the source is mandatory.

4. What should be done if information from another site is referenced to create one’s own content?

In this case, it is advisable to mention “reference” or “consulted.”

• Quote: Extracting and directly publishing a part of someone else’s text or figures.
• Reference: Comparing with and cross-referencing someone else’s text, figures, or data.
• Consult: Using someone else’s text, figures, etc., as a hint to deepen one’s thoughts.

Quoted Content Strengthens SEO

While the methods introduced so far for “quoting” are important, being “quoted” is also crucial for SEO.

In SEO, “backlinks” are one of the indicators when evaluating a page.

Backlinks refer to links from other sites to your own site.

Google is based on the idea from academic papers that “if it’s a good paper, it will be quoted by other papers.”

Therefore, Google values backlinks, thinking that “if the content is good, it will be quoted by many other sites.”

Increasing content that is quoted as “high-quality” can positively impact rankings.

[Summary] Properly Conducting Quoting is Important

Quoting only has a positive effect on SEO when done correctly.

Adhere to the rules introduced this time and quote information from other sites.