Thin content is content with too little independent value. A page is thin when it fails to satisfy a search intent adequately or adds nothing substantial to existing pages.Open glossary entry → is not just a matter of word count. Even a long article can be thin if it only repeats filler, cliches and widely known statements. A short page, in turn, can be high quality when it answers precisely.
Common forms include copied manufacturer text, mass-generated content, near-identical location pages, empty category or tag pages, and guides without sources. Thin content should be judged by Search intent is the goal behind a search query: does the user want to learn something, buy something or reach a specific page? Content only ranks well if it matches this intent.Open glossary entry →, topical coverage, factual content, Source quality shows whether important statements are backed by reliable evidence. It does not mean adding links indiscriminately, but providing robust support for verifiable claims.Open glossary entry →, uniqueness and performance rather than length.
Google's spam policies name practices such as auto-generated content without value, doorway pages and thin affiliate pages. What matters is whether content was created mainly to manipulate rankings instead of helping people.
The best remedy is often not more content but consolidation, updating or clear differentiation.