# Content shows originality

- **Pattern:** `ab-001535` (`geo-readiness.authority-expertise.original-content`)
- **Severity:** low
- **Lifecycle:** active
- **Last modified:** 2026-04-18
- **Canonical URL:** https://auditbuffet.com/patterns/ab-001535
- **License:** CC-BY-4.0 — attribute to AuditBuffet Pattern Catalog (https://auditbuffet.com/patterns/ab-001535)

## Why it matters

AI models trace citations back to the origin of a claim, not the hundredth site to repeat it. Original benchmarks, case studies, methodology docs, and proprietary datasets mark your site as a source rather than a downstream aggregator, which measurably increases how often generative engines attribute facts to you rather than to a competitor who republished similar content.

## Severity rationale

Low because originality signals compound reputation slowly but are not required for baseline citation.

## Remediation

Publish at least one piece of original content — a benchmark table with real numbers, a case study with specific outcomes, a methodology document, or a unique dataset — as a public page. Originality must be observable in the rendered content, not just implied. Add files under `src/app/research/page.tsx` or MDX under `src/content/`.

```
src/app/research/benchmarks/page.tsx
src/content/case-studies/acme.mdx
```

## Detection

- **ID:** `original-content`
- **Severity:** `low`
- **What to look for:** Count all observable signals of originality across the site's public content. The 5 originality signal types are: (1) published benchmarks or data with specific numbers, (2) case studies describing real outcomes, (3) methodology documentation explaining proprietary processes, (4) original research or analysis, (5) unique datasets/tools that others can reference. Enumerate each signal found.
- **Pass criteria:** Count all originality signals found across public content. At least 1 of the 5 originality signal types must be present. The content must include original data or analysis, not just opinions or advice available elsewhere. A methodology page explaining scoring formulas, a benchmark table with real numbers, or a case study with specific outcomes all qualify.
- **Fail criteria:** 0 of 5 originality signal types found. All content is generic advice or information readily available on many other sites. No original data, benchmarks, case studies, or proprietary methodology. Report: `"0 of 5 originality signal types found across X pages"`.
- **Skip (N/A) when:** Utility or tool project with no marketing or educational content.
- **Detail on fail:** `"0 of 5 originality signal types found across 4 pages — no benchmarks, case studies, research, methodology docs, or unique datasets. All content is generic product marketing."` or `"Blog posts contain only generic advice — 0 of 5 originality signals, no original data or analysis"`
- **Remediation:** Original content is what gets cited. AI systems reference the source, not the repackager. Add original research or case studies as pages under `src/app/` (e.g. `src/app/research/page.tsx`) or MDX files in `src/content/`. Consider adding:

  - **Benchmarks** from your data ("Projects built with Next.js + Supabase average 67/100 on security audits")
  - **Case studies** with real outcomes
  - **Methodology docs** explaining your approach in detail

  For a deeper analysis of structured data and schema markup, the Advanced SEO audit covers this in detail.

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Taxons: findability, content-integrity

HTML version: https://auditbuffet.com/patterns/ab-001535