(Entry was posted by Greg Krista on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/15/2013).

I`m not sure 301 redirect is the best for my case, what should I do?

I have a client who has a website and another website that mirrors the first. The second site is never worked on. Now it got two penalties on Saturday from Google. Hacking and unnatural links.

You can`t have two sites because that is duplicate content and it is spamming Google`s search results. However the site brings in a good amount of business according to the owner. However there is no way to justify the claim because there is no event tracking or unique thank you pages. Traffic is also about 1/5 of the other website if that means anything.

My question is what should I do? I have been told to 301 redirect it but I am concerned of the hacking and the unnatural links being passed to the other website.

This question begins at 01:46:29 into the clip. Did this video clip play correctly? Watch this question on YouTube commencing at 01:46:29

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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

Clayton-Nichols.com: I would ask for proof about just how much business the second duplicate content site actually brings in. ;

If it has unnatural links, I wouldn't redirect it using a 301. I would maybe put a nofollow link on that site back to the main page saying this is the page that you want to see. ;

I would also add noindex/nofollow on the spam site and have it removed via WMT. ;
Christina S: No need of any proof. Your friend needs to keep ONE site and 301 redirect the other one to it. ;
Clayton-Nichols.com: A 301 redirect is optimal sure, but if the one has two penalties, the last thing you want to do is 301 redirect that negative link to the unharmed site. ;

Identify the troubled links or correct the penalty issue and then 301 redirect. ;
Christina S: Hacking needs to be solved. Unnatural links need to be removed. ;But nevertheless 2 sites cannot and must not remain active.
Christina S: And if the site with the unnatural link penalty is to be terminated, it must be emptied of all content and delisted. Or emptied of all content and with just plain nofollowed links back to the one site that's being kept.
Greg Kristan: Thank you everyone for your help!
W.E. Jonk: From the expert panel in this weeks SEO Questions hangout on air on 01:46:29 into the YouTube video: https://dumbseoquestions.com/q/im_not_sure_301_redirect_is_the_best_for_my_case_what_should_i_do
Greg Kristan: That is so cool you guys talked about my question! Thank you so much for your insight!