Should I register subcategory domain names?

And what do to do with them once registered?

[HughMungus]

I recently registered a new domain name that is a general cateogory of items. Now I'm wondering if I should register a few domain names that are subcategories of products under the domain name I just registered AND wondering what should be done with them if I do register them. Of course, I'm asking because I assume that a subcategory of a category will do better.

For example, if I register widgets.com, should I also register green-widgets.com and red-widgets.com and if so, what should I do with them? Should I have separate green-widgets and red-widgets websites that use the same DB to pull only product listings for green and red widgets, respectively? I assume that if someone is doing a search specifically for red or green widgets that I'd rank higher in the SERPs.

If I don't setup wholely different websites based on those categories, is there some way to funnel people from the subcategory sites to the main category site? Will search engines frown on this if they're all hosted on the same IP? What if they're not on the same IP (i.e., a whole different range with a different host)?

[Webwork]

If the value of the leads is worth more than the regisration then go for it.

I you throw up duplicate content then it's possible that your primary site may take a hit, a situation that my be hastened or worsened by evidence of common ownership and control.

You might go the permanent redirect route.

You might go the original content minisite route.

If they are likely type-in domains and their leads have value take them while you can. Eventually, people will come around to the idea that type-in traffic - where it exists - is a sure thing and therefore should be realized by registering the domains.

Search engine love is a fickle thing. Do everything you can to live without SEs.

[HughMungus]

Type-in traffic isn't a big issue right now because this is a hyphenated domain name. They're two-word phrases that people would be typing directly into search engines because it's something that's not-so-easy to find (hence, my sites). This would be great for search engine rankings because people would be searching, specifically, for "red widgets" vs. searching for just "widgets". I'm also assuming that the domain names would be great for ranking in contextual ads (domain name still matters in Adwords rankings vs. other advertisers, right?).

I'm also thinking that if I do the minisite route that the more-specific domain names would rank higher than the generic domain name I already have because they are a more specific category...

If I get the domain names and have simply domain forwarding with my registrar, can the forwarding "to" domain be more than just another domain name. In other words, is it possible that my registrar would let me redirect to http://www.example.com/red-widgets/ instead of just widgets.com? If so, from a SE perspective, would this be advisable?

Anyway, lots of conjecture by me here. Still learning.

[edited by: Webwork at 6:07 pm (utc) on Nov. 10, 2005]