Running Several Sites

How do you guys do it?

[Psycho111]

I've decided to branch out from my original site and create a few other sites. They deal with the same general category...but the new sites will deal with specific topics that are not covered at all on my first site.

I looked at my current web host and it seems that while I can host another domain, the actual content must be located in the same area as the old site....so I have to create a subdomain on my existing site that points to the new domain. Is this a good solution or is it bad for SEO?

I was thinking of just upgrading my hosting plan to a reseller account and creating new accounts whenever I create a new site. This way I can organize things better as well.

I will link to the new sites from my existing one....I can do without the link back but would it be safe to do? These sites will contemplate each other....so it would be nice to link back and forth...not heavily of course.

[Psycho111]

I'm leaning towards upgrading to a reseller account.....but am I gonna be penalized for linking to my other sites which will probably be on the same IP and everything since they'll be on the same hosting account?

[varya]

I have seven domains hosted on one reseller account (one ip) and I haven't noticed any problems.

I don't do much cross-linking though. Some of the sites have nothing to do with each other and I don't link them.

[encyclo]

Most hosts offer separate IP addresses at a reasonably small cost ($1 or $2 a month, usually), so it you are worried about using the same IP for everything, that could be a solution.

Other than that, a reseller-type account, or later if you have enough traffic, a dedicated server, are both ideal for your needs.

[Psycho111]

Does anyone have the special "Webmaster accounts" that some web hosts offer? I was wondering what the limitations are for that kind of plan. I wish I had the funds to justify getting my own dedicated server:-) Perhaps I will in the very near future though.

[shinyblue]

I also run several sites from the same IP. I don't interlink them unless they are relevent to each other...just follow your normal link exchanging rules.

I would definitely recommend getting a reseller package. You always get more space/bandwidth for your money, and you can set up each website with it's own virtual account, instead of doing some add-on domain hack.