Creating multuple websites for franchises?

[jsweb]

Hi all,

Your advice on this question would be most appreciated.

I run a website (html+php) and have been asked if it would be possible to create multiple versions of the site (90% same content) for each of our proposed Franchises. The only difference to the source website will be the contactus page which will need to be specific to that particular franchise ensuring the web enquiry is sent to the correct franchises.

I have thought about this and come up with a number of options.

1. Create complete replica websites for each franchise as this gives them full flexibility to amend and change content as and when required.
(Approx 50 websites)

2. Split the current site into components (lego pieces i.e. php includes) and then you just apply the appropriate include lego piece for each franchise to build their new website using existing content.

Then I thought about this option:

3. Dynamically change the contact page using a lookup of some kind (advice welcomed) based on the url. So company A's contact page will be shown if URL equals www.A.com and company B's contact page if url equals www.B.com

Any advice from anyone would be most appreciated.

Cheers

Jamie

[edited by: trillianjedi at 7:30 pm (utc) on April 13, 2005]
[edit reason] No sigs or URL drops please [/edit]

[jbinbpt]

I would go the option #2 route. It is the easiest.
Option #1 is duplicate content and if I understand option #3, it depends on the visitor knowing the url.

Added.. Excuse my manners Welcome to Webmaster World. Enjoy your time here.

[microcars]

a friend of mine owns a FastSigns franchise.

FastSigns has their own main website (I'll let you figure it out)

each franchise owner has a "number" and their "website" and contact info is all related to that "number".

for example, the main site would be:
[example.com...]

my friend's franchise's website webpage is actually at:
[example.com...]

I don't know, thats how they do it.

[jsweb]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I think option 2 is the way forward (now just need to figure out how to do it ;-)

Thanks also for the fastsigns example, this is actually a great idea!

If anyone has any other examples or ways of tackling this solution I would like to hear from you.

Cheers

Jamie
www.jsweb.co.uk

[Terabytes]

Are you not worried about duplicate content penalties for all these duplicate sites?

Or does the search engine listings not matter in this instance?

just wondering...

Thanks!

[jsweb]

Its a great questions. I'm actually not that concerned as only a few pages will actually contain the same content and the way I have seen this done may not even been noticed by search engines. Here is an example:

1. [fastsigns.com...]

Then try this

2. [fastsigns.com...]

now read the address of the property and look at that page.. then try this

3. [fastsigns.com...]

then this

4. [fastsigns.com...]

etc etc

[Terabytes]

Hmmmmm.....except for the first site...

looks like duplicate content to me..lol

just moving the pics around, and using the exact same text (except for the state...) I believe you will run into trouble eventually...

just remember, when the search engines locate duplicate content they remove sites....you will have no say-so about which site(s) is/are removed from the listings....could piss some people off with this stunt eventually when they lose their listings...

Good luck in your endevour!

8-)