Additional Domains

Do additional domains help link popularity?

[robyn_99]

I have heard from some people that buying additional domains can help link popularity. I have also heard from others that this is a practice that is frowned upon and will get penalized by the engines.

What I am wondering is... is there a strategy where owning multiple domains can be done in a way that is still a good practice?

[mack]

It can work in your favour if you build unique sites for each domain name you use. If you simply use a redirect on your new domains to your existing domain then you will see little or no benefit from it.

Generaly it can work if you have a site for each domain and perhaps link to the main site from your new sites. Dont make it spammy, dont just have the sites there for the sole purpose of linking back to the main site. Offer decent content and treat each site as a unique site.

Mack.

[jaffstar]

Yes, make sure they all have good pagerank, different whois information and are hosted in different locations, with unique content , and they do not all use the same template.

Do not make these sites spammy and be VERY CAREFUL when interlinking these domains.

The bottom line, unless you know what you are doing, it can be very risky.

[topr8]

i think its about scale.

2 or 3 extra domains providing 'useful but different' (whatever that might mean) content from your original site is fine, imo they can be on the same ip and registerted in the same name, and interlinked no problem.

... it is my observation (but not my experience as it isn't my personal strategy) that people who start to do the same with 100s of domains can run into trouble.

[graywolf]

Yes it will help, but be truthful to yourself why you are doing it.

If you are doing it to increase your link popularity and position in the SERPS only, the steps you take to get there will inevitably include shortcuts, so no crying if you do get banned.

If you are doing to provide a different unique set of content, then chances are you won't take the shortcuts, and will be less likely to get banned.

Make sure each site has it's own unique set of backlinks. If you've ever completely dissected a competitors backlinks you'll see how easy it is to spot a network of sites.