splitting website into 4 domains

Does google have a problem

[Buckley]

Hi,

One of my competitors who does very well on all the search engines has an interesting structure. The site has the same template throughout, i.e. the background color and graphics template is the same on every page.

Depending on what link you click on, you could end up at any of four different domains....although you would never know it from looking at the page...they all have the same feel and design but the url in the address bar is different. All the domains are similar and related.

All the content is unique and it is a very good site. I'm wondering why they did this. My guess is, improved pr through Linking and multiple entries in the serps so more opportunities to get hits.

Is this okay with google and others?

Is this a good idea, splitting the site with different doamins?

Thanks.

[fathom]

Hi Alternative Future -- if domain names are all pointing to same site and not duplicated content on different sites, no problem what-so-ever.

[Alternative Future]

Thx fathom,

Was getting worried there :()

Chill-Pill digested now :)

-gs

[JudgeJeffries]

This and all similar discussions here are as a result of the se's failing to give clear and concise guidlines backed up by specific examples of what is and what is not spam. We are all shooting in the dark save and except for a few wooly rules that they do publish.
Why is it so hard for Google and the others to give it to us chapter and verse regarding all situations to date and in due course add to the rule book with any new and unique situations that arise. Sure it will be a hell of a large set of rules and examples but at least we would all know where we stand instead of the informed? guesswork that gets so many into trouble often by accident.

[bzprod]

Hello,

If I want to own 3 different domains, all selling the same product, maybe catering to different search terms (different users, locations, etc.), why is this wrong? I do not cross link, the sites look totally different, and I am not spamming the engines.

Every morning I meet with friends at a local coffee shop. The owner of the shop owns two other coffee shops in town. Each one has a different name and is catering to a different crowd. (Same thing as me catering to a different crowd.) The exact same product is being sold. This concept is the same. I have different business accounts and each site is handled on its own by my accountant. I don't believe that I am spamming in any way.

Free enterprise allows me to own as many businesses as I please. If I choose to sell the same product accross a few different "locations", this is no different than a branded franchise.

I am very careful to not do anything that would jeopardize my relationships with the engines. I don't cross link, each site can totally stand on its own, each site has its own 800 number, each site has well over 150 quality back links.

Can someone please respond to this. Do you believe I am spamming? I don't have duplicate content, the text is different and the layout is different. The products are the only things that are the same. The main manufacturer that I deal with has over 4,000 dealers worldwide. About 20-25 of these dealers sell online.

God Bless,
Patrick

[fathom]

If I want to own 3 different domains, all selling the same product, maybe catering to different search terms (different users, locations, etc.), why is this wrong? I do not cross link, the sites look totally different, and I am not spamming the engines.

Not crosslinking similar content is good, however "the sites look totally different" is a bit subjective... the appearance "graphically" may be different however, bots, crawlers, and spiders are totally blind (in the human sense)... so the appear of totally different would be different text copy and content arrangement rather than looks.

Every morning I meet with friends at a local coffee shop. The owner of the shop owns two other coffee shops in town. Each one has a different name and is catering to a different crowd. (Same thing as me catering to a different crowd.) The exact same product is being sold. This concept is the same. I have different business accounts and each site is handled on its own by my accountant. I don't believe that I am spamming in any way.

Phyisical presense is quite a bit different than virtual presence - the geographical barriers are less apparent online. Therefore catering to a "different crowd" virtually would be a like a different country with a language barrier.

Free enterprise allows me to own as many businesses as I please. If I choose to sell the same product accross a few different "locations", this is no different than a branded franchise.

hmmm... yes but this is out of context of the discussion. You have many physical locations (at no direct cost to the customer) so people of different regions and enjoy you without travelling great distances and all the time - likened to (virtual presence) providing coffee customers Internet access and a computer at no cost so they can buy large quantities of coffee.

I am very careful to not do anything that would jeopardize my relationships with the engines. I don't cross link, each site can totally stand on its own, each site has its own 800 number, each site has well over 150 quality back links.

But here's where it get risky -- what does "totally stand on it own really means... (completely new text copy) a complete different set of brochures (is in off-line), with totally different look and feel, totally different ad copy, promotions etc. We all know that in print -- this cost twice the amount - thus twice the risk if you don't sell anything via the borchures (a similar risk?)

Can someone please respond to this. Do you believe I am spamming? I don't have duplicate content, the text is different and the layout is different. The products are the only things that are the same. The main manufacturer that I deal with has over 4,000 dealers worldwide. About 20-25 of these dealers sell online.

If the above paragraph is totally true -- no problem. And if you don't crosslink, you will NEVER EVER have a problem.

[edited by: fathom at 8:57 pm (utc) on Mar. 11, 2003]

[bzprod]

Thanks for the response Fathom. I seem to agree with your statements. I don't believe that I am spamming either, however, I have been accused of it. I agree that the line that constitues spamming is very grey and is not getting any clearer. Your posts are great in guiding people towards content rich, user friendly websites. Thanks.

God Bless,
Patrick