Forum Moderators: open
This is my first post in this wonderfull forum even though I have visited this place many times for up to date information about SE:s and promotion.
Now I have a dilemma with multiple sites issue as I just decited to start building a set of 31 sites in the same theme. Now by theme I mean that all the sites would be linked together in a way or another and that they all start with a combining element(mikes). So the sites would be like:
Mikes-keyword1
Mikes-keyword2
Mikes-keyword3
...and so on up to 31 KW:s
Now there are some big differences between the keywords, but there are some very similar like ones that differ only because they use "online" before the KW or that the KW is used in the plular form.
Now from the SE:s point of view should I go through with this or should I just build one big site or just a few sites? Or could I perhaps build one big site and link the other domains to the relative directory or subdomain?
The first plan was to create 31 sites in the range of 6-30 pages each, but now it seems that this type of behaviour could get my sites penalised... so tell me - Did I waste my money buying all these domains?
The keywords and phrases I plan to target are very competive and when I look at the SERP:s there ain't "generic" big sites that manage to get into the top spots with targeted pages. Now that in mind I would feel that using multiple domains would be the way to go.
So please tell me your honest opinion;
- Should I go for multiple domains? And will SE:s "punish" sites that clearly show their intentions and do not try to hide behind unique IP:s?
With Thanks, Mike76 :D
I seperated each site into its own sub folder (same server, same IP address).
I have a main folder that was called subdomains.
I then setup sub domains for each website and it worked a treat. I have many differenct keyword phrases working well, however the thing got to big to manage and I am now just working on my main themes.
"I have a main folder that was called subdomains.
I then setup sub domains for each website and it worked a treat. I have many differenct keyword phrases working well, however the thing got to big to manage and I am now just working on my main themes."
Now when you say you used subdomains for the different websites, does that mean that you had first level domains pointing to the relative subdomain folders?
So for example "keyword-1" had a subdomain keyword1.topdomain.com and then you had a top level domain keyword1.com pointed to the subdomain?
I hope I dont make myself to seem too stupid, but I had to ask just to be on the sure side ;)
When the g update came I was also nervous and to my delight it worked a treat.
Infact google do not want you to have multiple sites. They prefer the subdomain method.
It kind of makes sense now.
On the whole, I think it is best not to, and if you do, a very small number.
One justification would be where there is a seperate business that you might want to sell as a seperate entity.
Another might be that your customers see a part of your business as distinct, and wish to deal with a specialist.
But on the whole I think it is best avoided. As far as search engines go, I do not believe it makes much difference, and going for multiple domains for this reason is not a good idea.
Of course, different strategies can be used depending on your resources so I'm giving you my opinion based on the fact that you seem new to this.
