Multiple sites

[LifeinAsia]

---

System: The following 4 messages were cut out of thread at: http://www.webmasterworld.com/google_adsense/3530826.htm [webmasterworld.com] by brett_tabke - 12:15 pm on Dec. 27, 2007 (cst -6)

---

Have you ever wondered or been nervous about Google knowing about all of your sites?

How do people with say 20-30 websites handle having adsense on there? Even if each site is different, anyone worried Google will ban you?

Google knows what sites are showing the ads, so no need to wonder or worry about it- they definitely know! :)

There is certainly nothing in the TOS about having multiple sites.

[apauto]

Google knows what sites are showing the ads, so no need to wonder or worry about it- they definitely know! :)

There is certainly nothing in the TOS about having multiple sites.

Exactly! So if they know all of your sites, and there is no "secret", can you get penalized for that?

Say you have two sites both on the same type of widgets but in a different format, and different content, they will know they are both yours... can you get penalized for that?

[DamonHD]

Unless you are doing something fraudulent or underhand that hurts Google and/or its users, why should G mind/care?

Rgds

Damon

[edited by: DamonHD at 6:07 pm (utc) on Dec. 27, 2007]

[LifeinAsia]

Why would you be penalized for it? Again, there is nothing in the TOS against having multiple sites. You can have 100 sites with identical content for all they care (in terms of AdSense).

[iwannano1]

There is nothing in TOS. However, I was just wondering why would anyone create multiple site with same content? Search engine may consider it as duplicate or worse mark it as a spam. Also, there is no point competing with your own website. If I were you I will focus on one site with all my energy.

[LifeinAsia]

I wouldn't make duplicate sites either- I was just pointing out that there is nothing in the TOS against it or against sites with similar content.

[BigDave]

Even if you aren't talking AdSense, but Google's SERPs, you can be fairly certain that google will have a good idea which sites are your's anyway.

The only time Google will really care is if you are trying to flood the market. For example, if you sold red widgets, and set up 1000 different sites in the hopes of pushing everyone else out of the search results. If that's your plan, you should be worried.

On the other hand, if you have a couple of sites that are intended to serve the market in slightly different ways, you should have no problem. There are lots of companies that have high-end, mid-range and low-end branding. Even retail companies do this with different store brands meant to appeal to different types of shoppers.

[iwannano1]

I think BigDave put it very nicely.

[apauto]

Makes sense.

My point is that say for example there are 100 manufactures that produce widgets. You can have one website that focuses on all the different types of widgets, and then another 100 websites specialized on each individual widget.

Since the main website that talks about all 100 could be considered "enough", my thinking is google might think the 100 seperate sites are not necessary, consider them spam, and ban/block them, and cancel your adsense account (or hurt you with just banning your sites).

I understand about the duplicate content issue, but if each site has unique data and focuses on each paricular widget, should I worry?

Also, if I have a few "main" sites that have the 100 widgets on there, inclusive, but presents the data in different ways, one allows reviews, another doesn't, has different descriptions, should I worry?

Tough questions, and probably no one right answer, but I appreciate your knowledge and advise.

Thanks guys!

[apauto]

Also,

How many of you guys have multiple sites, and for those of you who do, how many sites do you have? For how long?

[europeforvisitors]

IMHO:

Multiple sites with different content = no big deal.

Multiple sites with duplicate content = risky.

[greatstart]

What if I have a couple of sites setup with identical content like this:

Main Site - www.example.com

Mirror Site - www.mirror-site.com

Does a mirror site count as a duplicate to the main site if AdSense is used on both URLs?

[LifeinAsia]

Duplicate content is dplicate content, regardless of whether or not you have AdSense on one or both sites.

It is extremely doubtful that Google's *AdSense* will ban you for having duplicate content. I'd say the worst that could happen is that one or both sites might get smart priced.

Undoubtably, Google's *search engine* part will penalize one or both sites for duplicate content.

[BigDave]

apauto,

This is from the Google Webmaster Guidelines:

Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. A good rule of thumb is whether you'd feel comfortable explaining what you've done to a website that competes with you. Another useful test is to ask, "Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines didn't exist?"

I would change their advice a little - how would you feel if one of your competitors did what you are suggesting, and if you worked for google, how would you feel about the impact on the search results?

I do have three websites in one specific area, one is a group review site, another is a group forum connected to the group review site, and the other is my individual site. I'm not worried about those, they are all different enough.

I also have one site related to one hobby, another related to a different hobby and a third that is a special interest that overlaps slightly with the other 2 hobbies. I'm not worried about these either.

All my sites have an independent reason to exist. I would feel comfortable telling any competitor about them, and I would feel fine about telling google about them.

I believe in keeping well clear of the line you are trying to find. If you are asking "how far can I take this", that isn't the same thing as your original question about having multiple sites.