Small, clean , on topic OR large, broad subjected site?

Which way is better?

[dan_popescu]

I have a ecom site built around an affiliate program. I’ve also added a lot of information related to the products I sell and the particular industry. The problem is I’m running out of kw’s around which to build my pages. So I was thinking of building pages with unrelated content in order to get more people to visit my site. Like, say the site’s about BMW’s and I’m writing some pages on vegetables. Would this be a good idea? Wouldn’t this affect (dillute) the importance of my main, targeted ecom keywords? Or would adding more, diverse content actually help their rankings?

Quite often I’ve seen sites with no more than 20 or so on topic pages in Google’s top ten for competitive kw’s. I like that, it’s efficient, you don’t have to build 1000 pages in order to get some sales. But it hasn’t worked for me yet.

So what do you think, which is the best way to go for a ecom site in order to please Google? Small, clean , on topic OR large, broad subjected site?

Thank you much.
Dan

[Nick_W]

BMW’s and I’m writing some pages on vegetables. Would this be a good idea?

I'll have some of what ever your taking dan ;)

How many of these people do you think would buy a car? It 'aint about traffic, it's about targeted traffic.

These extra visitors will eat bandwidth and spend nothing.

Nick

[mivox]

Like, say the site’s about BMW’s and I’m writing some pages on vegetables. Would this be a good idea?

Reagrdless of the ranking implications, does it make good business sense in the old-fashioned sense?

Think of it this way: If I'm out looking for information on indoor rutabaga cultivation, and I find your off-topic vegetable page, what are the odds I'm going to convert to a BMW product customer? Very low. If I wanted BMW stuff, I would have been looking for it.

You don't see many car dealerships setting up on-site produce stands, and I'd imagine there's a reason for that. I'd say your best bet is to keep your site on-topic.

The web's biggest commercial strength is in niche marketing, IMO. If you want BMW customers, target BMW customers, not vegetarians and gardeners...

[radiosky]

I wouldn't go that far off the mark - vegetables to BMWs? Can't you get any closer? I could think of 20 (BMW) sub-related topics to get me closer in the traffic I wanted.

I would go an inch wide and a mile deep. A mile wide and an inch deep and you run aground.

[radiosky]

Just an idea for Dan

Start a newsletter for used or new BMW owners. Upload them to a "library directory" on your web site after the newsletter is a month old, thereby increasing your content, the size of your web-site, your ranking...

Your subscribers could be a steady stream of income for BMW related stuff you sell. You'll also have a loyal source of traffic for your web-site.

Topics to write about?
1. Corporate press releases,
2. Resources for parts, etc.
3. Reader contributions
4. FYI stuff you found on the web
5. "Classic" section about older BMW models.
6. Car Magazine ratings and comparisons of new models
7. Go back and find the ratings and comparisons of old models. (Car and Driver magazine, Consumper Reports, etc.)

You get the idea. Get your creative juices flowing and stay away from the vegetables.

[dan_popescu]

The BMW and vegies example was pure fantasy:)) Though I get the idea-on topic only. That's what I'd rather do.

Radiosky, thanks for the topic list.

Dan

[tedster]

Lots of on topic pages is what works best for me. As the process continues, I mine the server logs and conversions database for more ideas on what micro-niches might bring in more conversions -- and then it gets to be real fun.

[Alby]

Dan,

There are ways to get people to your site that are not looking for exactly what you are selling but almost. These types of customers might convert in the future if you hae an informative site.

For example if you sell BMW's on your site you could have part of your site devoted to "The history of BMW", and another part could be about "BMW Motorcycles", and another could list every BMW repair center in the country etc. As long as you are aware that this traffic might not convert as well, it could be worth getting them to your site. The most important thing is to have information relevant to what they are searching for, otherwise it is all a waste of their time, and yours.

You would probably find that vegetables would convert rather poorly for BMW sales. Maybe there is a closer subject? ;)

[c1bernaught]

I like to add niche products that apply to my main theme. For example, if it were a BMW site, I would put up pages that sell 3rd party BMW add ons. Perhaps some pages that cover sports car insurance or theft protection, and then maybe expand into other luxury items that I think people that drive BMW's might purchase. If you carry this thinking forward, your site could be very large and very deep as well.

[2_much]

I would've said "on topic only" a month ago. However, with the latest algo, I'm not so sure anymore. For so many keywords I'm seeing that pages ranking well are not just about the topic. So for keyword "widgets", pages ranking on the top 10 would be government.com/widgets, or college.com/students, containing the word widgets a few times.
To me, this indicates an emphasis on offering lots and lots of content in order to gain "authority" status so that your pages about any keyword will rank.
This is just an inference based from analysis of a few of my primary keywords.