Forum Moderators: open
my main site is: CarACarB.com
but because there's often feuding between A and B owners, and i've lost out on some hits/members to A-only or B-only sites (even though both cars are completely identical under the skin, and have a lot in common), i've also used javascript/php to dynamically alter the titles, meta tags, and logos used and mirrored the site on 2 other domains... CarA.com and CarB.com, so visitors can pick whichever domain they prefer.
so, same site, same content, but different names/logoes, and other little things (news for instance, maybe forums too if i feel like coding that)
will this get me banned from google? how can i avoid that? this was my original idea for my site...i had links from each domain to the other 2 on every page (next to pics of respective cars), but i turned those links into normal text after reading on here that GoogleNaz, er...GoogleBot wouldn't like it.
But let's forget about Googlebot for the moment, because your question is simply marketing related.
Every single site, product, service, etc. has unique selling points not offered by another (note: this can be all your own products or a direct competitiors.
One car with a bonnet, and the other with a spoiler;
One with a V6, the other with a V8, etc. are unique selling points that effectively tailor a specific site (destination within a site) to both visitors and bots, and what's more this is market positioning.
Market Positioning
You mentioned "feuding"... well here's how to turn that to harmony, or disadvantage to advantage.
You (and they) must realize that a specific product or service is not all things to all people. Very few items on the market today have universal appeal. Even when dealing in common items like cars, the difference is really nothing, but everything -- just brand awareness and product differentiation.
If your product or service is properly positioned, prospective purchasers should immediately recognize the unique benefits of their "car" of choice.
Positioning is how you give your product brand identification.
While there are many possible marketing positions, most would fit into one of the following categories, each develops your "feuding" parties together, and all reduce the occurence of your specific question about "being banned":
Positioning on specific product features - If a specific product or service has unique features that have obvious value, to a specific group.
Some people love Power (V8) others prefer being Economical (V6), Some people like Stylish (Spoiler) and other prefer Protection (Bonnet) to reduce ware & tear. Each site can list its "unique selling points" that makes it the best buy...
Positioning on benefits - Strongly related to positioning on product features. The features may be nice, but unless customers can be made to understand why the product will benefit them, you may not get a sale, for either party.
The benefits of the V8's Power can be getting out of dangerous situation quickly, (0 -60 in 6.8 sec.). The benefit of the V6 is environmentally friendly by burning fuel more efficiently.
The benefit of the spoiler - drag reduction while the bonnet avoids damage from "bug smack" and corrosion (say from the love bug)...
Positioning against another product or a competing business -
Implicit comparisons can be quite pointed; for example: Car A never mentions Cars B, but the message is clear. Car A uses the negative points of Car B (V6 runs hotter and prone to maintenance) to upsell this niche market on it's own unique selling points, and Car B does the same using Car A's negative points to push its own niche (V8 get less than 10 miles to a gallon).
The only real disadvantage here is channel conflict - that is an undecided party with no pre-conceive idea on what they are looking for.
The rationalization though - for developing this strategy is three things:
1. similar content but arranged very differently. The order of words on a page defines duplication not the exact words themselves.
2. market segmentation pushing the right visitors to the right product - noone looking for a Volkswagon Bug will ever be interested in purchasing a Cadillac, and vice versa.
3. and an undecided is more likely to be a non-purchaser, just looking for information.
