Can small article directories rank well?

Re: Advice needed

[Andrea]

Hi,

Is it possible for someone starting small article directories consisting of a variety of subjects to rank well in the search engines? The reason I'm asking is because everyone says to concentrate on niche sites. If that is the case, how do these large article directories manage to rank well in the search engines? They obviously publish articles on all types of subjects.

If someone wanted to start a small article directory type website.
Is it better to have one site concentrating on all types of subjects?

or

Is it better to have a selection of small niche article websites with each site having their own domain name or can sub-domains be used instead of having several domain names?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Andrea

[Beagle]

Hi, again, Andrea. Some people swear by one method and some swear by the other. This seems to be a difficult type of decision for you, since you've asked somewhat similar questions a few times now, although not about article directory sites (which I honestly don't know much about). You may just have to jump in and start with the method you're most comfortable with - or experiment with both methods and see which one works better for you. It might help to keep in mind that most search engines focus on pages rather than sites, so deciding between one large site and a number of small ones might not make as much difference as you think, unless you want to really target your URL's. (Regarding the current large sites, the age of a site seems to affect ranking, and most of the larger ones have probably been around awhile.)

My overall impression from hanging out at WebmasterWorld for awhile is that some people like one large site, some like multiple small sites, but hardly anyone seems to like subdomains. I've never had any inclination to try subdomains (although I do use subdirectories), so I can't give any advice about them - Maybe others can say whether my impression has been right, and why or why not?

[kneoteric_V]

In my opinion from SEO standpoint, respective pages of your anticipated article directory website would rank on thematic keywords. Therefore, how does it make a difference whether or not you have a single site/multiple niche sites?

[Andrea]

Hi,

Thank you for replying. In that case, do you think that having multiple subject article pages with links to affiliate products could work? I'm not sure whether to have one website consisting of variety of subjects or different niche websites.

Andrea

[Beagle]

Since you can have good SEO either way, why not look at which way fits your working style better? I used to run with multiple small sites, but found it really difficult to "run around" and get them all updated fast enough to keep them looking active. OTOH, a lot of people who have multiple small sites don't worry about updating - They build what they think is a good site that covers the subject, then wave good-bye to that one and start another on a different topic (probably works better with AdSense than with affiliate marketing, because with AdSense the site's more likely to continue producing income on its own). Now I have only two large sites that cover two completely different areas, but each area is one that I can keep expanding as long as I want to. Some people would find that boring. Look back on some of your past projects (not necessarily online ones) and see what style has been best for you.

There could also be some practical considerations if you're planning to do affiliate marketing. You might want to check into some of the programs you're more interested in and see how easy - or difficult - it is to have multiple sites on the same program. You want to be able to track what clicks and conversions you get from each site/topic. How does the program allow you to do this with single sites and with multiple sites?

[Andrea]

Hi,

Thank you for replying Beagle. I think I'm more interested in earning an income from adsense really. I was wondering if you could let me know what you think of the site I'm in the process of developing. I've sent you a pm with the link to the website.

I'm really searching for the most realistic way for someone to start earning an income as soon as possible without having to go down the route of ppc.

I'm in a situation where I need to work from home.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Andrea

[Beagle]

In order to start making an income quickly without PPC, you need good SEO and need to use AdSense to your best advantage. I know just a little about SEO and nothing about AdSense, but WebmasterWorld happens to have entire subforums about them, with people posting who concentrate on those things. Whether you want to ask questions, look up the "classic" threads in the library, or just hang out and read other people's posts, they're great places to learn.

Affiliate marketing, which is all I've ever used, generally takes a lot longer to get going, but I wouldn't completely rule out using it in tandem with AdSense, especially on your "products" site. --- I'll be sending you a sticky with a few comments about both sites. Since I've never used AdSense, I can't help with the best ways to use your ads, so the comments will be pretty general.

[Andrea]

Hi,

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.

Andrea