As an agency, what is the best way to handle being the webmaster and hosting provider for several sites (some of which are in the same industry and have natural links to each other)?

[grayloon]

We are an agency that builds and hosts websites for several companies (some of which happen to be in the same industry - and therefore naturally link to each other - we do not dictate).  In regards to handling their domain registrations, webmaster tools account, google analytics account, and servers, what is the best practice to avoid Google thinking that these companies are affilliated? Even though they aren't affiliated, we are afraid that us being the "webmaster" of these sites and having shared servers for them that we may be affecting them.

[PerchDigital]

I'm curious to see what answers you get as I'm somewhat in the same boat. I do have multiple clients hosted with the same hosts, but there's not much cross over in industries. I do, however always set up completely individual GWT, analytics etc just because of a hunch that Google may consider two sides sharing an account somewhat connected. Whether anyone has any proof is another thing..

[AlanMosley]

I have a lot of sites on only a few ip numbers, i have them all on the same Bing and
Google accounts as i host and build websites. I also have a lot of linking
between them. I have recently had a site drop in ranking, but i doubt it is
because of this, as others that have not dropped have more same ip links.
DiscountASP one of the biggest hosters has almost all sites on one IP number. I
think the concern is overblown.

I would just make sure that same ip links do not make up the majority of your links.

Bing or Google understand that people are in my and your position, where you are a
webmaster for many sites and host them on a few ip numbers, it is natural.

what is not natural is to a link farm

[RobertFisher]

We are an SEO, SEM, WebDev, etc. firm. We handle several verticals with clients who do not directly compete. Frankly, we don't like having those who do (unless in a different region or highly niched). With the web dev we are webmaster, host, and etc. Typically, we won't take on a client unless we are the ones handling the hosting as we have had too many times when we were blocked or stalled by Danny the Developer and it is not worth the pain. (That is why we got into dev).

Most of our clients have multiple sites and we do cross link carefully where it is logical. By virtue of this, we actually have sites that are hosted on various site hosts nationwide (GoDaddy, BlueHost, Network Solutions, etc. etc. etc.). We develop a matrix around the sites and groups that will link and then insure we are not pulling the IP or C blocks in a way that shows all sites on same. Furthermore, we utilize the matrix in a way that If there are say 4 groups with 10 sites each, Group A can only link to Group B or C and Group B only to C or D. D can link to A, etc. - I am not endeavoring to fill in the entire picture, but believe you can figure it out.

Early on, we were link monkeys going everywhere, connecting everything. Could not figure out what the issue(s) were. When we learned from some mozzers about the IP and C block issues, it changed our clients outcomes. I suggest that anyone that is "cross pollinating" multiple sources set up your sites in a fashion that keeps the IP and C blocks from showing up as all from the same.

[KeriMorgret]

There are sites out there that will show you which sites share the same Google Analytics code, http://spyonweb.com/ is one. Google knows, trust me, as I've had them shut off adwords for multiple clients when one client refused about $36 in charges (five years ago, no MMC, but all in same GWT account).

I don't have an educated opinion on the impact of ranking that this may or may not cause, and will defer to others about that.

I personally create separate Google Analytics Accounts for each client, with only their profiles in that same account. It's less about Google knowing all and more about being able to hand off the GA account to another business and give them admin access without handing over the rest of my clients.

[RobertFisher]

I think there may actually be two issues here: One with regard to the sites all linking and one with regard to GA accounts. After Keri's answer (thanks Keri), I did a little research regarding what is the best practice. (Somewhere, sometime, I learned you set all up in a master and then move forward....). Appears I was wrong.....

Almost anyone within SEO, SEM, etc. I could find with a blog or other venue stated that the best practice was to set each client up with their own analytics account since it allows portability. With regard to Adwords accounts, that should be set up in advance in a contract: Marketing Co or Customer will possess AdWords account on termination of services. For us, if client is to retain, I require a cc on file that is used to pay all invoices as they occur.

Hope this helps.

[KeriMorgret]

Grayloon, were these responses enough of an answer for you, or are you still looking for more information?