Multiple sites - ownership & link structure

[danielparry]

Hi All

I am in the process of creating a number of sites within the garden products sector; each site will have unique, original content and there will be no cross over. So for example I will have one on lawn mowers, one on greenhouses, another on garden furniture etc.

My original thinking was to create a single limited company that would own each of the domains, therefore all the registrant details will be identical.

Is this a sensible thing to do? (I want to be totally white hat)

And what, if any, are the linking opportunities between each of the sites? (16 in total). Not to increase ranking, more from an authoritative perspective.

And finally, how should I link between each site? Should I no follow the links? Should I use keyword contextual links?

Any advice ideas would be appreciated

Please note: It has been suggested that I just create one BIG site. I've decided against this as I want to use the keyword for each website in the domain name as I believe this still has value.

Thanks

[EGOL]

If you create one big store your average shopping cart value will be higher because people who need garden furniture might also want something for their plants.  And, one big site would impress the visitor more and be much less work for you to maintain.

And what, if any, are the linking opportunities between each of the sites? (16 in total). Not to increase ranking, more from an authoritative perspective.

huh?  Authoritative perspective?

Wouldn't one big site be more authoritative?

[BrianSaxon]

If you go to Google Webmaster Central, you will see a mantra of non-following interlinks for sites under your control.  The amount of risk you are undertaking with interlinking depends how you do it and the how your link profile looks overall.  Do-follow contextual links in the footer would be the most risky and a bad idea.  If you put a single do-follow link to another store/site (using the store name in the anchor) in the "About Us" page, you may be safe but I have read reports of getting a -10 for doing even this.

Ultimately, the more you leverage your sites for juice - the more risk you undertake (pardon the stating the obvious).

BTW, I concur with EGOL about doing one big site.  I've done it both ways and everything is so much easier if you focus on a single store. Better to spread your icing nice and thick over a cupcake than thinly over a sheet cake.

[danielparry]

Thanks EGOL, the reason for the individual sites is that I wanted to get the primary keyword for each in the domain (for example gardenfurniturereview.co.uk, or shedsreview.co.uk) and build focussed authoritative sites for each. Do you think the keyword in the domain is still relevant?

[danielparry]

Thanks Brian...should have checked webmaster tools befor posing the question!

As I replied to EGOL the reason for the individual sites is that I wanted to get the primary keyword for each in the domain (for example gardenfurniturereview.co.uk, or shedsreview.co.uk) and build focussed authoritative sites for each. Do you think the keyword in the domain is still relevant?

[EGOL]

Most of the sites that I own are exact match keyword domains.  I think that they still have some bonus value in the search engines but I believe that they were cut significantly in February 2011.

If you have domains like GardenFurniture.com or LawnMowers.com then I might agree with you and use the method that you propose.... however, if you have domains like  LawnMowerReview.com then I would strongly vote for putting everything into one huge site.

Anybody can register a domain like LawnMowerBob or LawnMowerSomething... why should google give extra credit for that?

In my opinion the "exact match" keyword domains are effective, but "keywords in the domain" are nothing special.

And... any linking that you would do between your sixteen sites would be more dangerous than valuable.

That's just one opinion... but my opinion on this is firm enough that I would use it as a rule for my business.

[Boodreaux]

Sounds like it has to be an exact keyword match for the domain to be effective according to EGOL.  I have some exact keyword domains and I will have to look into this too.  I sounds like it is okay to add a link to a main site as long as it is a no follow from the responses so far.  Hopefully more info is forthcoming.

Boo

[danielparry]

Thanks EGOL, much appreciated.

[BrianSaxon]

Yes, one of my exact match domains outranks a much stronger domain even with thin content and zero marketing efforts.  It don't think it should and I don't think it always will outrank stronger domains.