I currently have a client that has multiple domains for multiple brands that share the same IP Address. Will link juice be passed along to the different sites when they link to one another or will it simply be considered internal linking?

[HughesDigital]

I have 7 brands that are owned by the same company, each with their own domain.  The brands work together to form products that are then sold to the consumer although there is not a e-commerce aspect to any of the sites.

I am looking to create a modified link wheel between the sites, but didn't know if my efforts would pay off due to the same IP Address for all the sites.

Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Nobody1560986989723]

For a start you shouldn't be doing any 'link wheels' as you risk damaging all 7 sites. If the brands are within the same company and are related you could probably 'cross-sell' but that can just look spammy from a customer's perspective.

You'd be better focussing on each brand individually and building up its authority and getting quality links than linking 7 sites on the same IP/C-Block.

Just. Don't. Do. The. Wheel.

[rayvensoft]

I agree that you should not do anything as obvious as a link wheel, especially with the recent google updates and penalties.

That being said, I have a number of sites in same server that link to each other.  This was not  done with the intention of creating a link wheel.  I simply went the microsite route instead of a main large site.  I did, and still do seem to be getting benefit from them linking to each other.  Of course, each site has its own links from different places linking to it, so the inter-linking between my sites is a very very small portion of my total inbound links.

I am however working on merging the sites right now since I am worried google may frown upon this kind of thing in the future.  But for now - and the past - it seemed to have helped.

Just my 2 pesos opinion/experience.  I hope this helps.

[HughesDigital]

What about the fact that each of the sites post content that references the other brands' websites?  Do you feel that I should avoid linking to the sites in the content being generates?  Maybe use no follows so the reader can get to the site, but not have the spiders follow...

[rayvensoft]

If you are very worried, I would say just make them nofollow.  The benefit you would get from them might not be worth the worry.

But, since you control the sites yourself, I don't see any reason why you can't experiment.  Put a few of the links to your other site, in context, and make them do follow.  Wait a few weeks and see what happens.  Did your other site benefit.  In that case, I would keep them. If your other site goes down, or sees no benefit, then I would then make them no follow.   These links should have little risk of getting you banned from google - unless you have thousands of these - and it has a small chance of doing some good.

Again, I will put the caveat to say that this is what I would do.  I have been doing seo for about 4 years as part of my businesses, but I am not a full time SEO don't claim to be an expert.

[Nobody1560986989723]

I think if there are in context references to the other brands and you're not linking all the time, then probably still apply no-follow. Basically, apply a simple principle - if you think you may be, or someone else could perceive that you're being manipulative, don't do it. Same with any ethical situation in life.