Link from or 301 Domains?

[JerrodDavid]

I have 3 domains that are in the same niche as my main site and not connected in any way. Now my question is should I just link to my main site from each of them on a page that is relevant to my main Keywords or should I 301 them to the site?

I am thinking that building a link to my main site would have more effect than 301's. Thanks in advance!

[matbennett]

Do the sites have value in their own right?  If they are serving a purpose then why would you effectively close the site?  If not then why keep it?

If a site had no purpose in it's own right (and no future to have one) wouldn't bother keeping it myself. I'd go with the 301 and focus on a website with a purpose. Otherwise you are maintaining/promoting a whole site just for the benefit of 1 link. I can't see that bringing much return.

[JerrodDavid]

Matt - Thanks for the response. The sites no longer serve a purpose as they were acquired by the main site. The old sites would no longer be promoted, but I was thinking that letting them with live with a single link may be more beneficial in terms of SEO  than a 301.

[Visiblics]

Google generally do not recommend to run multiple websites for same purpose and on top of that interlink sites to each other (kind of grey hat technique). However, if all of your websites have some value/authority in the eyes of Google, you may want run all the websites separately, if not you can simply 301 the other domains to your main website.

IMO, there is no point in maintaining multiple domains for single purpose, as it needs lot of efforts and investment to maintain and market websites. Rather you should concentrate on single website and put all your efforts and investment in one website only. it will give you more benefit.

[matbennett]

Making a blind call - without seeing the sites I would say 301.

[JerrodDavid]

Thanks for all of the responses! I should have been more clear. Let's say my company acquired these other companies not just the domains. Should I leave the sites up and say they are now a part of my company and then link to my company, 301 the domains, or none of the above?

[TheSEODR]

It would provide the best user experience to do a 301 redirect but include a message before (ex. Custom "You are now being redirected" page) or after (ex. pop up screen) the redirect to clarify the acquisition.  That way you get the juice from these sites and you don't have a high bounce rate from users clicking off your site because they thought they typed in wrong URL.

[matbennett]

If you include a message first then you can't do a 301.

Once you output to the browser you cannot send new header information. The 301 response has to go in the header, so it is too late at that point.

[matbennett]

Make the decision based on the business case, not which might have the most SEO benefit.  If they are are their own businesses, with their own customers then those should be the first concerns not how to push PR around.

Presumably they were acquired for a purpose. That purpose should guide what happens.