"No Follow", C Blocks and IP Addresses combined into one ultimate question?

[MikePatch]

I think the the theme of this question should be "Is this worth my time?"

Hello, Mozcon readers and SEO gurus.

I'm not sure how other hosting networks are set up, but I'm with Hostgator. I have a VPS level 5 which (I think) is like a mini personal server. I have 4 IP addresses, although it is a C block as each IP address is off by one number in the last digit of the address.

I have used 3 out of the 4 IP addresses I have been given. I have added my own sites (some high traffic, some start-ups) and I've hosted a few websites that I have designed from high paying customers. -one man show, design them, host them and SEO them

With the latest Penguin update, and with learning that linking between C Block sites is not a great idea, I have "No Followed" all of the footer links on client sites back to my portfolio site. I have also made sure that there are no links interlinking between any of my sites as I don't see them in the Site Explorer, and I figure if they aren't helping, they may be hurting the rankings of those keywords.

Ok, so...my question is:  "I have one IP address that I'm not using, and I have a popular high traffic site sharing it's IP with 5 other sites (all not related niches but high quality) Is it worth it to move the high traffic site to it's own IP address even though making the switch would take up to 48hrs for process to take affect?  -My site would be down for, at the most 2 days (1 and a half if I switch the IP's at night)

• Is this really worth the stress of losing readers?
• Will moving a site on an IP with 5 other sites help the rankings if it was to be on it's own IP?

Thank you very much

ps- I can't make it to MOZcon this year, super bummed

[CarlosFernandes]

I would say if you are just moving it to be on its own IP - but still on the same C Block then not to bother (unless there are other factors not mentioned).

There are many reasons that go into moving IP address - but if it is still going to be on the same C-Block - at you are not gaining any other benefit from that - I would leave it where it is.

For many clients we split them up onto different IP's - if the websites are doing mail functions etc - so that if any client did anything they shouldn't - not all websites have the potential to get tarnished by one clients actions.

For many low budget plan clients - with very basic static websites we leave them on a shared IP.

This post (read the link below) is very useful about C-Blocks in my opinion - and will tell you how it is thought they they are valued in terms of linkage

http://www.seomoz.org/q/links-from-same-c-block

In any event if you did the transfer correctly you should never have that kind of downtime.... if any at all.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Carlos

[MikePatch]

Thanks Carlos.

I figured as much, but thought I'd take advantage of the Q&A here at SEOmoz.