Same-server, Same-Market, Micro-Sites backlinks.. good or bad?

[propertypalseo]

Hi there,

We are a real estate listings portal and we also create micro sites for real estate agents.

These micro-sites are hosted on our same server, similar in structure, different in design... different in content.  They all link to us but not within each other.

They all link to us because they have to access our login system in order to manage their property listings on their own micro sites (which updates on our own website too). (Also as marketing for others to see that we have built their sites with our engine).

Would all these backlinks be considered to be coming from the same c-block? Thus, being sub-optimal for our SEO efforts? Should we worry about grouping them and giving them separate IP addresses?

Should we add nofollow tags to these links or are there any other things you would worry about?

Many thanks.

[MaryBowling]

Even if you moved them to different IPs and c-blocks, it's highly likely that Google can tell they are related. Chances are good that Google sees this as some kind of link "scheme".  If you no-follow the links, you may be spared the gelding that other link "schemes" have suffered.

[propertypalseo]

double post meant the same sorry

[propertypalseo]

I am sorry, could you clarify what you mean with the last sentence? Are you saying that by nofollowing those links I may see an SEO benefit so as I would potentially be "de-penalized"?

[propertypalseo]

Any second opinions would be appreciated..

[JaneCopland]

Hi Errol,

Yep, these links all come from the same c-block.

As Mary says, it's likely that Google is well aware that these sites are related. I disagree that that would automatically put you at high risk for a penalty, given that interlinking owned / managed websites is common practice, even amongst people who are not doing so for SEO purposes. Unless the network of sites appeared very manipulative, it is likely that the links would be discounted and no benefit passed between them rather than you being slapped with a bad penalty... however, nofollowing the links between each site and your hub site is the best practice when it is done to any extent / large scale, just in case this was viewed as manipulative. Since I do not know how many links / sites we're talking about here, I would certainly say that nofollowing these links would be the safe thing to do.

Even if you were being super-sneaky with the hosting of these sites, disguising Whois information, making changes to your template, etc., Google is incredibly good at figuring out which sites are related to each other. They've been good at this for a long time, so it's always best to assume that they'll know about professional networks like yours and follow best practice with linking.

Hope this helps!

Jane