Onpage optimising for multiple sites

[aplnzoctober18]

I’ve been given the task of optimizing a company’s websites (15 in total) that has multiple websites selling the same product. In terms of optimizing them, can I use the same set of meta descriptions, page title tags and key words for them all or do I need to produce a different set for each?

The sites are for independently branded companies that are set up in a franchise-like arrangement. They all exclusively sell the parent companies joinery products

[DmitriiK]

Hi there.

Only one word comes to mind as i read your question - "duplication".

1. No, you shouldn't use same meta descriptions and tags - it's going to bring up duplication issue;
2. Yes, you can use the same keyword research, but you'll need to write unique content for each of websites;
3. Why would you have 15 websites which are basically the same thing? Are they all ranking already for the same product? Do they have great traffic to all of them? If so, why fix something that ain't broken? If not, why spread all of your efforts to 15 different websites, if you can concentrate on 1 and make it the best thing in the world?

Cheers!

[Linda-Vassily]

The first question you need to ask is why does your company have 15 websites selling the same things? Would having one site rank and the others just be canonical (or eliminated) be an acceptable solution? If the sites have different audiences you can try gearing the descriptions, keywords, etc. to the particular audience of the site you are working on but doing that 15 times in ways that would be unique enough to each site to allow them all to rank well on the same search isn't possible. If you ask about the business reason for the 15 sites, you may be able to work with the company on a realistic path to their desired outcome.

[aplnzoctober18]

Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry I should have explained the sites are for independently branded companies that are set up in a franchise-like arrangement. They all exclusively sell the parent companies joinery products

[DmitriiK]

No matter the model, the verdict is the same - gotta be fairly unique content on each of websites.

P.S. Look at any well established franchises - they have 1 website, where the products are shown, and you can choose your closest store/office and go get the product there. Then the locations itself have their own little subpages, which are unique to them - maybe their story, their staff etc.