Link farming and related websites

[cbielich]

In my niche I have about 17 sites I have created. They all provide unique content, html, and all have a variety of uses that differ from each other mostly, some repetition but not really. All these sites are related to the same niche. I do link to each other in my sites. I don't go crazy and link every site to every other site or span links on footers. I somewhere in the content link here to there. Not even consistent, just linking to related pages from others. I was wondering if this is something I need to be careful about or could I get hit with link farming?

[RyanKent]

You are absolutely at risk of being penalized for a link scheme. I would advise you to consolidate your sites into a single site for your niche and make it the best site possible.

The reality is, very few people accept that advise. These sites have worked for months / years so why change, right?

I have seen this scenario repeatedly. You are highly likely to be penalized. It's just a matter of time.

[bradkrussell]

Agree with Ryan. We had a very similar setup previously and we got busted. You're very much at risk.

Consolidate in to one large, authority site. It will work much better in the long run.

[Anthony_NorthSEO]

Me three...

Thinking out loud: Should he 301 a few of the existing pages with higher authority to the consolidated site, or do you guys think that would send an unnatural signal?

[cbielich]

Yes I would like to know this too

[RyanKent]

It is perfectly fine to 301 all the sites to the one remaining site.

Exceptions would be:

• if you have manipulative links on the other site that would be a concern

• if all the sites had the same link sources, then it would appear manipulative and it would likely not help anyway

[cbielich]

What do you mean my link sources? Internal links or links going out?

[cbielich]

If I have website A and Website B

If I redirect Website B to Website A will Website A's Link juice be replaced with Website B's or will Website B's link juice add to Website A's?

[RyanKent]

Let's use this scenario.

Site A earns a link from example.com

Site B earns a link from example.com

Site C earns a link from example.com

You decide to close down Site A, B and C then 301 redirect them all to Site D which already has a link from example.com. Those links really don't help.

If Site A/B/C earned links from different domains, that is great. Building the same links to multiple sites then redirecting them to the same site is not very helpful.

[cbielich]

So basically links to my old site that I am redirecting will pass link juice to my new domain as long as my new domain does not already have those links right?

Just want to make sure I understand this before I start this process.

[RyanKent]

Correct

[cbielich]

You are the man