[Pro] SEO/multiple domain question

Freeway
1

This isn’t strictly a FW question, but this is my first port of call when it comes to asking web questions, so…

Our client has a site with a domain name, and has now purchased several more domains that he is going to point at the single site. He’s asked a question that I don’t actually know the answer to: From an SEO point of view, are all the domains equal? i.e. does Google crawl the single site for each of the domains or does the original domain name take precedence over the others?

Neil

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2

If the content at each of those domains is identical (and you indicated your client would be pointing those domains at the same content, or at least I read your question that way) then the effect would be to divide your credibility N ways, not multiply it. You are always better having a single, really authoritative domain, than many less-authoritative ones. You are more likely to rise to the top of the results with one well-honed presence.

If you present identical content at multiple unique URLs, at some point you may even be blacklisted or at least downgraded by the Google algorithm. That’s a common spammer trick, and so you would be tarred with that brush.

Now if you have multiple, focused Web sites, unique content and presentation, and those point back to your one canonical site, that’s less dangerous. The key is that those separate focused sites cannot be seen as mere gateways into the mother lode, since that looks like “link farming”, and the last round of algorithm changes were meant specifically to devalue those.

Walter

On Feb 5, 2013, at 11:51 AM, neil.west1 wrote:

This isn’t strictly a FW question, but this is my first port of call when it comes to asking web questions, so…

Our client has a site with a domain name, and has now purchased several more domains that he is going to point at the single site. He’s asked a question that I don’t actually know the answer to: From an SEO point of view, are all the domains equal? i.e. does Google crawl the single site for each of the domains or does the original domain name take precedence over the others?

Neil

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3

To add to what Walter said, if you have the additional domains use a 301 (permanent) redirect to the one main domain, Google should be happy with you. This is a common way to work around domain misspellings.

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4

I think one of the things I’ve heard about multiple sites is the insistence
on unique content. Too similar, and it also starts looking like link
farming.

–
Ernie Simpson

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 12:08 PM, Walter Lee Davis email@hiddenwrote:

If the content at each of those domains is identical (and you indicated
your client would be pointing those domains at the same content, or at
least I read your question that way) then the effect would be to divide
your credibility N ways, not multiply it. You are always better having a
single, really authoritative domain, than many less-authoritative ones. You
are more likely to rise to the top of the results with one well-honed
presence.

If you present identical content at multiple unique URLs, at some point
you may even be blacklisted or at least downgraded by the Google algorithm.
That’s a common spammer trick, and so you would be tarred with that brush.

Now if you have multiple, focused Web sites, unique content and
presentation, and those point back to your one canonical site, that’s less
dangerous. The key is that those separate focused sites cannot be seen as
mere gateways into the mother lode, since that looks like “link farming”,
and the last round of algorithm changes were meant specifically to devalue
those.

Walter

On Feb 5, 2013, at 11:51 AM, neil.west1 wrote:

This isn’t strictly a FW question, but this is my first port of call
when it comes to asking web questions, so…

Our client has a site with a domain name, and has now purchased several
more domains that he is going to point at the single site. He’s asked a
question that I don’t actually know the answer to: From an SEO point of
view, are all the domains equal? i.e. does Google crawl the single site for
each of the domains or does the original domain name take precedence over
the others?

Neil

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5

Thanks all,

Yes Walter, you read it right, one site - multiple domains. They are wanting to gain business locally, hence www.XYZ-leeds.co.uk and nationally, XYZ.co.uk.

As I read your response, you say that it is better to have separate sites for each domain with unique content. But therein lies the problem - apart from the additional cost of setting up several sites, they will all essentially be the selling the same product with the same text and need to have the same look. So is there another way of using the domains to appeal to the widest audience without falling foul of link farming, or are we better not using them at all?

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6

That’s the thing - you should absolutely avoid replicating text content as
much as possible. Some things like phone numbers etc will be the same, and
that’s okay. Images too are probably safe, though I would take care that
alt text not replicate.

What I would do is create unique text content about what XYZ does in Leeds
that is unique to that community. That is relevance and should count in
your favor. Any content that distinguishes XYZ’s relationship or history to
the individual communities will be unique and good for your client.

Don’t let your client think of sites as billboards, plastering the same ad
content all over the net to amplify a message. Think of them all as
individual sales pitches targeting distinguishable markets, to amplify
opportunities.

–
Ernie Simpson

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 12:46 PM, neil.west1 email@hidden wrote:

Thanks all,

Yes Walter, you read it right, one site - multiple domains. They are
wanting to gain business locally, hence www.XYZ-leeds.co.uk and
nationally, XYZ.co.uk.

As I read your response, you say that it is better to have separate sites
for each domain with unique content. But therein lies the problem - apart
from the additional cost of setting up several sites, they will all
essentially be the selling the same product with the same text and need to
have the same look. So is there another way of using the domains to appeal
to the widest audience without falling foul of link farming, or are we
better not using them at all?

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7

I would say that if you want to get local visitors, then advertise locally (in any medium), and serve globally from a single URL. You can buy a lot more ad words with the money you’ll save on creating new content, and you’ll save a lot when you don’t get black-listed for spammy actions, too!

Walter

On Feb 5, 2013, at 12:46 PM, neil.west1 wrote:

Thanks all,

Yes Walter, you read it right, one site - multiple domains. They are wanting to gain business locally, hence www.XYZ-leeds.co.uk and nationally, XYZ.co.uk.

As I read your response, you say that it is better to have separate sites for each domain with unique content. But therein lies the problem - apart from the additional cost of setting up several sites, they will all essentially be the selling the same product with the same text and need to have the same look. So is there another way of using the domains to appeal to the widest audience without falling foul of link farming, or are we better not using them at all?

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