A network of sites, yay or nay?

[draggar]

I've been working on (and putting up piece by piece) a network of sites (right now about 5-8 sites total) based on a theme but different aspect of the theme. In this niche there are plenty of keyword.org, key-word.com (for two worded keywords), keywordonline.com domains available for reg fee or cheaply (so investments in this project is minimal).

The architecture is set up that I have a "base" site (the name of the network) and form there I have links to all of the other sites in the network, related sites, and "supporting sites".

This will allow my sites to be linked together but I'm wondering if there's any drawbacks to it? I know Google frowns upon sites from the same Hosting linking to each other but I'm thinking that when some of them are built that the increased PR would overall benefit the whole network.

Thoughts?

[Bill Roy]

I too am working along the same lines, though using specific geo domains. To me the most important thing is the association people - you know real people, not domainers or Google, etc. put on the site names.

Because of the linking algorithm used by Google it may well hurt your interlinking sites a little, but if people link from one site in the network to another and accept the link as logical then you will be creating a kind of 'branding' that may benefit your network far more than any loss you may suffer from search engine algorithm biases. (It should also be noted here that of course the algorithms used change repeatedly and in my view unpredictably, so what may today be seen as a disadvantage may be neutral tomorrow or even positive in the future.)

Of course by having a network of sites you are allowing the branding of the network as a whole whilst you also have the ability to tweak the design of each site so it is more suited to the individual site whilst remaining within the general brand appearance. The bottom line though has to be what the public both want and expect. Here the tweaking can be very beneficial, and it will allow variation, and looking ahead the ability to carry out specific future changes to individual sites that would be difficult to achieve acceptably on a single site.

Single sites are often looked as a being better as they cost less (only one renewal fee) and of course things like alexa ranking will be higher for a single site than will be achieved by any of the individual sites in a network, and this could be a downside. However, it is more than possible that the total number of visitors obtained by a network could easily be more than an individual site because people could associate with a specific site within the network whilst they may not with the individual site, this would likely lead to increased 'bookmarking' of individual sites of the network over the rate achieved by posiibly a single site.

This has most probably been a totally incomprehensible post, but I hope you follow my lines of argument.

[draggar]

Each site is different. Some are created from scratch, some are Wordpress sites (with different and appropriate themes) , and some are just forums.

I'm mainly doing this because of the availability of good names (one is a key-word.com and another is a keyword.org) in this niche and I also have available to me a wealth of good knowledge that I can add to the site (including access to "exclusive" / unique content).

[peter]

Plus, it feels better to own a network of sites than just one site

[onthenetdollars]

I use a host that lets me have different class c ip addresses, so my sites can link naturally, not all to all, without getting flagged. Your host should offer an option for an extra class c ip address, check with them.

[bensd]

This a reasonable sized network and they interlink all their sites -

http://www.nmhco.com/

Haven't checked but each site is pretty big (with an awesome domain!) so the many each be on a different server/ip address.

[tristanperry]

Nothing wrong with a network of sites, especially if they offer quite different things (as you say, forums, wordpress, normal websites etc). Good luck with it

I originally had a similar plan, but got scammed and so didn't carry on. I had/have a web host called The Legion Host, and had paid someone to develop a MMORPG game for me (called Legions At War). If I hadn't have got scammed on the game, I would have had a tagline on both saying "Hosted by The Legion Host" or "Sponors Legions At War" - a fairly easy technique that works quite well

[patroiz]

This a reasonable sized network and they interlink all their sites -

http://www.nmhco.com/

Haven't checked but each site is pretty big (with an awesome domain!) so the many each be on a different server/ip address.

This network has some awesome domains

Quality>Quantity

[draggar]

This network has some awesome domains

Quality>Quantity

Yes, and I have some good domains for this network. The niche isn't popular with domainers so there's plenty of keyword.com, keywordonline.com, keyword.org domains available for reg fee or low cost.

Plus, I am able to add great (and original) content to these sites plus I have experts in each field willing to give me information for them, too.

[DomainMagnate]

This a reasonable sized network and they interlink all their sites -

http://www.nmhco.com/

Haven't checked but each site is pretty big (with an awesome domain!) so the many each be on a different server/ip address.

nice network!
any idea what cms that is?

[Dimva]

nice network!
any idea what cms that is?

Yeah I like their CMS they are using on the travel sites, something similar what im looking for. Probably custom made though?

[incka]

The alexa on those sites is really low to say what great domains name they have.

[scottle]

Twice I have built a network of sites for affiliate programs with a related subject. I found that the time invested wasn't worth it. I think if you were selling a product/service without using affiliate programs the roi would be much better. After all, with a network of sites & some good organic seo less ppc should be necessary--one of the major benefits of a network.

[dcristo]

IMO if the sites are related you are best going with a hub site, as your marketing efforts are consolidated.

[steveto]

How would you go about doing this because I am thinking about the same thing with a particular niche in mind. Do you link site1 -> site2 -> site3 -> site4 -> site1?

Like in a big circle or do you do it a different way? If they are all on the same server, I am going to assume that this is not good?

[fischermx]

I also want to know what CMS is that!

[dcristo]

How would you go about doing this because I am thinking about the same thing with a particular niche in mind. Do you link site1 -> site2 -> site3 -> site4 -> site1?

Like in a big circle or do you do it a different way? If they are all on the same server, I am going to assume that this is not good?

If the sites are related, there is no problem with interlinking.

[Gerry]

I have been working on this as well. Many times I have posted a call here on DNF for "like sites" based on my site's theme.

I am surprised at the lack of participation. I was beginning to wonder if there were nothing but domain owners on this form and very few that knew how to build or create a site.

I have offered countless times to include members sites on my sites and only once have I received a response.

Some of the themes have been:

Medical
dieting/healthy eating
College/University
Beach
Winter sports
Rock/general music
Body Building/fitness

and more.

I have offered free text links and graphic links that I create for about 20 or 25 bucks. I want all mini banners to be the same size, will use as much as the original site as possible, and the owner is free to use that mini banner for anything else - including swapping with others.

I typically work with Joomla and have no set thought to mini banner size until I get into the site and construct it and see what I have to work with.

Thus far, due to lack of participation, I have had only one member contact me from this forum and I did his mini banner for free. And because this theme carries over into other sites, I will use it again.

So perhaps we need a sticky or something to that effect for this purpose. I had the call for sites moved to the Advertising section by the mods so not sure of the impact if peeps are looking at categories before reading.

Any thoughts?

[steveto]

Good idea...would rather have a more organized version of your idea where people would list the websites they want to add links or have links..kinda like a craigslist of link trading..within niche sites..almost liek a webring I guess. with notes stating..only PR4 and above or any site ok...etc..

[Gerry]

Good idea...would rather have a more organized version of your idea where people would list the websites they want to add links or have links..kinda like a craigslist of link trading..within niche sites..almost liek a webring I guess. with notes stating..only PR4 and above or any site ok...etc..

If I am starting and creating a site, I am more than happy to take any member's site for inclusion. No stipulation such as PR ranking.

An example of my posting is here.

Criteria for inclusion is also posted and is specific to the site's theme base.

Typically the standard of all my themes thus far has been:

# Developed sites only.
# All extensions welcome.
# POST SITE in this thread
unless you feel you must PM
# Site will be reviewed
# No adult or inappropriate content.

Then the custom content requirements added.