Educated Guess

rickanderson · #1 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 04:13 PM

Hi everyone....new here. My site has been #1 on Google for 2-3 searches over the last 3 yrs...in an increasingly competitive industry. There are a number of things I am doing to maintain that position but I was wondering just how much weight is given by Google in it's algorithem (sp) to a site that has been 'live' on the net. My site first went live in 2000 and was one of the first in the entire industry (painting). Can anyone actually take an educated guess as to the weight given, in percentage form?

Thanks ahead of time
rick

**mjtaylor** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 04:22 PM

Well, if there are 100-200 factors and this one is a fairly important one it should be worth a couple of percentage points. I would say this would be more important for a newer site than an older one ... in other words it's a negative factor to get over .... sometimes called the Sandbox ... but once your domain is a year old, the relative value decreases.

Similarly, the age of incoming links is a factor.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, MJ

rickanderson · #3 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 04:31 PM

hi mj

thanks for the response...
instead of starting another thread how bout another question...
i just bought 95 domains...all are the actual search phrases for neighboring cities of where i live.
my mothership domain if you will, is Painters Vancouver so i bought...deltasbestpainters.com surreysbestpainters.com etc as well as surreypainter.com surreypainters.com surreypainting.com paintingsurrey.com painterspaintingsurrey etc...etc for 8 cities close by but specific to that region

now to my question....how best to utilize these 95 domains to benefit mainly...the mothership, Vancouver...without spending an arm and leg actually developing 95 sites?

tx
rick

edit: wondering why "www vancouver's best painters dot com" comes up "Painters Vancouver" when I type it?

**incrediblehelp** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickanderson

now to my question....how best to utilize these 95 domains to benefit mainly...the mothership, Vancouver...without spending an arm and leg actually developing 95 sites?

Do you plan on building unique content on each? If not then 301 redirecting them to the main website will probably be you next step.

rickanderson · #5 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Do you plan on building unique content on each? If not then 301 redirecting them to the main website will probably be you next step.

Hi incredible: I am prepared to and have the means to build unique content on each site. Im just trying to figure out whether the gains achieved by adding 3-5 little ol pages of unique content to the 95 sites is worth the effort vs not adding any content on any yet still utilizing them to my benefit....strengthening the mother ship.

I will do whatever I'm told.,,provided there are a least a few people here telling me the same thing to do.

Rick

**incrediblehelp** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 01:39 AM

Well I would not follow advice at a forum only as it is just advice and you shouldnt be making your business decisions based on it only. I would rather see one website than 5-6.

rickanderson · #7 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Well I would not follow advice at a forum only as it is just advice and you shouldnt be making your business decisions based on it only. I would rather see one website than 5-6.

Thanks incredible. I already have one fully developed site ranked number one. Im just trying to figure out how these other domain purchases can help the most.

Rick

imsickofwebpro · #8 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 04:30 AM

Are you kidding me... 95 keyword rich domains!

Microsite Localization my friend. Start loading those sites with content and let them grow! Put the domains under different web hosts; Netfirms, godaddy, all the big cheap guys.

Linking those sites back to your flagship will ensure a competitive advantage as long as your competitors don't copy your strategy.

I recently worked for a large medical company that used this strategy. We had 1st page rankings for several highly-competitve keywords. Oddly enough, the two top ranking spots were occupied by industry forums???

Helpful Links:
Inexpensive web hosting companies. http://web-hosting-review.toptenreviews.com/globat-review.html

Microsite Localization explained Internet marketing - Microsite Localization

Hope this helps.

imsickofwebpro · #9 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 04:55 AM

"I already have one fully developed site ranked number one. Im just trying to figure out how these"

A clever marketing manager I worked with once asked our well paid IT team why our website could only occupy (2) first page spots on Google.

IT Manager: "Well, Google only displays the top two pages of our main website, there's nothing we can do!"

Clever marketing mgr: "So build five more competing websites and use the same strategy as our current website."

This was the first time I heard of Microsite Localization.

I also highlighted something important...

imsickofwebpro · #10 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 04:57 AM

"Well I would not follow advice at a forum only as it is just advice and you shouldnt be making your business decisions based on it only. I would rather see one website than 5-6."

What ever man!

inertia · #11 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imsickofwebpro

"Well I would not follow advice at a forum only as it is just advice and you shouldn't be making your business decisions based on it only. I would rather see one website than 5-6."

What ever man!

This is excellent advice! After all I (and probably incredible) know nothing about the painting industry.

I would never have bought the 95 domain names. 1. Its will occur unnecessary costs for renewal/hosting. 2. Each will get sandboxed.

I would focus all your attention on the mothership. 301 each regional domain to this. Add relevant content for each region you are focusing on and build plenty of links. The fact that this domain has been around for ages will work in your favour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imsickofwebpro

Microsite Localization explained Internet marketing - Microsite Localization

What the hell is this!???

**incrediblehelp** · #12 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imsickofwebpro

Clever marketing mgr: "So build five more competing websites and use the same strategy as our current website.

Wow this is wrong on so many levels.

1. The SE dont want or like you doig this. SO already you going down the road that can eventually lead to getting your website banned.

2. End visitors dont like to have to "jump" from one website to another. Your main website should be the source of your promotion efforts, not 95 different websites.

3. What a logistical nightmare it is to management unique content on 95 websites comparable to one.

4. Your doing things for the SE's and not the end visitors. Not a good idea.

imsickofwebpro · #13 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:12 PM

This is terrible... My writing at 4am isn't great, I know, but guys, to actually go against this concept after it has proven itself so many times, c'mon.

Rick Anderson is using 'Geographical Optimization'. Smart Move! This method works on so many levels:

1. Creates controllable competition
2. Provides higher rankings for localized searches.
3. Creates relevant link backs
4. Allows you to further target a niche audience.
5. Allows you to test market a new theme without affecting your corporate brand
6. Owning domains is like owning real estate.

He's not going to give up on his flagship website, but how much higher can he go! The website is already number one.

He can secure his positioning on localized searches, which the search engines are moving towards anyways.

With microsite localization, he can appear more times per keyword, thus increasing his exposure and chances of receiving a visit.

"What a logistical nightmare it is to management unique content on 95 websites comparable to one"
Honeslty, it is not that difficult to manage multiple websites.

"Your doing things for the SE's and not the end visitors. Not a good idea."
You are providing visitors with more channels to contact you. You could call this convenience. =-)

"1. Its will occur unnecessary costs for renewal/hosting. 2. Each will get sandboxed."
1. It's like buying real estate, if there is demand for the domain, the value will go up.
2. Every new website gets sandboxed… Wait it out and let your site grow.

**mjtaylor** · #14 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:21 PM

Rick,

If you need more than one voice, here's mine: listen to Inc'help. He is rarely (if ever) wrong. Just look at the rep points next to the man's 6,000 plus posts ... that means a lot of people before me have deemed his advice to be golden.

The microsite localization technique can be very effective. Until the search engines figure it out, and then you risk all your sites being banned. Reread Inc'help's last post on this ... he is so right on why it's so wrong.

Cheers, MJ

thindenim · #15 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:27 PM

Unless each site is providing a unique user experience I would concentrate on one site. If you get spotted (or reported) then you are likely to be seen as spamming and get your sites blacklisted.

How about 301 redirect of each of the domains to a specific page on your main site?

rickanderson · #16 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inertia

This is excellent advice! After all I (and probably incredible) know nothing about the painting industry.

I would never have bought the 95 domain names. 1. Its will occur unnecessary costs for renewal/hosting. 2. Each will get sandboxed.

I would focus all your attention on the mothership. 301 each regional domain to this. Add relevant content for each region you are focusing on and build plenty of links. The fact that this domain has been around for ages will work in your favour.

hi denim

thanks for the input and I did carefully consider the cost associated with the new domains. The thing is, I live in Vancouver, a highly competitive market in painting but the neighbouring cities, all very close by, don't have any painters whatsoever, (save one or two) in the generics. It just seems like easy pickens to me...to build another 7-8 humble sites, all with unique content and to do something with the remaining undeveloped sites. (301?)

whats a 301?

Rick

rickanderson · #17 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

Rick,

If you need more than one voice, here's mine: listen to Inc'help. He is rarely (if ever) wrong. Just look at the rep points next to the man's 6,000 plus posts ... that means a lot of people before me have deemed his advice to be golden.

The microsite localization technique can be very effective. Until the search engines figure it out, and then you risk all your sites being banned.

hi mj

I would think that Google would appreciate and reward someone like myself who builds a humble little site with unique content that caters to the needs of a region whos needs are not being met.

Maybe Im over simplyfying things.

Rick