The Best Thing to Do with Extra Domain Names

[adbart]

Okay, we now also have a couple of other domain names that include very relevant keywords.

I've used several approaches before with this kind of tactic but have never seen a definitive answer as to what is the best thing to do.

Should I:

A) Point the new domains at our website (301 redirect) and not do any SEO on them

B) Do as above, but do some optimisation (link building etc)

C) Create single webpages at these domains with content relevant to golf, and put links on them to our website

D) something else

I'd be interested to know everyone's recommendations.

Thanks!

[vwebworld]

It depends upon what you want to accomplish.

If, for example, the domains are "versions" of a
domain name like .com .net .org. biz, then it would
make sense to 301 redirect them to one (.com or .net).

If the domains are different ex: golfball, golf4you,
joesbar... then separate websites may make more sense.

The main question is what do you want the results to
be?

~Roland

[Burf.com]

Interest topic this as I own both types (burf.us, info etc and also rawseek.com, etc)

I was going to build versions of the site but link back to Burf.com.

So burf.us would only display US sites, but its content links would go to Burf.com

[adbart]

Sorry if the question was ambiguous.

What I mean is if you have extra domain names - for example a web design company called WebDesigners.com might also own domains like webdesignhosts.com and webdesignmonthly.com.

Would it be best to just 301 them to the main site, and do some link building for the extra domains, or make separate websites that are relevant which simply provide as backlinks to the main website?

[TrafficProducer]

Sedo (http://sedo.co.uk/?partnerid=20951)

You can park URL's and earn some cash if you point the Nameservers to Sedo (http://sedo.co.uk/?partnerid=20951)


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[incraftfun]

Any way you do it, it will probably end up costing you extra money. I had a few domains lying around and had them point to my site, but there was like a $30 charge to do it. I was with iPowerWeb at the time, which does not offer a parking page, unfortunately.

[HepCatChris]

Okay, we now also have a couple of other domain names that include very relevant keywords.


This is related to a concern I have as well. I too have several domain names, but they currently all point to the same location. I have my buisness name, www.HepCatProductions.com, as well as a domain with good keywords in it, www.SeattleSwing.com (since I teach Swing Dancing in Seattle), as well as a few others that are also keyword domain names.

Should I try to promote just one of the domain names, or try to promote both or many of the domain names? In my text promotions I've grown to using the www.SeattleSwing.com website because it's easier to read (if they see a sign very quickly), easier to remember (if they loose the advertisement), and easier for people to hear (if I'm telling someone in person). It also tends to physically fit better then the full company name when put on flyers, etc.

Of course I've had www.HepCatProductions.com longer, so I suspect that the search engines are based on that one.

Should I stick to using the same domain name in all my promotions? If yes, then which one? I suspect that www.SeattleSwing.com is a better choice, because of the reasons listed above. But what should I really consider in making that choice?

[TrafficProducer]

See also:-
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=59442

[freetraff]

My own experience.

1. Get relevant content for these domains.
2. Get it indexed to SEs faster.
3. Monetize the traffic.

This is of course if you do not have a nice product/service to offer on these domains.

[glinted]

hi Adbart, I understand exactly what you are asking & I have the same questions but its very hard to find any SEO experts willing to give their thoughts unfortunately. You have asked some very important questions and it would be good to hear what some veterans really have to say about this?...

[glinted]

hi Adbart, I understand exactly what you are asking, I have the same questions but it's very hard to find any SEO experts willing to give their thoughts unfortunately. You have asked some very important questions and it would be good to hear what some veterans really have to say about this?...

[greeneagle]

Have you checked out GoDaddy auctions and looked at some of the prices?

Ken

[ccera]

Any way you do it, it will probably end up costing you extra money.
It won't cost extra to park them if you have a reseller account, although you will still have to pay renewal fees, of course. If you have so many that this will be a burden, it's time to sell some anyway. Meanwhile, you can combine the other advice here by parking them somewhere that won't cost extra and then building sites for them as time allows.
CiCi

[williamc]

If the domains have existing links, simply 301 them to a domain you want to do better.

[TriRyche]

I'm facing similar options / questions...

I have all my 'related' domain names at Go Daddy (only as my Registrar).
I have only 2 sites (Site A and Site B) that are hosted elsewhere (with the same hosting co.)

I have some ranking on Google with 'Site A.'
Site B is not 'live' yet, per se, but its domain has relevant traffic already
that is being forwarded to Site A (ever since Site B's domain was aquired.)

The tentative plan is to move 'Site A' over to 'Site B's' domain name.

So far, I have learned -- to leave 'Site A' live for awhile during transition to 'Site B'

- to use 301 redirects on Site A, either linking directly to same content on Site B (or to Site B's domain itself).

- to try to contact whatever sites may be linking to Site A content and inform them about move.As eluded to, for a few years now, I have had all the domain names (incl. Site B's) configured (at Go Daddy)
so that each domain name is 'forwarded' or 'pointed' to its own 'named' subfolder that resides one-level under 'Site A'
(i.e. www . sitea/forwardeddomain1 ) Within each of these named subfolders is some code that sends you to the 'home page' of 'Site A.'

Some background -

The plan was to give each of these domains their own content at some point, that is why I had set-up the corresponding subfolders
(albeit under Site A domain at the moment). Since that has yet to happen, I have the code bring the visitor to the homepage of Site A.

I would appreciate anyone's comments (or criticisms) of my usage of the 'relevant' domain names that I have on hand.
Also, if the aforementioned 'subfolder method' is 'search engine-friendly' enough or perhaps there is a more effective approach.
(now knowing that I do plan to provide some domain name-related content for each domain name within Site B).

Thanks for at least reading through this post,


- TriRyche

[marcel]

If the domains have existing links, simply 301 them to a domain you want to do better.

Can someone tell me if Google or Yahoo would see this as spam ?

[ravikanth]

williamc: "If the domains have existing links, simply 301 them to a domain you want to do better."
Can someone tell me if Google or Yahoo would see this as spam ?

301 won't be treated as spam. 3 way linking is more beneficial. Collect links for main site by offering return links from secondary website.

[marcel]

Create blogs and offer Blog Posts For Sale (http://www.blogpostsforsale.com) ... as my signature suggests

[SemAdvance]

Sorry if the question was ambiguous.

What I mean is if you have extra domain names - for example a web design company called WebDesigners.com might also own domains like webdesignhosts.com and webdesignmonthly.com.

Would it be best to just 301 them to the main site, and do some link building for the extra domains, or make separate websites that are relevant which simply provide as backlinks to the main website?

Unless the different sites you build focus on a different set of terms or you can find the work around so that the search engines do not see your network it would be hard to corner the market for any term

At best I have been able to get only three sites on the front page for the same term.

[incrediblehelp]

Going down the road of mini-network is simply not a good idea anymore.

[idansh]

I used domain names that their name are somewhat semiliar with my website topic inorder to attract more visitors but if it was a defferent name for a different topic there was no need for this becuase people are not interested in my website will enter and just leave.