Multiple Domains and 301's

[Mac 5]

Would it be a good idea to buy multiple domain names with variations of your original domain name. For example with and without dashes, plural, .net, etc.

1. Gain links if you linked them all to your main page, avoiding duplicate content by making new copy on each page.
2. Another way would be to have a 301 that would redirect people to the main page incase they typed it in wrong. Wouldn't gain any links or SEO advantages, but may pickup a few people that typed it in wrong.

Would either of these two reasons justify buying more domain names?

[cyanide]

The first idea may not be such a good one.
If you are acquiring domains and linking for the sole reason of seo, that's generally not a good idea in the eyes of google.

The second idea is not a bad one.
If your hosting provider supports domain parking, you can do that or just forward them straight from your domain registrar

[Jerry]

the way to go is 301's that link bak to your "primary" domain. You'll gain a bit in both ranking and in customer traffic.

No, the engines won't count the links to the site, but I've found that the one site I did have that was redirected in that manner did gain ranking in Google at around the same time.

[Mac 5]

I seen a lot of posts about 301's. Is there a right and wrong way to do it, or is there only one way?

[Keimos]

Hi Mac 5,

Multiple domains are only necessary to stop the competition from taking them.

Everyone is on about 301's.

If you have the right host you can create aliases for the other domain names that will show them as domains but will automatically redirect them to your main site.

Saves a lot of time and you do not have to maintain 10 sites etc.

This is server based and visitors will not come across a 301 error. It is an altenative that you may consider.

Keith

[red]

"Multiple domains are only necessary to stop the competition from taking them."

Absolutely necessary! I've purchased several different variations of our main domain name - plural, hyphens and .net etc. and they are all redirected by 301's to the main page of the original site for 2 reasons - people type many different versions of our domain name and I want to be found by them.
The second reason is because the competition is always breathing down your neck...certainly they want to ride the coat-tails of a successful business that's been around for years and get the visitors away from you. They'll buy any and all like names just for this reason. The "original" domain will do all the work and spend all the marketing bucks and they can sit back and reap the rewards...I think NOT!

[Mac 5]

I setup a redirect at
e m p i r e - s c r e e n p r i n t i n g . c o m .
I put spaces in to avoid it being a link that is indexed. Do I have to worry about it being indexed or would it add a link or any benifit to SEO.