1 single account at G\Y\MSN for multiple sites; or different accounts for each site?

[Jlee350]

Sometimes it's a pain to remember all of the log-ins, but I typically use different accounts to make sure I don't pull data for the wrong client.

[BoBoMisiu]

Sounds like OpenID to me.

[Clint1]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I don't understand the various mentions of "clients". I don't have any "clients". My websites are my own websites. I have 3 which are the same line of work. One main site, one sort of secondary for a specific area of the line of work. The 3rd sort of undecided and under construction. Of those 3, two have a G WMT account and they are separate accounts (which I did years ago). The other has no WMT account yet.

I have several other websites that are simply domain names for sale in many different fields and consist only of 1-3 pages.

In Y, I have one account for my main website.

I don't have any WMT account in MSN yet.

So.....should I consolidate all of my websites under my one main G WMT account and Y account?

When opening one up at MSN, should all be under one or would it be best to use 2 or 3 separate accounts?

I was thinking, knowing how "evil" G is, that if one may put all of their sites under one account G will think "Ohhh, he's already got one website in the index, he doesn't need anymore, so let's delete the others". I don't really think that would be the case as much in Y or MSN, but I still should ask. Remember that 3 of the sites are the same general field, but one of them is one product/service specific.

Thanks guys.

[Social.Netting]

I would agree with Dan, Clint. I have all my sites consolidated, and I can't imagine how it would present any sort of problem, as long as I'm not breaking any of the "rules". FWIW, three of my sites are related, and do have some inter-linking.

It does raise the question though...do you give your clients access to view their account? I don't, as I compile my own reports for them. I'm not even sure whether or not GWT allows passworded, limited access to just one site's data...I would imagine so. If not, that might be a good reason to separate them.

Thanks, Doc.

Very clear and to the point.

[FoundByDesign]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I don't understand the various mentions of "clients". I don't have any "clients". My websites are my own websites. I have 3 which are the same line of work. One main site, one sort of secondary for a specific area of the line of work. The 3rd sort of undecided and under construction. Of those 3, two have a G WMT account and they are separate accounts (which I did years ago). The other has no WMT account yet.

I have several other websites that are simply domain names for sale in many different fields and consist only of 1-3 pages.

In Y, I have one account for my main website.

I don't have any WMT account in MSN yet.

So.....should I consolidate all of my websites under my one main G WMT account and Y account?

When opening one up at MSN, should all be under one or would it be best to use 2 or 3 separate accounts?

I was thinking, knowing how "evil" G is, that if one may put all of their sites under one account G will think "Ohhh, he's already got one website in the index, he doesn't need anymore, so let's delete the others". I don't really think that would be the case as much in Y or MSN, but I still should ask. Remember that 3 of the sites are the same general field, but one of them is one product/service specific.

Thanks guys.

Clint,
You are simply OVERTHINKING this one! Google is not looking at the number of sites one has and determining that you already "have enough ranked." Remember that their business is selling ads, period. Everything they offer revolves around that. So in their search results, they want to provide the most RELEVANT results to the public's searches. So to get properly ranked, your websites should be RELEVANT. However, if all your sites are pretty much a copy of the other, Google may in fact decide it only needs to show one... not because YOU already have "enough" ranked, but because they have a much better shot of giving the end user something relevant if there are multiple choices, not all the same site.
Simply consolidate your accounts and stop worrying!
Ed

[FoundByDesign]

It does raise the question though...do you give your clients access to view their account? I don't, as I compile my own reports for them. I'm not even sure whether or not GWT allows passworded, limited access to just one site's data...I would imagine so. If not, that might be a good reason to separate them.

Not only can you grant limited access in Google, but you can also set up email reports that can be sent to whomever you wish. So if once a week is ok with a client, simply set up the weekly reports to be emailed to them and they may never need access!

Adding users to Analytics Account
https://www.google.com/support/googl...n_US&utm_id=ad

About Google Analytics profiles
https://www.google.com/support/googl...n_US&utm_id=ad

Emailing reports
Can Google Analytics email my reports to me? - Analytics Help

That should get you started!
Ed

[Clint1]

Clint,
You are simply OVERTHINKING this one! Google is not looking at the number of sites one has and determining that you already "have enough ranked." Remember that their business is selling ads, period. Everything they offer revolves around that.

But I don't buy ads. So is that saying I, and my sites, would be treated differently than those of ad buyers?

So in their search results, they want to provide the most RELEVANT results to the public's searches. So to get properly ranked, your websites should be RELEVANT.

I don't believe that, but that's a topic for another thread.

However, if all your sites are pretty much a copy of the other, Google may in fact decide it only needs to show one... not because YOU already have "enough" ranked, but because they have a much better shot of giving the end user something relevant if there are multiple choices, not all the same site.
Simply consolidate your accounts and stop worrying!
Ed

No, they are all different.

Thanks.

[FoundByDesign]

As far as I am aware, Google's main (if not only) source of revenue is from PPC advertising. As their reputation is built on providing the best results, they are continuing to refine their results to give the end user (and potential adword clicker) the best results possible so that people continue to use Google for search and thereby are more likely to click on Google's ads. That means that Google's goal is to provide the most relevant results it can in relation to the user's search request. Is this perfect? No. All the major players are looking at ways to perfect this, but overall that is their goal.

This means that each one of your websites will be judged on their own merit. How relevant is the content of the site to the searcher's request? Compared to other sites Google has found that are relevant, which ones are they estimating to be MOST relevant? Is your site very similar to another that has more content or has been around longer (or has more incoming links which Google feels makes a site more relevant)? Then that other site may rank higher than yours. It does not matter if your site contains ads or not. Its all about the content.

There is only 1 #1 spot. Everyone is after it... only 1 at a time can hold it. Those that have been around for a long time, keep their content updated and relevant and have been linked to by many other relevant sites will maintain higher rankings. This means that newer sites have to work twice as hard to get there.

Sure some will game the system and use every black hat in the book. They will get ranked high for a while and then eventually drop out. They then start all over with another site. In my opinion, if they applied white hat theory and worked as hard as they do with black hat theory, they would not only get to the top, but stay there! But then again, those that take shortcuts always seem to work twice as hard to get where they want to go!

Bottom line in GWT... How many websites you "manage" is irrelevant. And GWTs is a place to manage the analytics of websites... does not guarantee that you actually own each site.

[Clint1]

Bottom line in GWT... How many websites you "manage" is irrelevant. And GWTs is a place to manage the analytics of websites...

I have to try and ignore your first 4 paragraphs since I have loads of evidence to the contrary (that's why I said it's a topic for a different thread ), but your last paragraph quoted above is what's important here. Thanks Ed.

....does not guarantee that you actually own each site.

I'm confused by that. You have to verify you're the owner of a site before it can be added in G WMT, so who else can verify a site other than the site owner?

[FoundByDesign]

I have to try and ignore your first 4 paragraphs since I have loads of evidence to the contrary (that's why I said it's a topic for a different thread ), but your last paragraph quoted above is what's important here. Thanks Ed.



I'm confused by that. You have to verify you're the owner of a site before it can be added in G WMT, so who else can verify a site other than the site owner?

You're welcome! I'd love to see that other discussion when you are ready.

As to the "ownership" part of GWT, I honestly think they have their wording incorrect. After all, you may not be the owner, but be the webmaster/designer and have access to add the html file or meta tag code to show "ownership." So while you can "prove ownership" to Google by adding an html file or meta tag on a website, that in fact does not guarantee that you are the actual owner of the website. And with all the high IQ's running around at Google, I am going to assume they understand that small detail.