Creating micro-sites with new domains

[Foamcow]

I'm trying to work out a strategy for improving my client's search engine performance.

One suggestion that has been made is to register some domains containing target keywords and create 'micro sites' under those domains. These sites would exist as sites in their own right as well as acting as landing pages for AdWords campaigns.
It is undecided as to whether visitors would be funneled towards the main site or whether the call to action would be at the micro-site itself.

This has been prompted by a competitor who's business name just happens to contain my client's main keyword. The site ranks well organically on that word.
The perception of why this occurs is because the domain name contains the keyword. However I believe it is more a consequence of the fact the company name, as is the norm, appears in the title tag of all the pages in the site.
The fact it's also the domain name is a coincidence.

Would setting up these micro-sites offer any real benefit over simply restructuring the client's site into more defined sections with each section being targeted by a campaign?

Also, rather than registering new domains, would it be a better option to create subdomains of the main domain instead?


I don't expect a definitive answer here. Indeed, I've got my own opinion that I'm fairly confident about but I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts (even yours 1DMF ;-) ) on the topic.

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[ChrisHirst]

The perception of why this occurs is because the domain name contains the keyword

A very common, but dumb and very wrong perception.

However I believe it is more a consequence of the fact the company name, as is the norm, appears in the title tag of all the pages in the site.
The fact it's also the domain name is a coincidence.

Yes and Yes.

Would setting up these micro-sites offer any real benefit over simply restructuring the client's site into more defined sections with each section being targeted by a campaign?

Also, rather than registering new domains, would it be a better option to create subdomains of the main domain instead

No. No and No.





Chris.

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[1DMF]

It does seem there is a mis-conception that keywords in domain names yield results, and I am in the middle of testing this myself, so will post back results.

you know everyones opinion on doing something for SE's sake, but if we didn't we wouldn't get in em, so I find that a slight contradiction in terms!

whether a subdomain is seen entirely as a seperate domain is interesting, or is it seen as a sub domain, and the pages 'could' be placed in the suplimental index?

This I would like to know the definative answer to, because I've just spent a couple of months redesigning the site, with a whole load of special adword landing pages, all with links, a site map, blah , blah, to increase keyword relavancy, targeted landing pages and more inbound links.

and guess what all those pages have been put in the suplimental index, I've just wasted all my time and effort, creating pages which are product specific, keyword targeted, inbound link worthy and now they don't even show when I use an exact phrase match query, yeah nice one google!!!!

So i'm now thinking fine, if you won't index the pages of my site, i'll create each page as a subdomain page, relevant to product and keyword.

any thoughts, advice on subdomains and if this would be helpful (even yours foamy )

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[jlockley]

So, I own about 30 domains, all of which point to my own. If I were to farm out the content of my own site, most of which is simple html with return links, would this enhance my standing?

(speaking only out of curiosity, as the work would be extremely annoying).

Second question: When I seek my own domain, I occasionally come up with competitors. I haven't viewed the source, but what are the policies and legal implications of using a competitor's name in your tags?

 

[jstreich]

Most search engines are smart enough to do the DNS lookup and realize the links are from the same server, and so I assume they would rate those links the same as any in-site links to the content.

Look people, there is no short cut. The big secret to search engine optimization is copy, content and semantic markup. If your page is well written, stays on topic and says something useful you'll get good position. Trying to trick the search engines will, if caught, land you at the bottom of or off of the list.

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