Strategic search engine optimization involves far more than keyword research, META tags and content.
If you want to mange an SEO program, you need to be aware of any issue that can affect your success.
Domain name management is one of the big factors. Effective domain name management is critical because you could end up getting banned from Google and other search engines if you take the wrong approach.
Why would Google ban you?
In the spirit of fair play and providing depth in its results, Google frowns on duplicate content. Some web site owners purchase multiple domains and copy their content for both domains. They figure they may land the #1 and #2 positions that way. That may be the company's goal, but it's not very valuable for the Internet searcher.
Even if you don't maintain your identical content with two or more domains, you can still run into problems. It's possible to update just one set of web pages, but have them look like duplicates because of how the domain names are administered. You may be risking everything if someone enters
www.yoursite2005.com/about.html and
www.oursite2005.com/about.html
and they see the same content ? even if the pages reside in only one location.
Many web site owners redirect one domain to the next rather than configure the server to associate the core content with a second domain name. In many cases, a 301 redirect is your best bet. It's a server-side redirect most administrators can handle in a few minutes. In effect, it's a proper way of telling search engines to ignore one domain and favor another.
You may have many good reasons for owning multiple domains, including brand protection. Some companies get extra domains on the off-chance that someone may simply try a domain name and see what comes up. A classic example is 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. One of their domains is www.1800flowers.com, but you can get there with www.flowers.com as well.
The Bottom Line
If you secure more than one domain, redirect the extras to your main web site (on the server) or use the extra domains for unique content (showcasing a line of products of services).
Michael Murray is vice president of Fathom SEO, a Cleveland, Ohio-based search engine marketing (SEM) firm. A member of Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), he also authored the white paper, "Search Engine Marketing: Get in the Game."
Duplicate content is one of the problems that we regularly... Read More
IntroductionThe Google Sandbox is a term applied to the phenomenon... Read More
Internet Directories and their ImportanceThere are two very pertinent reason... Read More
With 40 million websites in existence, and more than 3... Read More
The higher the PR of your site the higher will... Read More
Most webmasters have no idea on how to make a... Read More
Google's calling your name...Hi, Google here. We want to index... Read More
The Cold Hard Facts?..One of the most important factors in... Read More
Those webmasters that stick to the old ways and focus... Read More
More and more webmasters are building websites with publicly available... Read More
First, here's the rundown of some of the terminology I'm... Read More
In the early days of the World Wide Web, when... Read More
How can you be found on the web?The web is... Read More
The major search engines are always on the lookout to... Read More
What does all this SEO jargon mean.Have you ever been... Read More
The methods employed to increase your search engine rankings may... Read More
Targeted traffic is the lifeblood of any online business. The... Read More
Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, I'm sure... Read More
What are Topical Search Engines?Simply put, topical search engines are... Read More
There are many techniques that SEM/SEO experts use to optimize... Read More
You probably do this already - complete regular searches in... Read More
Google is the undisputed heavyweight champion of search engines. Most... Read More
Just for a change, rather than a technical article, I... Read More
I've always been a big time press release aficionado.And up... Read More
This is the first of a series of articles about... Read More
Link popularity is the single most influential factor for determining... Read More
Yesterday you should have read the fifth course out of... Read More
In order to tap the huge stream of targeted traffic... Read More
Oops! I meant "web content management system for windows." Do... Read More
In today scenario when we talk about Search Engine Optimization,... Read More
About directories:A directory is simply a web site that contains... Read More
Maximizing traffic from the search engines to your web site... Read More
This is the first lesson out of 6 that teaches... Read More
I'm literally inundated with questions on the subject of invisible... Read More
By now, you know that to rank well in the... Read More
Good Content: The Key To Search Engine RankingWhat drives visitors... Read More
PageRank - an exclusive technology developed by Google which can... Read More
It's interesting how potential clients have preconceived notions about which... Read More
Search engine optimization is very important for your online business... Read More
One of the most overlooked, but important components, on your... Read More
I just read an article at SitePro News that really... Read More
Shopping and the Web. They go together like Mr. and... Read More
Google Sitemaps enables Webmasters to Directly Alert Google to Changes... Read More
Search engines will be a way for you to generate... Read More
There is a way to generate links with the content... Read More
There is really only one search engine to worry about... Read More
In today scenario when we talk about Search Engine Optimization,... Read More
Many of our customers (http://www.internet-marketing-australia.com) find search engine... Read More
Thanks to a unique algorithm that produces most relevant results... Read More
Getting your website up and running is hard enough. After... Read More
If you read The Search Engine Showdown,... Read More
The objective of all search engine providers is epitomized by... Read More
As you are building your site or getting your site... Read More
Search Engine traffic has always been and continues to be... Read More
Indulge me for a moment.Forget that Google is a search... Read More
If you want to increase traffic to your website and... Read More
Internet is a terrific resource containing billions of web pages... Read More
If you're anything like me, you have a favourite search... Read More
The old ways are not always the best ways.The traditional... Read More
The pursuit of online information has become an increasingly dynamic... Read More
Is your website listed on search engines? When people search... Read More
There are millions of web sites trying to get listed... Read More
In today scenario when we talk about Search Engine Optimization,... Read More
With search engine algorithms changing seemingly daily, the quest to... Read More
Before we explore the world of search engine optimization, it... Read More
Quite often I get asked what the magic solution is... Read More
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) |