Multiple domains, only one site

[pothound]

Hi All
Please accept my apologies if that topic has been covered already. Even though I searched the forum and google, I did not find an answer I could understand.

Here is my question:
- my customer reserved about 6 similar domain names, as his favorite was not available.

- now he will choose one domain which he will print on all his stationary etc.

Now we want that all the domain names come back to his one top domain.

But I think that will be called "duplicating" content and might ban us. Correct?

What else would you recommend? We do not want to have 6 different webpages.

Thanks a lot for your input and help!
pothound

[beu]

Redirect the other domain names to the "main domain" via a 301 redirect.

[pothound]

Redirect the other domain names to the "main domain" via a 301 redirect.

Hi Beu
Thanks!
Googled on how to do that. Now I am not sure if I would need to have pages set-up on those domains I want to re-direct or is it just possible to redirect the domain? :confused:

[jimbeetle]

Now we want that all the domain names come back to his one top domain.
The first question that must be answered is: "How is your client going to benefit from this?"

[pothound]

The first question that must be answered is: "How is your client going to benefit from this?"

hi jimbeetle
he is afraid that somebody would register a similar domain name to his, that is why he took them all.
but he does not want to have several different sites.

[beu]

"How is your client going to benefit from this?"Jimbeetle has an excellent point! If you are not driving to these other domains there may be little point in a redirect unless they are not important keyword terms.

[jimbeetle]

he is afraid that somebody would register a similar domain name to his, that is why he took them all.
Okay, so now he has them in is portfolio and can hang on to them.

As for the redirecting, the only reason I could see for it is if the other domains are very, very similar -- something along the lines of singular versus plural -- where he might capture some type-in typo traffic. Other than that I probably wouldn't bother with it.

[beu]

hi jimbeetle
he is afraid that somebody would register a similar domain name

You can own domain names with no site, just hold on to the similar domain names.

[pothound]

You can own domain names with no site, just hold on to the similar domain names.
thanks, beu!
yes, i think i will suggest to just hold onto to them but having nothing out there at all.

[pothound]

Okay, so now he has them in is portfolio and can hang on to them.

As for the redirecting, the only reason I could see for it is if the other domains are very, very similar -- something along the lines of singular versus plural -- where he might capture some type-in typo traffic. Other than that I probably wouldn't bother with it.

thanks jimbeetle!
well they are not thaaaaaat similar. but it seems that sometimes people get a bit paranoid and think somebody might steal or copy their business idea. me personally, i would not bother with it at all. but have to give the customer some good reasons why to own the domains but not do anything with them.

[pothound]

still have one more question.

when would google consider a page being duplicated?
only when two different domain names have absolutely the same and identical webpages?

thanks!

[Marcia]

When 2 URLS resolve with the same content, it's duplicate content. The best thing is to simply use mod_rewrite so that all those domain names will give a 301 to the main site, and you'll capture any type-in traffic.

[jimbeetle]

it seems that sometimes people get a bit paranoid and think somebody might steal or copy their business idea. me personally, i would not bother with it at all. but have to give the customer some good reasons why to own the domains but not do anything with them
So, the question is: "What reason do I give the customer to own the domains without doing anything with them?"

The answer: "Because you're a bit paranoid and think somebody might steal or copy your business idea."

Again, unless there's a tangible benefit to redirect, an investment of probably less than sixty bucks a year to hold on to 6 inactive domains is protection enough.

[pothound]

So, the question is: "What reason do I give the customer to own the domains without doing anything with them?"

The answer: "Because you're a bit paranoid and think somebody might steal or copy your business idea."

Again, unless there's a tangible benefit to redirect, an investment of probably less than sixty bucks a year to hold on to 6 inactive domains is protection enough.

Thanks, jimbeetle, will try that!

[pothound]

When 2 URLS resolve with the same content, it's duplicate content. The best thing is to simply use mod_rewrite so that all those domain names will give a 301 to the main site, and you'll capture any type-in traffic.

Thanks Marcia.
But what is "mod_rewrite"?

[BuckfastMonk]

Have you considered actually adding content to these other sites and taking advantage of them this way? A mini network

It takes a lot of work and its tricky to set up without raising any flags but if done right, it will be more beneficial than hoping to catch a few visitors who make a typo when entering your URL. You could very well just play it safe and redirect as suggested but it's something else for you to consider

It can also benefit in other ways such as allowing your client to voice a different opinion or take a diferent angle to a particular service/product. Point is, it gives you a little more freedom and more opportunity to capture spaces in the SERP's

People consider it "against the google rules" but I say, it's your website, you can do what you want, throw it out there and see what response you get

[pothound]

Have you considered actually adding content to these other sites and taking advantage of them this way? A mini network

It takes a lot of work and its tricky to set up without raising any flags but if done right, it will be more beneficial than hoping to catch a few visitors who make a typo when entering your URL. You could very well just play it safe and redirect as suggested but it's something else for you to consider

It can also benefit in other ways such as allowing your client to voice a different opinion or take a diferent angle to a particular service/product. Point is, it gives you a little more freedom and more opportunity to capture spaces in the SERP's

People consider it "against the google rules" but I say, it's your website, you can do what you want, throw it out there and see what response you get

good thought!
i agree, it is his websites and he could do with it what he wants. i would also not consider it to be played against the rules, especially if you put different content there.
thanks!