add on domains

[newreality]

I've checked into add on domains before, but recently, needing to move three sites to a shared host.

I'm looking at one who can give 5 "domain accounts" and says the stats fot these would "appear as subdomains" but the add on domains "act as a regular top domain" ( www.eachwouldhavethis.com )

The sites won't be cross-linked.

Is there really any danger in this? I'm wondering how the add-on domains actually physically reside on the server -- this is a shared ip -- and if it matters? What do I need to ask? Don't want the search engines seeing all these as the same tangled site.

[rustybrick]

Hi,

Do me a quick favor and tell me your goal for the plan listed above.

I think it will help us give you the best advice.

[newreality]

To consolidate accounts; administer sites through the same control panel for 4-5 seperate URLS that are not cross linked for 10.95/mo. on the same host.

So instead of having to find seperate hosts, keep up with eachs' way of doing things (configuring permissions, possibly without notifying the client, etc) making seperate payments ea month and logging on to control panels of different designs of same number, it will be mush easier, save time, money & aggravation to go with only one.

One site I need to move soon anyway. Two others in the works could be moved there as well. You see, I'm already using (4) seperate hosts for the sites I have. Really don't want to deal with 8 or 9 total hosts on a constant basis. I realize sharing the same database could have it's advantages & downfalls.

Included above too, I'm concerned if having add on domains could affect how search engines see them; ie, different than a single site on a single shared host? Not trying to pull one over on the engines, just trying to find if the SE's may perceive these in another way.

If anyone could pass along specifics I could ask my potential host to help clarify this I'd be grateful.

[rustybrick]

I personally have most my sites on the same server and IP block.

I don't link between the sites too much.

I have no problems and its much easier to manage.

[newreality]

Sounds like you might serve your own sites.

This same question as this post has, in part, prevented my hosting the sites on my own server (speaking of total sites now including those cross-linked too). Aside from the fact that I'm not a system admin. Not exactly a minor detail.

If I could find a safe way way give a seperate CBlock to sites that are cross linked it may be a different story.

For now I think all go with add ons for those that aren't cross-linked.
(didn't know if add-ons were technically subdomains or variations of the same domain only made to "appear" as seperate URL's)

Thanks rustybrick

[Marcia]

the stats fot these would "appear as subdomains" but the add on domains "act as a regular top domain" ( www.eachwouldhavethis.com )There's no reason the stats should appear as subdomains. I've got a few packages with multiple site hosting, with each having their own name-based space, individual control panels, stats, etc. and I can administer all of them from one log-in. They're completely separate so clients can have completely private access but I also have access with a simple drop down list when I log in as the master account holder.

[Robert_Charlton]

Is there really any danger in this?

newreality - In my experience, the difficulties that might occur happen when the sites are perceived to be closely related in terms of search phrases or linking patterns by Google.

Say a corporation owned a chain of four or five organic gourmet restaurants in a metropolitan area, and these had separate locations and business identities. If their sites were all going after similar search terms, shared an IP account, and had inbound links from the same sources, all but one of the sites might get nuked in the rankings. They'd look just like an artificial network trying to monopolize a niche. Interlinking would exacerbate the situation.

Why might they have links from the same sources? Well, their common metro area might cause them to be lumped together on the same page in many of their directory listings; a marketing department might group them together when requesting links or writing articles; and the corporate site would probably proudly link to each of them. No one would be trying to pull a fast one.

This could also apply to related sites of businesses not quite so similar in search terms, but close enough... say an auto body shop and a tire shop, where the mention of the business on one site could inadvertently nuke the rankings of the other. Again, this assumes parallel inbounds.

I have not had the chance to see whether acquiring enough completely independent inbounds for each of such sites would cause their rankings to come back. I've had reports from others suggesting that this might work. But I'd be careful about putting similar sites on the same server.

[newreality]

about the structure, the new host has just gotten back saying:

"Each add-on account is assigned under a subfolder of the main account folder and operates similar to a sub-domain"

Would this affect placement with the search engines?

The host claims the search engines will see each site differently as it should.

[sully]

I've got a few packages with multiple site hosting, with each having their own name-based space, individual control panels, stats, etc. and I can administer all of them from one log-in. They're completely separate so clients can have completely private access but I also have access with a simple drop down list when I log in as the master account holder.

I've been looking for a good package like this. Any recommendations?

[sully]

about the structure, the new host has just gotten back saying:

"Each add-on account is assigned under a subfolder of the main account folder and operates similar to a sub-domain"

Would this affect placement with the search engines?

The host claims the search engines will see each site differently as it should.

Do they mean like this: yourdomain.com as the main account, and each of the subfolders are yourdomain.com/username ?

[newreality]

Do they mean like this: yourdomain.com as the main account, and each of the subfolders are yourdomain.com/username ? Don't beleive so.

Each URL is assigned a seperate subflolder. They claim the search engines will never see the other site folders, as each has its own subfolder outside the other.

Is there a danger? How can I make the structure clearer from my host? This is my limit as to how the add ons are structured, which isn't much

Wouldn't it depend on how each site is being directed as well?

[Robert_Charlton]

Do they mean like this: yourdomain.com as the main account, and each of the subfolders are yourdomain.com/username ?Do they mean like this: yourdomain.com as the main account, and each of the subfolders are yourdomain.com/username?

I've seen accounts set up where the main folder is called "public" and each domain is in its own subfolder... as domain1.com, domain2.com, domain3.com, etc.

This is one possible arrangement I was thinking of when I made my post above. Based on results I've seen, I'm theorizing that relatedeness can exist with unique IPs even on consecutive class Cs.

If the sites are in the same class C on different IPs, or on the same IP and in the same account, the relationship is obviously a lot tighter (though I don't know whether the engines can distinguish same account from simply shared IP#).

Again, I feel that whether this hosting arrangement hurts SEO depends on whether there's content and linking independence to offset the otherwise tight relationship.