To merge or not to merge? That is the question.
-
I am planning to do something I never did, and I am wondering if it's really a good idea or not.
I have four websites, all of the same company, each one with a different domain and different content:
- one has been the main official site for 16 years, 200 unique per month, indexed for 134 keywords, Domain Authority 17, 13 linking root domains
- one has been used as the main site from 2003 to 2006, it's focused on a specific business they actually discontinued, still online, no update since 2006, 500 unique per month, indexed for 92 keywords, Domain Authority 13, 8 linking root domains
- another has been a built on 2010 and maintained for less than year, and it's focused on a business they never really started, still online, no update since 2010, 3000 unique per month, indexed for 557 keywords, Domain Authority 25, 84 linking root domains
- a fourth one has been also built on 2010 and focused on a business never really started, still online, no update since 2010, 100 unique per month, indexed for 4 keywords, Domain Authority 6, 3 linking root domains
Each website has traffic and links, all links being natural, they never tried to gain links in any way, they never did on page optimization, they never ever thought about SEO. They are not event interlinked.
So, my idea is to merge all of them, putting websites 2, 3 and 4 as subfolders of the main site and replicating the old content there. Because those sites have traffic, incredibly one of the abandoned sites has 3000 unique per month, while the main site just 200!
My doubts are:
- does it make sense to merge everything from a SEO prospective?
- A part from doing 301 correctly, what else should I be careful to do or not to do?
- website number 4 it's really outdated, content and structure is not easy to merge with the rest, traffic is really small, is it worth spending the time to merge it?
Finally I also have a problem; customer didn't want to merge them, they agreed to, but they don't want visitors of the main site to be able to navigate to the old ones, so once moved and redirected I would have to put them in the sitemap of the main site but avoid linking to them on the actual "main" site.
As far as I know google crawler doesn't like to find pages in sitemaps which are not reachable through a linking path on the website, is that correct? Is that going to make all the merging work useless?
Should I convince the client to at least put small links in the footer or on a page linked from the footer?
-
Thanks for you answer.
The first place google bot goes is the sitemap, yes, but is it true or not that finding a page in the sitemap and not being able to reach the same page when crawling the website makes google devaluate the page juice?
About the footer I would just put a link to each subfolder, so just 3 or 4 links, what I don't know is if small links in the footer are enough to make google bot happy, or if it would still devaluate the page juice of the pages. Since they wouldn't have much interlinkage in the main website.
-
Well, from a business prospective, since site-2 and site-3 are about technologies which could still be used by customers of my client, even if they don't provide them anymore, in my mind they could bring in leads. site-3 is still originating natural links even if they didn't update it in four years, it must still be valuable to someone.
The 301 redirect doesn't scares me for site-2 and site-3 because they are wordpress installation, I will download the content and sitemaps, upload the content and use the sitemaps to generate 1-1 redirect rules with a script, it's not complex.
Site-4 is an application and I have no idea where to start to move it, that's why I now think is better to drop it.
-
Thanks. I think I will combine the three more related and discard the last one, it's traffic is small and they would not care of pennies from adsense.
-
I understand all the websites get traffic and rankings for different keywords. Although, you are stating that some of the services and products provided are no longer active and since that is the case (as stated above a service that never launched) then I would look at the point of keeping the content alive as it will not convert any new clients since that service is not provided. How would you get a return on investment for all the merge work.
Like sureshchowdary said above, making a list of all the pages and doing a 1-1 redirect is a lot of work (believe me I know -> in february 2014 I did the same thing for a client redirecting the entire site to new location (+/- 1000 pages)).
So If I were you I would look at the effort needed to perform all the work, make an estimate in what the investment would be and what would be the return on the work. It might just be wise to decide to add some content to the oldest site and redirect all the links but leave the rest of the content.
Just my 2 cents and for your consideration
Jarno
-
I agree. I would not mix diverse topics. But, if they are related, I would combine them as long as the content is meaningful to someone. I would monetize the traffic with adsense or other ads.
-
That was also my concern but all the four websites are related to the same branch of business I would say.
It's a software house basically, site 1 is just about them as a company. Site 2 and site 3 are about old technologies they do not resell/implement anymore. Site 4 is an online webservice to exchange messages anonymously, they actually never launched it. It's the one more distant from what they are doing and I agree with them it really looks unfinished and not so professional.
-
How closely related are the topics of these websites?
Are you mixing fishing, knitting and hydraulic jacks?
-
Hi Max,
Its good to know that even though the websites are not optimized the keywords are ranking and generating traffic.
1)It does make sense to merge. But all the weight age goes to the 1st website. You need to do a 1-1 mapping of all the url's while redirecting which I think is a big task. As you said the customers didn't want to merge them.
2)When we are doing a 301 redirect for the whole website I don't think see any such things which we need to look after.
3)If the keywords are ranking for the 4th website then definitely its worth redirecting your 4th website.
The first place google bot goes when it enters your website is the sitemap.
Its also not a good practice to put more links in the footer section. Limit the number of links in the footer section.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
A Really Specific Question about 301 Redirect Strategies
Hi there: As part of a site redesign project, we've been doing a lot of 301 redirects, as we retire old URLs or rename them. My question is: is it necessary to redirect ALL old URLS? What about URLs with no links and low authority? Are these really necessary to redirect, since they're not referenced on the web and there's obviously a global redirect happening at the level of the root domain? Just curious; I'm not sure I've ever really understood this...
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Daaveey0 -
Question about moving content from one site to another without a 301
I could use a second opinion about moving content from some inactive sites to my main site. Once upon a time, we had a handful of geotargeted websites set up targeting various cities that we serve. This was in addition to our main site, which was mostly targeted to our primary office and ranked great for those keywords. Our main site has plenty of authority, has been around for ages, etc. We built out these geo-targeted sites with some good landing pages and kept them active with regularly scheduled blog posts which were unique and either interesting or helpful. Although we had a little success with these, we eventually saw the light and realized that our main site was strong enough to rank for these cities as well, which made life a whole lot easier, not to mention a lot less spammy. We've got some good content on these other sites that I'd like to use on our main site, especially the blog posts. Now that I've got it through my head that there's no such thing as a duplicate content penalty, I understand that I could just start moving this content over so long as I put a 301 redirect in place where the content used to be on these old sites. Which leads me to my question. Our SEO was careful not to have these other websites pointing to our main site to avoid looking like we were trying to do something shady from a link building perspective. His concern is that these redirects would undermine that effort and having a bunch of redirects from a half dozen sites could end up hurting us somehow. Do you think that is the case? What he is suggesting we do is remove all of the content that we'd like to use and use Webmaster Tools to request that this content be removed from the index. Then, after the sites have been recrawled, we'll check for ourselves to confirm they've been removed and proceed with using the content however we'd like. Thoughts?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | LeeAbrahamson0 -
Content question about 3 sites targeted at 3 different countries
I am new here, and this is my first question. I was hoping to get help with the following scenario: I am looking to launch 3 sites in 3 different countries, using 3 different domains. For example the.com for USA, the .co.uk for UK , and a slightly different .com for Australia, as I could not purchase .com.au as I am not a registered business in Australia. I am looking to set the Geographic Target on Google Webmaster. So for example, I have set the .com for USA only, with .co.uk I won't need to set anything, and I will set the other Australian .com to Australia. Now, initially the 3 site will be "brochure" websites explaining the service that we offer. I fear that at the beginning they will most likely have almost identical content. However, on the long term I am looking to publish unique content for each site, almost on a weekly basis. So over time they would have different content from each other. These are small sites to begin with. So each site in the "brochure" form will have around 10 pages. Over time it will have 100's of pages. My question or my worry is, will Google look at the fact that I have same content across 3 sites negatively even though they are specifically targeted to different countries? Will it penalise my sites negatively?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | ryanetc0 -
2 links from the same external page question
Hi, I have always thought if 2 links on a single page, both going to the same url wouldnt pass PR from both. I watched a Matt Cutts vid and he was saying in the original algo it was built in that both links would pass PR. So for example if I guest posted say 1000 words and this article had 2 links pointing to the same url would they both work? Cheers
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Bondara0 -
Question about putting high traffic keywords in my Primary navigation menu.
Hello, I seem to be having a bit of a dilemma with making a crucial site architecture decision about which high traffic keyword I should put in my primary navigation menu. I am the owner of a computer repair business that I am currently re branding out of necessity for a few reasons. My existing business website has been established for the past 5 years now and I do all of the SEO and have been on the 1st Page of GOOGLE for anything computer repair related since day 1 however, like I said am re branding my company and migrating from Joomla to WordPress so it is a great time to make some positive and effective changes to my site architecture. I am going to be using the Silo Site Architecture on the new Site and I have a very firm working knowledge on the process but I seem to have hit a snag or dilemma with one of my Primary Navigation Categories for the Silo Theme. My specif question is this please.. Doing keyword research the Keyword Phrase "Computer Repair" is the most highly searched for keyword phrase for people that have computer related problems (naturally) and Ideally "Computer Repair" should be one of my Main Menu Navigation Silo Category Themes. But... here lies the problem.... If I go with "Computer Repair" in the (Main Nav Menu) then although it gets - 823,000 Local Monthly Searches I would be opening myself up to a potential problem because normally, most people associate the Phrase Computer Repair with Desktop Computer Repair. So in essence I would be forced to use an alternate other than "Computer Repair" for the Desktop Computer Repair structure in the Silo Theme (Sidebar Nav Menu). The Keyword Phrase "Desktop Repair" gets only - 12,100 Local Monthly Searches so basically no one uses the Search Phrase "Desktop Repair. when they are looking to get their computer repaired. I hope that I did not just confuse you? Still confused? Continue reading and I will dissect my psycho babble for you..... "The Semantic Historical Logic" Historically, a Desktop has always been referred to as a computer. Hence the reason why even still today, when our "Desktop" has problems and we need to get it fixed, we Search for "Computer Repair". Why is that? That's a very good question and here is "exactly" why. Long before we had Laptops, Netbooks, Tablets and Smart Phones we had the all encompassing and mighty "Computer" that allowed us to connect to the rest of the world. It was not until Laptops actually came about where there was a need to assign an actual _"Classification System"_and all mighty and powerful "Computer" became a "Desktop Computer**"!!! ** So, there you have it. This is the reason why "Computer Repair" is synonymous with "Desktop Repair" and why "NO ONE" searches for desktop repair when their Desktop Computer is broken! ============================================================= ACTUAL EXAMPLES WITH SCREEN SHOTS BELOW! If I go with Example A: I have the the Highest Traffic Keyword Phrase in my Mast Head (Main Nav Menu) but would be forced to use Desktop Repair to classify (Desktop Repair) in (Sidebar Nav Menu) instead using the keyword phrase "Computer Repair" to classify Desktop Repair. Example A: Main Nav Theme Category = "Computer Repair" = 823,000 Monthly Loc Child Pages/ Categories = -Desktop Repair = **12,100 ** Monthly Loc -Laptop Repair = 165,000 Monthly Loc -Tablet Repair = 165,000 Monthly Loc -Remote Desktop = 1,000,000 Monthly Loc I am using WordPress - (Pages / Child Pages) not Categories & Posts! So, as you can see from (Example A:) above, not being able to use the keyword phrase "Computer Repair" to classify the "Desktop Repair" section kind of opens me up for failure to a good extent as most of my business is done on regular desktop computers which people generally think "Computer Repair" when they are searching to have their Desktop Repaired. ============================================================= Example B: Main Nav Theme Category = **"Computer Service" = **246,000 Monthly Loc Child Pages/ Categories = -Computer Repair = 823,000 Monthly Loc -Laptop Repair = 165,000 Monthly Loc -Tablet Repair = 165,000 Monthly Loc -Remote Desktop = 1,000,000 Monthly Loc I am using WordPress - (Pages / Child Pages) not Categories & Posts! Now, with (Example B:) even though the keyword Phrase "Computer Service" is not the more favorable item to have as the Silo Theme Category in the Main Navigation Menu, we can see that it is much more favorable in terms of Local Monthly Searches over the just about non searched for phrase "Desktop Repair" So as you see, I have a bit of a dilemma that a more experienced SEO could counsel me on. The question is, through your experience, which scenario would you see as more favorable for the site Architecture example A: or example B: This brings me to my next question that also creates some confusion for me. If you say I think (Example B:) would be my better bet what would you recommend that I do with the URL Structure if "Computer Service" is the Parent Page for the Silo Theme? Example: I am using the /%category%/%postname%/ permalink structure for the Silo Site Architecture for the (Blog Section) only - and am using WP Pages and Child Pages for my Silo Content for my Services (Not Posts). Would this URL be a problem in Googles eyes or a customers eyes and be perceived as SPAMMY ... http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-services/computer-repair/ More than likely, I would say yes because it looks that way to me! My question to you in regards to the link structure above is, If I take the "Computer Service" page and change the "SLUG" to (services) yes it will look better but... will that effectively work against me??? EDIT: ^^ Answered my own question on the Services deal directly above. ^^ Thank you for reading my very long winded questions but I am pretty detailed and I think that the better that I explained it the less writing and guessing what I meant would be better for all concerned (typing wise) Thank you very much and I look forward to your insightful expertise and wisdom. Marshall COMPUTER-SERVICE-MAST-HEAD.png COMPUTER-SERVICE-MAST-HEAD.png
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | MarshallThompson310 -
Google Places Question: Two Businesses, Same Address
I am working with a client who runs a personal training business. He shares a fitness studio with another personal trainer to minimise costs. My issue is that the other guy has 'taken' the Google Places listing address as his business, rather than my client's. The gym itself is not a business, it is simply a shared workspace by two personal trainers - in the same way as a shared office space might be the address of several businesses. This presents a bit of a problem with Google Places verification. Is it best to: 'Alter' the address slightly so it appears to be a separate premises (e.g. 51 Something Street --> 51A Something Street) then use that address in all my citations Leave the address itself the same, but rely on the fact that there are separate domains, phone numbers and business names Any thoughts on this?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Pretty-Klicks1 -
A few questions regarding listings in Google Places
For an SAB (Service Area Business) with a hidden address - Can you have more then one listing? Can you use a free Google Voice number? Can you forward the number to a main number? Can the listing be in an office building? Such as a rented space... For a non SAB listing with the address visible - Can you use free Google voice numbers for each listing and forward them to one main number?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Bryan_Loconto0 -
Question about WhiteHat Quality Link Building Technique!
Hello, I am using Opensite Explorer as well as Link Builder from wordtracker to find good links which either link to my competitors or either links pointing to top 20 sites in my niche keyword. Then my team follow each link and find Directory Links Forum Profile Links Bookmark Links PR / Article Sites Links Guest Blog Post Sites Links... Then we make links manually to those sites for our websites as well. Is this a good whitehat strategy for long term good SEO, i believe opensiteexplorer's high page authority links shall worth in a long run. Also I timely post article to my blog and then distribute it to my twitter as well as run few social bookmarks on my article posted on my blog. I want to know community that am i doing SEO for link building in right way or any suggestion there from honorable SEOMOz Members. I know content is key however we are an ecommerece sites mostly thus we need to timely create backlinks as well to stay in competition. I will wait for feedback of honorable community if we are on right direction for SEO or not?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | andishm0