Specializing In Multiple Cities, Should I Have Multiple Domains/Webisites?

[Mark Z]

Hello Everyone, My name is MARK Z. from Michigan, and I have had my website up and running for about 3 years now. It is from Advanced Access which I'm sure many of you have heard about.

I'm looking to create my own template and I was told by some friends who consider themselves "experts" in the SEO industry that if I wanted to get the best return on investment for getting ranked the highest in multiple cities I should create 10 different domain names and have a separate website for each city that I want to specialize in and have each website all about that particular city. Rather than have one website and have 10 different cities and all the relevent info on each city.

For example, if I wanted to specialize in the city of Northville, Mi then create a domain lets say for example www.realestateinnorthville.com and continue this for each of the 10 cities I want to specialize in. Then when the search engines see this they will recognize that this whole website is all about Northville, rather than have 10 different cities all sharing info on my one current site www.soldbymarkz.com So what are your thoughts on this? I would like to hear from everyone as I'm sure everyone has a different opinion.

[ericbadgley]

you just posted this in introduce yourself and put as a title "a question that will help everyone-very interesting" I didn't find the question helpful or interesting. If you want people to read your post they will, don't worry about baiting the title. I kinda makes you look like an idiot.

Don't take offense I am just trying to help

[ericbramlett]

From a marketing perspective, I think it's an excellent idea. From an SEO perspective, I think you'll find an opposing viewpoint. If you were to set up each different city on your current website, you can change up your internal linking structure & have instant juice to that specific page. You would more than likely be able to rank within a couple of months (with adequate link building.) However, when you start from scratch with a new website, you'll be sandboxed for ~6 months & you'll have to build the links from zero.

Your friends are talking about continuity of subject & I don't think that it's a huge issue (right now.)

Also - think about the time it's going to take you to manage 10 sites - is that really something you want to do? Start with one or two city specific sites & see if a project that large (10 sites) is something you want to tackle.

[ericbramlett]

Ouch....that's pretty harsh Badgley (do you realize we have 3 active Eric B's here now?) Mark - you don't want to double post....you'll get plenty of responses with one post. The correct place to post this is here, in the Google section (or possibly in the Real Estate Chat section.) Welcome to REW.

[ericbadgley]

I am honest, I just want to help the guy out. I acually responded to his other post nicely and gave him my advise.

[Mark Z]

Sorry first time posting and didn't realize I probably posted it in the wrong area. I wasn't trying to "bait" the title. Gosh relax, can I have a little slack it was my first post ever. WOW, what a nice way to welcome someone.

[Mark Z]

Eric B.,
What are backlinks? And who did your site, it is very nicely done. How many hits a month are you averaging now? How much money should I expect to pay to have a decent site created?

[ericbramlett]

Mark -

Backlinks Any time you have questions, check out the glossary first, and see if you can get it answered there - if it's not answered there, or if you need clarification, fire it away on the forum.

Thanks for the compliments on my site! I build out all my own sites, and a friend from college does the graphic design. REW provides great templates from ~$1000 w/ customs ranging from $6k-$10k.

My traffic is extremely healthy.

[ericbadgley]

backlinks are websites pointing to my site. Real estate webmasters did my site for me its acually a customized template. I spent around a 700-or 800 for the template. Plus hosting they charge you yearly I want say it was around a 1,000

[ericbadgley]

mmm not sure if he was talking to me or the other eric b but o wells