21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Which is best: One Authority site or many small niche sites?

by Rick67
18 replies
I am debating between the Authority Site Center (ASC) and FirePow (FP).

ASC emphasizes building one big authority site over a longer period of time.

Disadvantages:
  • Must pick the profitable niche or your efforts will fail.
  • Must be able to create a lot of content on one subject.
FP emphasizes quickly creating many niche websites.

Disadvantages:
  • Many websites, more to keep track of.
Advantages:
  • If one niche does not work, you can always create others
  • Many income streams
This is just a start of a discussion. I would like to hear from forum members who have done one or the other (or both) and tell me their experiences and pros and cons of each.

I appreciate the help and feedback!

Rick
#authority #authority site center #firepow #niche #site #sites #small
  • Profile picture of the author JJOrana
    Why not create one authority site, once, you've dominated it. Create another one.

    I'd rather have one authority site since one big and successful site can kick ass of small niches that can easily boot out of SERP.

    Think about this. When you say:

    Michael Jordan - basketball
    Tiger Woods - Golf

    They are very rich and successful not because they have lots of sports that they are good at. They are no. 1 because they dominated a one specific sports.

    Even Michael Jordan, left baseball and went back to basketball because he realized, it's not for him and he can't dominate it like he did in basketball.

    So create a site, you'll be number 1. Dominate it and leave the rest behind.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205273].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
    Rick,

    In my experience the best long term strategy is to build
    an authority site together with your own network of sites
    that feed links and traffic to it.

    John
    Signature
    John's Internet Marketing News, Views & Reviews: John Taylor Online
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205318].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Rick67
      Originally Posted by John Taylor View Post

      Rick,

      In my experience the best long term strategy is to build
      an authority site together with your own network of sites
      that feed links and traffic to it.

      John
      John, thank you for your feedback.

      Would my "network of sites" be related to the authority site niche wise?

      Rick
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205333].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Darth Executor
        I plan on doing both. A handful of large authority sites on broad subjects (like electronics, or health), as well as small sites to target temporary or small mini-niches around which there's no point in building a large web site around.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205342].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
        Originally Posted by Rick67 View Post


        Would my "network of sites" be related to the authority site niche wise?
        Yes, selecting the long tail keyword phrases that you
        feel able to compete on and building a "small" website,
        or blog, around each long tail phrase.

        The focus of a small site should help with your ranking
        for the specific long tail phrase.

        Your minisites can then all link to your authority site to
        drive traffic and build link popularity.


        John
        Signature
        John's Internet Marketing News, Views & Reviews: John Taylor Online
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205369].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author submit2.0
    It's depend Actually what is your motto, if you want to make reveniue from ad so if you have at lest good quality site more then one that can be generated more revenue but Authotity site is always Good
    Signature
    Discount offer for Warrior 1000 Diretory Submission $23.00 l 3000 Submission for $ 60.00 FOR DISCOUNT PM me or add me MSN: soumen_sen1@hotmail.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205326].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cupbucket
    Banned
    build one. Make it successful, then make another.

    Namaste
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205387].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Francois du_Toit
      Hi Rick,

      In my opinion it depends on many factors such as the niche market you are targeting, competition, etc. I don't think there is a "best" way.

      For example, Sitesell is all about building large authority sites. Some of these sites rank well and make a decent amount of money every month. However, many of these sites fail miserably. On the other hand, I know many marketers that have done very well building small niche sites.

      Just my 2c

      Good luck,
      Francois
      Signature
      Destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205492].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BlogBrowser
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[205495].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dmderoeck
      When I first started, I went under the assumption that smaller niche sites were better, and that's the direction I took. However, after several months of maintaining these sites, I found it better for me personally to build authority sites. It is easier to "build sub-niches" within the authority site because the site is already created, marketed and indexed.

      Downside, is if you get sandboxed or de-indexed, the whole thing goes up in smoke as opposed to creating niche sites.

      I do like the idea of "feeding" the authority site with network sites as John mentioned, which is something I will be doing in the future.

      That said though, I probably wouldn't build an authority site without first knowing it worked.
      Signature
      Michigan SEO
      Michigan SEO Expert
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[206040].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
        I do both. I have a network of about 120 niche sites plus my flagship blog. I also have a number of supporting sites and dormant sites that could be reactivated into a flagship/authority position if I wanted to do that.

        Another plus for authority sites is that once their established it makes it easier for you to launch products, do joint ventures and a lot of other things that wouldn't be nearly as easy if you only had a network of lightweight niche sites. Building a brandable authority site, most likely a blog, is probably a good idea, for the long term. It takes a considerable period of time for these sites to begin producing significant money and may require considerable investment of time and money. Many people lack the patience and skill to develop this type of site.

        However, building niche sites the right way can start generating income quickly and with little or no upfront costs and much lower time investment. The upfront hitch that most people encounter here is that they don't understand keyword selection or how to get targeted organic traffic. Once that hurdle is cleared, the problem is one of management as the network gets larger.
        Signature
        Product Reviews | Earn Online Cash | Free HTML Templates
        Free WordPress Themes: Boring Memo | Dateless Mini-Site | Info Magazine | 100 Twenty-Ten Niche Headers
        Discount Templates, Graphics and Scripts: Templates for Website
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[207074].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author ajsmith
          I think the answer lies in what you like to do. For an authority site, you really want to select a topic that you have passion for, as the research is endless. A bunch of niche sites require that you spread your energy around, however you leverage your losses. Of course if you have the time, patience and desire...you can do the authority site first, and then the niche sites.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[207311].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rlnorthcutt
    If you do build multiple sites, it is best to have them spread across as many IP addresses (servers) as you can. Search engines prefer it this way... plus, if you build up a good network of related niche sites, then your whole portfolio can be worth more IF you wanted to sell
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[207337].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Rick67
      Originally Posted by rlnorthcutt View Post

      If you do build multiple sites, it is best to have them spread across as many IP addresses (servers) as you can. Search engines prefer it this way... plus, if you build up a good network of related niche sites, then your whole portfolio can be worth more IF you wanted to sell
      The only way I know of to have multiple IP's is to pay your host more $$ for this special service. But this is limited to how many IP's you can get. Or is there another way?? Different hosts? Would that be a management nightmare?

      Thanks,
      Rick
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[208779].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Dixiebelle
        The best thing to do is what works for you. As I told someone on another thread, I have 5 blogs in 5 different markets, and 40 niche mini-sites in very deep niches. I work on one blog per day - 5 days per week.

        Each blog has 8 mini-sites that it feeds. They just sit there chewing up the orders. Each blog and it's 8 sites are all inter-linked, since they are all somewhat related and compliment each other.

        It took 2 years of "nose to the grindstone" work to get it all set up properly, but it all runs by itself now.

        On Monday, I work on my pet blog, write my weekly post, and check all the links on it's sites, and then leave it alone until the next Monday.

        On Tuesday, I work on another blog, make my weekly post, check all the links for it's corresponding sites, and it sets there until the next Tuesday.

        That's the way I work my way through the week. This only takes about an hour a day. The rest of the day, 5 days a week, I build and maintain websites for people who live and do business in my local area.

        On Saturday and Sunday I do something fun.

        They are riding on 5 different host's servers. Should something happen to one of my blogs and/or it's sites, I still have 4 more running like clockwork.

        That's what works for me.

        Dixie
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[209941].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Habitat
    I have my main site which I call my baby and my side projects which all link back into the main site somehow.
    Signature
    Selling my successful article business
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[208770].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lashley
    From a valuation perspective, building an authority site will create more economic value if you sell it than the other approach. There are many factors to consider but if your goal is to cash out, the fastest path to high value, of the two approaches you selected, is the authority approach. Authority is IM speak for brand. Brand drives value.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[209987].message }}

Trending Topics