Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain
Building multiple blogs under one domain could be the key to accelerating your blogging career. Many high profile bloggers publish on multiple blogs, but very few do so under a single domain name. I could probably come up with just as many reasons not to build multiple blogs under a single domain, but instead I will focus on the top five reason that you should build multiple blogs under one domain. The following reasons support an argument against (1)hosting multiple blogs on separate domains or (2)having a large number of categories under a single blog.
1. Site Ranking - Getting links to separate blogs dedicated to various unrelated subjects all built on a single domain can raise the domains ranking on services like Alexa.
2. Single Domain Registration - You only have to pay for and track one domain registration.
3. SEO - A link to one blog is a vote for the domain it lives on with Google. A vote for your domain in turn raises all of the blogs in the search engine relevance simultaneously. So each blog actually helps all the other blogs rise in Google results.
4. Simplified Domain Maintenance - A single sitemap, robots.txt, etc. Also having a single point for FTP, email, and database management does make life easier. It is hard enough to administer multiple blogging control panels like with WordPress.
5. Niche Link Attraction - This point fits the argument for separate blogs in general, but plays well with the site ranking and SEO mentioned above. A niche blog with a narrow scope is more likely to get links from other bloggers who might disagree with some of the content of a single blog containing a large number of unrelated categories focused on controversial subjects. For instance, a liberal blogger who runs a popular cooking blog might be more comfortable driving traffic to my niche blog Grill’n Time rather than to a cooking category on The Land of Ozz where a large amount of blogging is based on conservative political opinions.
This idea of multiple blogs under a single domain should only be used if you are very confident that you will be retaining your domain name for the long term. For instance, let’s look at lashawnbarber.com. There is a high likelihood that La Shawn will not sell a domain name featuring her fairly uncommon name. So adding a second blog to the domain is not a big risk. La Shawn is one of the few high profile bloggers hosting multiple blogs under a single domain. Her second blog is located at lashawnbarber.com/ffc.
I have six separate blogs under HOEI.COM. You are reading the newest blog that was created when I switched the main page of my website to a blog. My other four blogs were built to focus on different subjects.
Caden’s Page - The story of our family’s triumphs and trials related to our son’s medical challenges. Caden was diagnosed with Di George Syndrome (22q11.2) after several heart defects were found during prenatal care.
Riley’s Page - A blog journaling some of the highlights in the life of my oldest son Riley.
The Land of Ozz - My personal blog featuring topics on parenting, technology, and spiritual growth. Includes a podcast of The Living Bible and a daily Bible reading plan.
Grill’n Time - A site (needing more attention) that is dedicated to cooking on and off of the grill.
Tech Land - Technical tips from TheOzz.
This post is participating in ProBlogger’s Top 5 - Group Writing Project.
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
I take your point. Although somehow I’ve ended up with 7 blogs on 7 different domains….
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
You raise 5 very good points. Number 5 in particular is a twist that I would not have thought of. I am considering starting a blog under my own domain name and this is definitely food for thought.
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz – some advice contrary to conventional wisdom on multiple blogs. Tags: Problogger, group+writing+project [...]
May 9th, 2007 | #
An excellent idea that I wouldn’t have previously considered. Good post. If you’d like to have a look at my entry in Darren’s contest, it’s at:
http://www.rodtempleton.net/2007/05/07/my-top-5-required-feeds/
May 9th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz – some advice contrary to conventional wisdom on multiple blogs. Tags: Problogger, group+writing+project [...]
May 10th, 2007 | #
Hi Ozz. I relate well to what you’re writing. I have five blogs at http://www.duncans.tv and eight blogs at http://www.postkiwi.com. As you say the Alexa rank builds up between them which is great when the sites share a similar niche. But it’s a pity if you want to build up each site’s individual ranking. If I remember right the reason I stuck with the small number of blogs in the first place was mostly to do with the cost of hosting each domain.
May 10th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 10th, 2007 | #
Top 5 of the Top 5 That Caught My Eye…
I’ve been bloghopping all morning while sipping my coffee and trying to shake the sleepy fuzzies and focus. I’ve spent SO-O-O much time this past week blogging, learning more about blogging, testing things I’ve learned about blogging,…
May 10th, 2007 | #
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May 10th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 reasons for multiple blogs under a single domain: I like this because it confirms a decision that I made a couple of weeks back. People like to hear information that confirms their choices. Thanks I’ve put Facibus Reviews, Facibus On Blogging, OnWii and Faux Cuisine under the one domain name with no regrets so far. [...]
May 11th, 2007 | #
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[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
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[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
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[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
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[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
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[...] latest writing project, and I do not plan to read them all. I did not get 893 visits to my Top 5 post so I know I am not the only one skipping a few in this list for one reason or another. I chose to [...]
May 14th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 14th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 14th, 2007 | #
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[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
May 16th, 2007 | #
[...] on a regular basis in Google and Yahoo! with visitors landing on Caden’s Page which is one of multiple blogs on this single domain. Another notable is “goggle earth” which originally happened by a spelling mistake on [...]
June 7th, 2007 | #
[...] Top 5 Reasons for Multiple Blogs Under a Single Domain by TheOzz [...]
June 10th, 2007 | #
As a newbie( I dislike tha’t term)–as a freshman—I’m glad to find this informational site but I’m more confused than ever. If I should ask some insane, off the wall question just remember you all weren’t born with a computer in your hands. I’m hear to learn so I’ll keep quiet —-sheryl1945Nkansas
June 14th, 2007 | #
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