Url Url, should I buy more than one domain per website?



I am yet making a full time living with internet business, so it is important for me to pinch pennies where I can.  Today I have stumbled onto the fact that I have been purchasing multiple spellings for many of my site names (which seemed like a good idea at the time).

The problem with this now is I am spending $12 a year to register each and with one domain I own 5 versions.  Let’s do the math 5 domain x $12 = $60 a year. The kicker to this, is that this website is not currently monetized.  Meaning I am losing $5 a month on something that will hopefully make me money in the future.

 

PRO’s to getting multiple domains:

  • People may misspell your website, but if you buy the common misspellings they will be directed back to your site.
  • Keeps others from trying to buy those similar domains if you get popular in hopes of stealing some of your traffic.
  • You can use sometimes use those alternative domains to test marketing efforts by having links send customers to alternative spellings of you url and track. (WARNING: never spell out those links in the ads text, just use the alternative in the link’s code)

CON’s to getting multiple domains:

  • Many people use search engines over putting in a URL
  • Cost money
  • Could confuse visitors if not done correctly
The question of if you need multiple domains for one site is really up to you.  My feeling is it depends on the site.  For a micro niche site that is using exact domain name to match an exact search does not need multiple domains unless the Key word search says it is worth it.
For the site with 5 domains, it is a store where I sell merchandise for my projects and artwork.  This means if 1 person per year buys something through typing the wrong URL, I have broken even on the cost.  Meaning, I will keep those 5 sites as an insurance and may lose some, but for $60, I am okay with it.If you end up following my lead with multiple url’s per domain, you must remember to set the alternative url’s to forward viewers to main domain.  Do Not make a copy of your site at the other URL’s.  Instead through your web host you want those alternative URL’s to point at the main site , sending people directly with no realization they made a mistake.  This is because multiple sites exactly the same will red flag you with google and can hurt your search Ranking.  It also means you would have to update to sites if you make any changes or add any pages.

Let me know if you have gone with multiple URL’s per domain or sticking with one in the comments below.

Categories: Business General Update Independent Artist Tags:
September 2, 2012 by Jason Love
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