Marketing strategy: 1 big site or a network of specialized sites? [News subject]

What do you think, a big news site would work better than a network of specialized news sites? For example, CNN vs a bunch of sites on science news, entertaiment news, tech news, etc under the same group. I'd go for the network.

EDIT: I'm referring in terms of online income only!!

 

Depends on the subjects.

If it's in the way you described, "CNN vs a bunch of sites on science news, entertaiment news, tech news, etc " I would go for the CNN.

If it is CNN vs a bunch of sites on science, producing movies, new artists, new computers, mortgages, etc. I would go for multiple sites.

Basically, if all one similar subject, one big website. If all different subjects, all different websites.

 

I was referring to a network of specific-subject news websites.

 

You need to have enough resource to publish the "specific-subject " regularly .This may be one of the key to keep the visitors coming back again and again .

 

Let's assume that content is not a problem. I'd like to find out the answer strictly on the question above. Thanks

 

I cast my vote for one big site.

 

Assuming you make it huge one day you would have made more money with on specialized site most likely through targetted advertising campaigns.

 

one big site is better. google gives big boys more weight and that is the future. just look at the spammed travel SERPs.

building one big site has one more advantage. you can concentrate on one-two issues at the start to make the site rank and once you get it out of the box, new sections that you add will get results faster.

 

One site is better since it will alos be easier to keep updated

 

Wow every single time I have viewed the poll it has been at 50% / 50%

 

If all similar, one big one gets my vote.

 

Spend your time on one big site and getting it up and placed. Design your sight user friendly with major subjects and sub-subjects that can come and go like threads. Thats my 2 cents

 

For one site...build it up...add the specialized content.
Easier for visitors to come to one site and find the specialized content than having to go to many sites.

Hundred more reasons to have one big site instead of lots of specialized sites.

 

Okay okay, you all made your point. I'm going with the big website Thanks

 

Lots of specalized sites, definately.

You lose your SERPs for one big site then bam, there's goes the majority of your income.

 

lifahacker/gawker/io9/kotaku/gizmodo are all different sites by gawker media
techcrunch/crunchbase/crunchnotes/ and previous mobilecrunch/gadgetcrunch were all sepearate sites

Cnet used to be all separated, now they've combined about half into subdomains, but you don't see gamespot.cnet.com LOL.

Separate sites.

 

One site might be better, if do not want to be involved in many sites.

I always like one saying in organization: you should be big enough, otherwise, you do not have any value...

 

I'll go against the crowd here and say multiple sites with one "master site" that links to the various smaller sites. That way your users can go to the master site to see an overall picture of the news, but split off into a specific subject site for the news niches. It will be easier to market specific niche sites than trying to market a general news site.

 

I think in this day and age of Panda, and penalties, it is a good idea to have one big site, the search engines don't want duplicates cluttering the web