Using php includes to "un-duplicate" text content for a parked domain?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Kerosene, Jan 4, 2006.

  1. #1
    I'm not sure where this should be posted, as it's SEO related, and PHP related.
    I also have no idea if this will work, or if it's already a common technique.

    I have domain.com, with similardomain.com parked on top.

    I'd like to use similardomain.com to show the same site as domain.com (same layout, pics etc), but with different text content, targeted towards a slightly different market. If I used php includes to serve different text depending on what domain was being used, would Google see this as 2 separate sites?

    e.g
    if URL = domain.com > index.php > includes domain.php "this website is about fruit, but mostly apples"

    if URL = similardomain.com > index.php > includes similardomain.php "this website is about fruit, but mostly ORANGES"

    So both domains have the same layout and design, but the majority of the actual text content will be different.

    I assume this is all possible by detecting the url in php. But is it worth doing? What will Google make of it? Is anyone doing this already?
     
    Kerosene, Jan 4, 2006 IP
  2. Kerosene

    Kerosene Alpha & Omega™ Staff

    Messages:
    11,366
    Likes Received:
    575
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    385
    #2
    Sorry to bump this...

    But I'm anxious to know if it's a good or bad idea.
     
    Kerosene, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  3. dave487

    dave487 Peon

    Messages:
    701
    Likes Received:
    20
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    If you are serrving different content using the same template you should be fine.
     
    dave487, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  4. Kerosene

    Kerosene Alpha & Omega™ Staff

    Messages:
    11,366
    Likes Received:
    575
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    385
    #4
    It's not just the same template, it's the same file(s), on the same server - just with different php 'includes'.

    I'm just concerned that Google will know it's all coming from the same host and filter one of the domains.

    Surely somebody has tried this before?
     
    Kerosene, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  5. dave487

    dave487 Peon

    Messages:
    701
    Likes Received:
    20
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Hosting 2 domains in the same place is ok, as long as the url's of each page are different and the content is different then you should be fine.
     
    dave487, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  6. Kerosene

    Kerosene Alpha & Omega™ Staff

    Messages:
    11,366
    Likes Received:
    575
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    385
    #6
    So why isn't everyone doing this? Or are they?

    You could have heaps of domains parked on a single hosting account, and then just use PHP includes to dish up a separate site for each URL.

    e.g
    my-honda.com > my-honda.com/index.php includes "honda.php"
    my-bmw.com > parked > my-honda.com/index.php includes "bmw.php"

    Somebody tell me the flaw in this before I really look like an nitwit :p
     
    Kerosene, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  7. dave487

    dave487 Peon

    Messages:
    701
    Likes Received:
    20
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    The flaw is that if you link between all the sites google will spot the links all come from the same IP address and devalue all links from that IP.
     
    dave487, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  8. rehash

    rehash Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    30
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    150
    #8
    I think it's ok, many big sites use same template and same files but diferent text content due to language or other criteria.
     
    rehash, Jan 5, 2006 IP
  9. nicram

    nicram Peon

    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    I am quite sure it is ok. I don't think Google "don't like" all sites using (for example) phpnuke and similar domain (and even similar content). I think your sites are completely safe.
     
    nicram, Jan 6, 2006 IP
  10. uca

    uca Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,242
    Likes Received:
    69
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    155
    #10
    It's very good for branding, it's ok for search engines as long as there's enough difference (how much exactly is not known).

    From what I hear, you should be ok.

    And yes, interlinking is not going to do much good for SEO purposes if from the same IP, but it's ok for navigation purposes.

    In brief, you're doing right! No worries!

    Good luck!
     
    uca, Jan 6, 2006 IP
  11. Kerosene

    Kerosene Alpha & Omega™ Staff

    Messages:
    11,366
    Likes Received:
    575
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    385
    #11
    Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to go ahead and try it.

    I've already written all the PHP/Smarty to include different pages - and have managed to get the 2 sites down to about 75% similar content.

    I'm hoping that if I get it down to around 50% Google will see 2 different sites.

    All the page titles, meta tags and page text are as different as I can make them - but the tricky thing is that the site is a directory, carrying the same links on both domains - so I guess I'll just order the links on each site in a different order and hope for the best.

    Seems like a lot of work just to save $ on hosting :p
    But it's kinda fun.
     
    Kerosene, Jan 6, 2006 IP
  12. Kerosene

    Kerosene Alpha & Omega™ Staff

    Messages:
    11,366
    Likes Received:
    575
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    385
    #12
    Well it's all done now - fingers crossed that G will see 2 different sites.
    Both sites are running off the same database, using the same files - the only difference is the php for the different colour styles and text.

    Spot the difference :

    www.mytourismguide.com

    www.mytourismdirectory.com

    Most pages are down to less than 50% duplicate - which I hope is enough to satisty the filter.
    Does anyone have a guesstimate on the % of duplicate content that is allowed?
     
    Kerosene, Jan 8, 2006 IP
  13. livingearth

    livingearth Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,469
    Likes Received:
    83
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #13
    My entire range of city pages( over 42,572 pages ) is produced with one file template that pulls information from a database. As far as I can tell all have been indexed. I think you have an interesting idea and would like to see the eventual results. As long as your intention is to deliver information and not to decieve you should be ok. IMO of course!
     
    livingearth, Jan 8, 2006 IP