What's Better...One big site, or multiple smaller sites?

Discussion in 'AdSense' started by HiltonHeadIslander, May 13, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hello,

    I am trying to determine the best approach for AdSense. Is it better to have one large site with lots of traffic, or multiple smaller sites? Initially, I thought the one big site with lots of traffic would be the best. After testing out both scenarios for a month, I'm starting to see that multiple smaller sites are getting much better payouts per click.

    My theory is that a large busy site attracts a lot of low-paying AdWords spam. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

    Cheers
     
    HiltonHeadIslander, May 13, 2008 IP
  2. hillord

    hillord Well-Known Member

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    #2
    one big site that you can concentrate on..
     
    hillord, May 13, 2008 IP
  3. Rasputin

    Rasputin Peon

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    #3
    I prefer one big site, because it's much easier to develop and promote one site, and to get links for it. But I also have a few smaller sites so that if the big site hits hard times the others help spread the load.

    I have found that a large busy site attracts more adwords advertisers bidding to appear on the site, and overall a higher CPC.

    But perhaps your 'large site' is just a less profitable niche than your smaller sites - can you make a big site from one of the niches of the smaller sites?

    If it's yours, the site in your signature should do OK, travel sites are usually not too bad for CPC.
     
    Rasputin, May 13, 2008 IP
  4. sylv3rblade

    sylv3rblade Peon

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    #4
    I prefer one big site too. It's already quite a chore to promote (link exchanges, marketing, word of mouth, etc) one, what more of multiple sites.
     
    sylv3rblade, May 13, 2008 IP
  5. shermancox

    shermancox Peon

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    #5
    if it is just you...one site...I have found that it is very difficult for one person to keep up even two sites as a side business. After a couple of years of being pulled in two directions I chose one to go with...
     
    shermancox, May 13, 2008 IP
  6. shanX

    shanX Peon

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    #6
    One bigger site first and few smaller backup sites later on, to start working incase bigger one goes out of bizz ;)
     
    shanX, May 13, 2008 IP
  7. scriptaty

    scriptaty Banned

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    #7
    I vote for many smaller websites if you are just going to start:-
    My opinion:-
    strat many blogs in blogspot with different niche like dating tips, movies opinion , youtube video discussion etc and link them all with each other so that you can get same visitor to different website as well your google SERP will be high.
    If you do this then your start up will be good and you can be encouraged for more move on in internet field.
    If you get nice amount then strat a new huge website and market that.
    When you strat mny smaller sites thn you can concentrate in only one website to market and choose the best one which can entertain visitors and attracts them to come back.

    Just my opinion.
     
    scriptaty, May 13, 2008 IP
  8. add_cents

    add_cents Peon

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    #8
    I have one big site right now that does pretty well. Looking to start a couple of more big sites.
     
    add_cents, May 13, 2008 IP
  9. poshswinger

    poshswinger Active Member

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    #9
    You should always focus on a website and generate the most revenue from it. After achieving that, you can then start another site, and focus on that.
     
    poshswinger, May 14, 2008 IP
  10. Nystul

    Nystul Well-Known Member

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    #10
    1 BIG site with a few big sites supporting it ! thats the best !!
     
    Nystul, May 14, 2008 IP
  11. abud

    abud Active Member

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    #11
    1 big site. if you have a lof of competitors, multiple small sites is better.
     
    abud, May 14, 2008 IP
  12. Abhik

    Abhik ..:: The ONE ::..

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    #12
    1 Big site with lots of traffic..
     
    Abhik, May 14, 2008 IP
  13. ironmaiden

    ironmaiden Peon

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    #13
    1 big site with lots of traffic and 5 smaller niche sites.. this is my strategy :p
     
    ironmaiden, May 14, 2008 IP
  14. pipes

    pipes Prominent Member

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    #14
    I would go for a main site with a small backup of smaller sites, if one site gets hit in the serps and your getting less visitors you can always fall back on your backups sites that are established.
     
    pipes, May 14, 2008 IP
  15. seo4china

    seo4china Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Why not have both, a HUGE site around which will revolve a couple of smaller sites. And once you are satisfied with the big site you can move your focus to one of the smaller ones to make it HUGE as well, and so on...
     
    seo4china, May 14, 2008 IP
  16. coolbloggerman

    coolbloggerman Peon

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    #16
    I would like to suggestion for on big website with lots of traffic instead of too many smaller websites...because I have personally experienced it. I have 50 smaller websites but getting only 200 to 250 USD for all...even I am also thinking to start big websites and get good traffics on it...:)
     
    coolbloggerman, May 14, 2008 IP
  17. coolcode007

    coolcode007 Well-Known Member

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    #17
    few small ones to get some revenue coming

    then concentrate on a dynamic big site with thousands of landing pages (it will need some investment before you can see some money rolling in)
    eg: travel site which got landing pages optimized for city keywords, hotel keywords
     
    coolcode007, May 14, 2008 IP
  18. mkels

    mkels Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I prefer one big site. easy to manage. feeds traffic from your big site to all your smaller site to get some clicks.
     
    mkels, May 14, 2008 IP
  19. HiltonHeadIslander

    HiltonHeadIslander Peon

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    #19
    Thanks for all the responses. Let me give more detail on my experiment:

    I have five sites, each dealing with vacation destinations in a specific geographical area. About a month ago, I created a single site that combined all the content from the five individual websites. The new website is heavily promoted and gets ten times the traffic as the other five combined. What I've found is the the five smaller websites get a much better rate for each AdSense click than the large site does. They have the same type of content, since the large site simply aggregates the individual smaller sites' content.

    Using the AdSense Preview Tool, I've discovered that the larger site is attracting many more low-paying AdWords advertisers than the smaller sites with the same content. As a side note, Everesttech is one of the main offenders and seems to be immune to the Competitive Ad Filter too.

    My observation is that the sites with less traffic don't seem to attract these low-paying AdWords content network spammers. I know a month isn't statistically significant, but the trend is clear thus far.

    Cheers
     
    HiltonHeadIslander, May 14, 2008 IP
  20. supernoobice

    supernoobice Peon

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    #20
    make a few sites, promote them equally. Analyze which ones have a potential and make that site big.
     
    supernoobice, May 14, 2008 IP