Do search engine bots know it is your site?

[ggpokergg]

Hi guys,

I've already asked this question at another forum, but wanted to ask it here as well to get as much different feedback as possible:

When doing some cross-linking between your own sites, don't the bots know that all these sites belong to the same person (registered under the same name)? Doesn't that make the links completely lose value?

And the same question regarding google analytics: if you have more than one site registered under one google analytics account, won't google automatically ignore any cross-linking between the sites that are registered under one analytics account?

Or do bots simply not care as long as the links are done in a context that seems to be relevant to the content of all the websites involved in the cross-linking?

Thanks in advance.

[superiorword]

Simply buy private registration from your domain registrar and open another analytics account to monitor the stats of your other site.

[Peter Willis]

Private registrations aren't going to work if the domains already exist. And yes - analytics, adsense... Anything really like that they can easily identify your network if you use the sane code on all the sites.

In answer to your question though I can't report any examples of the links being devalued 'automatically'. And so long as the links are contrxtually relevant and add value to your users then you shouldn't have to worry about a manual inspection either.

[ggpokergg]

So, overall, does anyone here use a different google analytics account for every website he owns (sounds like a huge hassle to me btw)?

[Peter Willis]

There's not much point doing that unless you plan on logging in via a different proxy ip to each different account.

[wjb316]

I don't worry about it too much. I've done a fair amount of interlinking and never had a problem. People say it's pretty dangerous, so I don't mess with it any more. Same analytics account, many on the same IP since day one.

[ggpokergg]

Hi wjb

My question is: if you've done a fair amount of it and have never had a problem, what was the reason you decided to listen to what other people were saying, if your experience was telling you otherwise? Did they give any compelling arguments/examples for it? If so I would really love to hear them.

[wjb316]

Well part of the reason I started listening to them was because the benefit was small over the long run. Interlinking between my own sites wasn't the core of my success. So instead of continuing to ignore the advice and hope for good luck, I just kind of forgot about the tactic.

I don't have any sources for you, but I just remember reading in quite a few different places that interlinking between your own network isn't a great idea. I still have the existing links up where appropriate, but I don't go out of my way to link any more. Plus, I am focusing on existing things instead of building new stuff right now.

If I have a good place to link where it make sense, then I'll do it again in the future. But you won't see me putting up any sitewide footer links or blogrolls between sites.

[ggpokergg]

Thanks, I guess that clears it up.

I have heard similar opinions - as long as the sitewide linking is natural and makes sense, then it is fine. That's what I will stick to.

[Peter Willis]

Woooah there. No one mentioned sitewide linking! Sitewide linking isn't adviseable under most circumstances these days, let alone from your own network.