Managing Multiple Websites via Add-On Domain

[NiallSmith]

Hey SEOMOZ community,

I've always been curious about whether or not hosting multiple websites through an 'add-on' domain has positive/negative effects on SEO for websites.

Currently, I'm hosting 5 sites through an add-on domain at Hostgator.com. Is this a poor way to set-up my sites or is this OK?

[tolik1]

Hi JP,

Addon domains are OK as long as you play by the rules (do not interlink them, user unique content).

Think about them as sites being on the same dedicated server. Do not do things you would not do to sites on the same server and you will be OK.

[JordanGodbey]

I would say if they are all independent of one another, and NOT like the scenario Mango Man described than you should be fine. You should only face problems when you're links are primarily coming from one host or ip or web server.

[MangoMan16]

Honestly, I think it depends.

Are your 5 sites linking to each other? With the same anchor text? Do they have duplicate content? If that's the case, then it's likely not OK.

In my case, I have 60 add on domains, interlinked, with the same anchor text and duplicated content. I also have a killer penguin on my trail