Can you link several sites together in Google Webmaster Tools?

[DCochrane]

I have a client saying that there is a way  to link 3 separate websites (A website for each department of a company) in Google Webmaster tools to tell Google it's basically one site but really its 3. Or to tell Google it's the same company and all the sites are one.

I have never heard of this & I don't see the point in making 3 separate small sites & "linking" them as one in Webmaster tools.

Is there in fact a way? Am I out to lunch on what they might be referring to?

I am recommending they create one larger authority site with a page on each department & earn links for each department page & provide informative unique content for each page.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the help!

[DCochrane]

Thanks so much for reassurance. It's always great to ensure I'm on the right track with my recommendations.

Cheers!

[ThompsonPaul]

Totally support your recommendation of a single authority site with sub-sections for each department,. Samantha. That way not only will  the maintenance process be far simpler, (and cheaper) but each subsection of the site can contribute it's authority to the other sections, and each section will also benefit from the overall authority of the primary domain. (note - only if subsections are directories. not subdomains).

As far as "linking" sites in Webmaster tools to create a single site in Google's eyes? Nope. no such thing.

You can have multiple sites linked to a single Webmaster Tools account to simplify management processes (for instance, my GWT account has over 30 client sites linked to it) but there's nothing in that process that can tell Google to consider multiple domains as a single site.

So yea, you're right on both counts

Paul