Multiple Domains for Multiple stores or all on 1 domain?

[consultant2b]

Hi,

I currently own a .com E-Commerce webstore mainly catering to UK Customers running on CRE Loaded. However, I am looking to have similar e-commerce stores for other countries using the same “Brand Name”. I want to build the brand. I will be using different dropship suppliers for each of my stores. The current .com store has plenty of content such as Articles, videos etc, designed to attract SEO traffic and offer content to the customer.

Now my question is, from a SEO point of view as well as from an organisation perspective, am I better off having different URL’s for each of my store, i.e, .co.uk .co.nz etc or having different all the stores on the same URL. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each of the approach, however I would appreciate your opinions

Advantages of Having all stores on a .com Domain
• Same content can be offered to all customers
• Easy to Manage

Disadvantages of having all stores on a .com domain
• SEO difficult as American and UK Spellings differ

Advantages of Multiple Domains
• Less confusion for the customer as FAQ’s can be customised for each store
• Different dropshippers will have different rules hence customisation would be easier
• SEO Campaigns can be more targeted

Disadvantages of Multiple Domains
• Lot of time required to manage different sites
• Unique content will have to be created for all sites

The other option I was considering was having one main store with all the content and having only products on other stores. I can aggressively market my main store and have links to my other stores for customers who may want to buy locally?

I would be really thankful for opinions and suggestions as this is a key decision for me.

[Puripong]

I would recommend you go on with the first option - One website per one country. It would take a more lot of resources, budget and time but it would be worth it.

Each website with specific country domain extension will give you advantage over most generic website, give more trust toward user in the country you are promoting as well. These websites will be used as "legit network" in a soon since all of them are branch under your main website.

[Jim Gillum]

I agree with Puripong...
Additionally, although more work, you can concentrate on the individual sites as they need more "help" or dump one that is not producing as you would like it to.
I see it as more work but more control......

[consultant2b]

If they would be a "legit network" does it mean, I can offer the same content on all of them (with minor modifications if necessary) and get away with the duplicate content penalty?

[Puripong]

Originally Posted by consultant2b

If they would be a "legit network" does it mean, I can offer the same content on all of them (with minor modifications if necessary) and get away with the duplicate content penalty?

It is a no-no. Why don't you just provide specific contents toward each country? Each of them are different audiences and you cannot rely just single content to hold them on. Think and go based on quality will help you for a long run.

If you already have a big plan for your business, why don't you just provide a quality content? They are your prospect customer and most of them won't buy anything they do not trusted first.

The more garbage in appearance and content = The less conversion rate

[consultant2b]

Thanks for the great suggestions, still looking for more opinions on this

[snicky]

I always go for multiple domains. It works fo me. However, maintaining them is very tough so I outsource some the work.

[consultant2b]

Hi Snicky: Do you use the same Platform (ecommerce software, blog software, etc) for all your sites and how do you manage upgrades? If you want to add a new feature, do you get it manually added to all the sites?

[EnhanceRank]

Hi

I would suggest to have separate domain for each country if you have related content with specific language for all countries.

Regards