Putting sites on one C-class

[cowboy]

How many sites do you guys usually put on one C-class? I know the ideal is "1", but do any of you put 5? More? Any penalties experienced or things to watch out for?

[Engineer]

I don't know if the number of sites on a C-class makes much of a difference. Shared hosts have thousands of sites on the same IP, and it wouldn't be right for Google to punish all of the sites if only one misbehaved (although it probably has happened at some point).

If you have multiple sites, and if each site has unique, useful content, then there should be no problem with linking relevant content together, even if the sites share a C-class. Punishing a site for linking to other useful sites on the same IP wouldn't make sense, IMO. ("Useful" is the key, I think.)

I have set up multiple C-classes for my sites, but I wonder if it is a waste of money to pay for the extra IPs anymore, since Google already knows who owns the sites based on the Whois information. I use Domains by Proxy to hide my personal details, but Google still has access to the information.

Any other thoughts out there?

[WCD Admin]

I've not a perfect answer, but I do think it matters a little. Especially if you say have 400 sites on one class C, and all have the same whois information. This can get matched easy enough. If they do that and they decide something is wrong with your linking scheme it might devalue certain links. Of course... its all really guesses when it comes down to it.

I think separate class-c sites might be beneficial to a slight degree. Just 2c

[Nicolas-Johnson]

Hi Cowboy,

I agree with what has been said; having your sites on different class C IPs is useful because I believe they are filters in the algorithm that devalue to different degrees and based on other criteria, links from similar neighborhoods. But this is true only to a certain degree because at the end of the day as Engineer said, google knows who owns what based on the whois info... and private whois does nothing since they are an underlying registrar.

I do know Google is tolerant of people having more than one site (I mean, google owns more than one site too). But I believe it is when people own 100+ sites on one topic that it can become a risk that google will penalize someone based on having a spammily high number of sites on the same topic.

[Adrian-LiveCasinoPartners]

I have set up multiple C-classes for my sites, but I wonder if it is a waste of money to pay for the extra IPs anymore, since Google already knows who owns the sites based on the Whois information. I use Domains by Proxy to hide my personal details, but Google still has access to the information.

Any other thoughts out there?

I agree Engineer. I still us different IPs and it does cost a lot more. I have beginning to wonder if it is really worth it because Google had the who is info, and well as webmaster tools, and Analytics info. I have been thinking it is probably better to change Both Analytics and webmaster tools accounts for each site, but I can't bring myself to place fake info in the who is info to make it appear different.

[Guard Dog]

I agree with a hybrid...

IMO:

• You don't need to have separate c-class IP's for each domain.
• You SHOULD have separate c-class IP's for every 5-10 websites
• You SHOULD have a linking strategy if you are interlinking

Linking Strategy:

Link wisely. If you have a Blackjack website with Blackjack in the title and throughout as keywords... don't link to your slots site!! That is obviously there for linking purposes and adds no value for the surfer.

So - internal linking should be very well strategized based completely upon what a surfer WOULD WANT to see If you follow that simple rule, you will be fine, IMO.

And - with my IP 'plan' above, you won't need to buy as many IP's. It's truly not necessary. Especially when you consider that you won't be interlinking every site.