For years the debate has raged over which type of site you should build: mini-sites or authority sites. Yet Google seems to have come up with a deciding factor that could end the debate once and for all. It seems that mini-sites no longer enjoy the favor with Google they once had. In the last few algorithm changes, though, the larger content rich sites seemed to have gained favor over the mini-sites. This is Google’s way of working towards offering their users better search results. Despite this, a mini-site still has its place in your marketing efforts.
Each type of website, authority and mini, give you a range of options unique to each one. There can be some overlap with the main difference being a matter of scale.
If you wanted to target a broad range of products within a particular market, then you can accomplish that quite easily with a large authority site. If you’re content to focus on a single product within this market, then a mini-site would be all you need. Therefore, the strategy you pick has to be based on what you want to sell, and to what portion of the market. Deciding between authority and mini-sites can be explored from several angles. It is possible to have 10 mini-sites along with one rather large authority site. How would you go about driving traffic to each site? Each of the 10 mini-sites will require you to duplicate your effort for driving traffic. Your authority site will also require traffic driving efforts on your part. However, authority sites allow you to leverage your time better. You’ll find that larger sites have a unique value known as the ‘stickiness’ value. Since the content on mini-sites is so limited, it is difficult to make them very ‘sticky’.
Authority sites can also be used to quickly build credibility. Large websites that are filled with helpful information are more authoritative to visitors. The larger sites simply invite the assumption of authority from many people. This alone will establish credibility for some people. This would be a rare exception to the rule for mini-sites. That doesn’t mean it never happens only that it happens rarely. The option of building an authority site or a mini-site is something that is determined by the way Google ranks sites in search results. Mini-sites still offer plenty of benefits, but you may find it a little more time-consuming trying to drive traffic to them. Mini-sites definitely have their place within any well thought-out marketing plan. However, there are plenty more benefits to be had for creating a larger site as far as organic traffic goes.

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