Multiple Domain Names - What to do for the best?

[Baa]

My apologies if this is in the wrong place.

If you have a small number of domains that relate to a main site - say under 10 domains, is it best to either:

Point them to the one website?

Use them as individual/satellite sites and promote your main site?

If you use them with individual sites that share the same hosting, is it a bad idea to link the satellite sites to the main site?

I have 5 names, two of which point to one site the others aren't and I'm not sure how best to work this or whether I'll get problems from the search engines.

[scotserve]

Baa I have many companies that do this

IMO
1) If all domains are pointing to the same area of the site then yes it is best to have them as satellite sites, this way you can promote different keywords and have the benefit of inbound links
2) Yes it is beneficial to have them on at least a different IP to the primary site, I mount blogs on different servers to that of main site if asked for instance
However I also have companies that point different domains to different sections of site i.e .eu domain to EU section, .com to US section and such like and that appears to be fine

[Baa]

Thanks Scotserve! That's really useful.

I was really hoping I wouldn't have to locate another hosting service considering my track record in that area, it's on a par with my ability to choose boyfriends

[Rainee Bows]

My track record aint great til i hit gold this time round

I'd highly recommend scottie in the hosting department

Rain
xxxx

[Baa]

Thanks for the recommendation Rain!

[Rainee Bows]

Thanks for the recommendation Rain!

no worries I'm aware that people will view that as biased, but in all honesty, after being ripped off for a couple of domains and running into issues with access etc in the past , you cant go wrong with Scotserve, great advice, great service and above all honest and above board !

[scotserve]

Thanks for the glowing report Rain
I am as unconventional in life as i am in business and have been doing domain registration and hosting continually since 1994 - not many hosts can say that.
I am not the cheapest by far but like to think I am the "frills" service rather then the "no frills" - no I dont wear any before you say anything

Baa if your looking for only portal/ redirect sites give me a shout I can possibly sort something out for you 

[Baa]

Everybody is biased to a degree and if you've found good service, that's great!

Scotseve I will be in touch, I've heard nothing but good reports about your hosting service. I've just detailed the plan of action today to my collegue .... There was a frown and a how are we going to do all that in a day comment so now I'm procrastinating for a couple of minutes while I rejig the schedule.