Some of my clients have struggled ranking even when they have big sites, lots of content and lots of links. We've now started creating microsites targeting specific verticals. Basic 5-10 page sites with a simple template and they rank higher than our sites and our competition, it is truly ridiculous that we have to take these steps to reach a position we rightful should be.
You will be aware of the reason why this happens.Large sites tend to use pages rather than domains for terms so there is less authority on the pages.The site may have authority in a few primary keywords where the homepage ranks.Pages are similar to web 2 sub pages although a subdomain in my eyes is stronger than a page.So your strategy is spot on by creating specific microsites.Indeed my own view is they convert better than a large sites page would anyway.
It's a pain,but most of it can be outsourced and it is effective and buffers the client site if you're using bh to rank these micro sites.In fact even when the update passes this strategy will work well because of the nature of it.
Google is a business,they want adwords prices higher,we counter that with skill and cunning,bh can adapt quicker than google can ever respond(in the forseeable future).There are always casualties in an update,that's life.However I have done what gorang has started doing for a while.Not only that I deliberately use specific strategies for lesser important microsites so when the update comes I can monitor results and quickly respond to the update within a day or so9though you'd leave it a week or 2 as the updates get tweaked for a while after they are live).I'd suggest you start getting domains and use different strategies in each in order to positively respond.
I wouldn't enter a niche without at least 2 sites in the same niche using different stategies.In gorangs case he has the page from the large site and the microsite(s) in the same niche.I would imagine the backlinking will not be too similar for both so there are 2 comparisons available to be made.
I wouldn't lose sleep over any update simply because you have no control over it,why waste nervous energy on something with which you have absolutely no control over.We are on one side of the fence they are on the other.The battle starts in the middle(the serps).Now when you consider the unlimited resources of google and the limited but highly effective resources we have(automation,imagination and intelligence) yet bh still prevails,if you get hit it's a change of tactics.
The advantage also is google cannot actually carry out as a blackhat destructive update as they like,because everyone is at it.Links we use are used by real people and businesses,yes certain networks,blog networks etc can get hit but does that truly suprise you that publically advertised services will get hit,I hope not,by all means use them for hit and runs.You can bet when the update comes google webmasters forum will be maxed out by whitehatters,the difference is a blackhat might winge,but they ought to also be right in amongst it testing new shit out and fast,the early bird catches the worm.
I wish you all the best when it eventually comes but if the results aren't positive for you,get going with a new strategy.
