Just got my first issue of Search Marketing magazine, and one of the articles addressed the use of microsites to promote SEO. Has anyone used microsites to improve their SERPs or promote a market niche? Or do you primarily use subdomains?

Microsites meaning using just like a domain with 2-10 pages on it? or are you talking about using sites from within other social media groups etc?

I use subdomains for parts that relate to our own site, but I have multiple small sites out there that promote links to our main pages and subdomains etc.

Microsites meaning one to a few pages under a different domain name, to promote - for example, a customer loyalty program.

Never heard the term "microsites", so thank you for clearing that up.

I am not really a search optimization specialist, but I would presume such type of technique might be quite beneficial (in terms of number of outside websites pointing at your site), but it will come at a price (cost of marketing or just keeping all those domains active).

With subdomains it would be relatively easy to serve content and build link targeting users by city, country, or language.

www.mycokerewards.com was one of their examples. Obviously, Coke invested mucho dollars in this promotion, but its been up since 2006 and still going strong.

Yeah that makes sense. I think you'd likely need a "good" reason for one. Though the more exposure the better.

looks like i confort use mini site

I think one of the keys to expanding your business is to mimic other successful businesses. You don't have to reinvent the wheel to be successful, although it helps if you come up with something unique. We also utilize microsites, but not perhaps as much as we could.

Some other microsites recently in the news - Rockband They have a number of minisites in operation.