Take a look at this image. Sixteen giant media companies basically own your Google search results. What looks like hundreds of “independent” review sites are really sister sites under the same corporate umbrellas.
What’s Happening Here
These brands build massive SEO empires. They crosslink their own sites, dominate high-intent keywords like “best vacuum” or “top credit cards,” and crowd out genuine independent reviews. To a user, it looks like choice. But it’s just smart (and sneaky) SEO strategy.
Why It Works
- Huge internal link networks boost domain authority fast
- Shared resources mean faster content production
- High trust domains rank easier with less effort
- Consistent templates and backlinks make scaling easy
Real World Examples
- Red Ventures: Owns Healthline, CNET, and Bankrate—controls both health and finance niches
- Dotdash Meredith: Runs Investopedia, Verywell, and Food & Wine
- Future plc: Operates TechRadar, Tom’s Guide, and Marie Claire
- VOX Media: From The Verge to Eater, covers lifestyle to tech circles
- Condé Nast: Fills your results with Wired, GQ, and Vogue content
Analyzed by Swipebot
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