Are Two Sites Better Than One?, SEO for NEW Site or section. Options

[olimess]

Hello,

I have a question that I'm sure I will be getting a lot of different responses too.

Here's my situation and question. I currently have a site that seems to be doing very well in google (www.polylabel.com) for my chosen keywords.

I've been thinking of adding a new product to this site but am throwing around the idea as to which approach would be better ... adding the new product to the existing site or creating a new site and having them both link/reference each other.

The current site sells barcodes (hopefully I'm not breaking any [url=http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.php?act=boardrules]Forum Rules[/url] here), while the new product is going to be a barcode scanner. Would it be wiser to have the scanner build its own google steam? Would the product be better served to stand on its own, in its own website and domain? If I chose to keep my products tied to one website, can I still achieve high-rankings and traffic to my new product section? Would it really make a difference either way?

I'm REALLY curious to find out what people have to say ....

I look forward to hearing from everyone. Have a good new year.

[SearchRank]

Welcome to the forum, olimess!

If your current site already does well for your chosen keywords (as you said), why not give it a chance to do well for the new product as well? It is much easier to promote a new product or service through a site that is already successful than to "re-invent the wheel" with a brand new site.

[schmeetz]

I would keep the same site for the following reasons.

1) Your site is far into the promotion process.
2) Your site has complimentary information. This plays several roles. One being if you do decide to add the barcode reader to your site which already sells barcodes you will;

a)increase the amount of related information (the more topic specific info you have on your site the better….it tells google “for anything barcode related check this guy out”)
b)solidify yourself as a solutions provider.

[BobetteKyle]

Welcome, olimess. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

I'd add the reader to the same site as well. It sounds like a very natural fit. My guess is many of your current visitors would be very interested in the new product, so I'd incorporate it right into the current site where visitors can't miss the new addition.

[Jill]

Welcome olimess! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Definitely one site. Most sites sell more than one related product, so it makes good sense to keep them together. You can make it a subdomain or subdirectory if you want it to somewhat stand on it's own.

It takes forever for Google to index new domains these days, as well, so that's something to consider.

[Scottie]

I'll chime in for the same reasons as the others have posted, but also because it takes longer to establish a new site than it does to get rankings on an existing one. You've already got an advantage with a well-ranked site and people buying one are likely to need to other- it makes sense to have a single website.

[Rachel]

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm encounting the same issue. Just wonder whether it would have nagative effect on the existing site which has already had a good position. Any opinions?

[Jill]

Welcome Rachel! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Wondering if what would have a negative affect? Adding new content?

If that's what you're asking, then definitely no. Sites are supposed to have lots of content, pages are ranked individually, not on a sitewide basis.

[linux_lover]

One site to rule them all, one site to find them
One site to bring them all and in the Internet bind them...

[olimess]

Welcome olimess! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Definitely one site.  Most sites sell more than one related product, so it makes good sense to keep them together.  You can make it a subdomain or subdirectory if you want it to somewhat stand on it's own. 

It takes forever for Google to index new domains these days, as well, so that's something to consider.

Nice idea. Now can anyone tell me then ... if I were to create a subdomain, how would my current ranking affect my new subdomain? Would my subdomain have to get indexed by google the same way as a new domain would or would my current ranking be passed on to my subdomain? If that makes any sense ....

Thanks for the help so far everyone ... I find this very interesting and, of course, useful.

[Jill]

Rankings don't pass from page to page, so it wouldn't matter.

BUT...you would possibly bypass Google's "sandbox" by using a subdomain or subdirectory, and that's a lot of months of waiting (if you are inclined to believe in the sandbox).

[Hyperformance]

Great advice here! I must concur - in your case.

If I could add one more positive note? You have become a trusted source on barcodes, that will very much cross-over in to better sales conversions with your "New" and related product in a barcode scanner - since you are of course, already established as an authority (so to speak) in your field.

sell, sell, sell. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/cheers.gif)

[olimess]

Ok .... I guess I've been convinced that adding my new product as part of my original site, instead of creating a new site with a new domain, is the way to go.

I guess I'm now left at try to decide if there REALLY is any concrete difference between adding a new section to my site that contains my new product vs. adding a new subdomain to my site that contains my new product. Is there REALLY a difference?

Please be patient with me everyone ... I guess I'm having trouble trying to distinguish the two. What are the major differences between the two? Why would someone want to take the subdomain approach? How does SEO play a part in my decision?

Again, I know some of you have touched on this already but I was hoping for a little more specifics to help me wrap my (tiny but creative little) mind around this.

Thanks for ALL of your help and advice. It GREATLY appreciated.

[Jill]

It doesn't matter, they're the same thing.

The only advantage you may get with a subdomain is that some people (and therefore directories) may be more apt to think of it as a whole separate site.

There's an article in a past newsletter of mine regarding this:

Subdomains or Subdirectories

[TechnoCrow]

Rankings don't pass from page to page, so it wouldn't matter.

That's just ridiculous. There's nothing I can say about that besides that, just ridiculous...