Multi-language on multiple domain

[Pherogab]

Hi,

One of my clients has a big duplicate content issue on his site.

He has two domain, on for each language (FR and EN) but each domain propose the two languages! Meaning you can reach every page with two URL.

Example:

http://www.brand-realestate.com/en/luxury/index.html (home page of the default site in english)
http://www.immobilier-brand.com/en/luxury/index.html (home page of the default site in french after clicking on the english link)

Each of the two site has a default language and a link to the other one. When you click the link the page you are on just refresh and the URL stay the same with an added language parameter (ie:http://www.immobilier-brand.com/luxe/index.html?lang=english), then all the link in the navigation switch to the other language.

So my question is, is it better to:

• Keep the two domain and instead of having the two languages on each send the traffic to the domain which has the targeted language by default (on the right page of course)
• Have both language on one domain and redirect all the pages from the other domain to this one (each page to the corresponding one)
• Just add a canonical URL on each alternative version of each domain

Let me know if I'm clear.

Thanks for the help.

GaB

[FishAcct]

This whiteboard explains it all, pros and cons of each approach, will give you a thorough answer to your question in 10 minutes: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/international-seo-where-to-host-and-how-to-target-whiteboard-friday

[Pherogab]

I'm afraid it doesn't.

I'm targeting Canada only and the big difference is that I already have two domains with history and authority.

What would be the best solution knowing that:

• My two domains contain an important keyword for their respective language
• I'd like to not loose the authority built
• The Creation of an other domain with .ca is out of the question