2 sites versus a subdomain: Which is better?

[Britewave]

I have a client that sponsors  a couple of events during the year. They currently have pages within a single website for these events but are interested in creating a separate website so they can brand the events differently.  I'm not sure this is the most effective way to do it for fear of losing the "google juice" already there for these pages.Here's what I'm thinking is a better strategy: 1) Host the content both on the main domain and the sub-domain2) Make sure there is a tag on each page of the sub-domain version that points to the main version.That will give them the branding they are seeking while pushing all juice across to the main domain.What are your thoughts?

[BenjaminEvans]

How hard is it to rank for the terms they are targeting for these event pages?  If is it really difficult and you have some success with core domain, then I suggest keeping it all on one site. If it is the same group doing all these events and people know this group, then I would just create sub folders with landing pages for each event.

If you are looking to produce an entirely different look for one of the events and the keywords you want to target are not difficult to rank for, then I would entertain the idea of creating a new site.

At the end of the day, I feel it is best to keep everything on a single root url and build folders off of that. I think subdomains are better for client control panel dashboards or things that really don't require organic rankings.

[preferati]

I have tested the idea on my site and the sub-domain idea is better one rather than to go with a new domain...saves a lot of hardwork

[JaneCopland]

The canonicalisation option would probably work, although I too wonder how necessary it is to create two totally separate websites. Unless it's really vital that the branding be very different, I would look at developing different areas on the same root domain so that you do not have to put 301 redirects in place, work on the link development for a new domain, etc. Canonicalisation is certainly a viable option though.

[Britewave]

I think we can all be in agreement that one site with subdomain is the best option. Thank you all for confirming what I thought was probably the right direction, but just needed to hear it somewhere else