Consolidating MANY separate domains into a much better, single URL: Should I point a landing page or redirect to the new site?

[thongly]

I am consolidating a site for a client who previously, and very foolishly, broke up their domains like so:

• companyparis.com
• companyflorence.com
• companyrome.com
• etc...

I am now done with the new site, which will be at:

• company.eu

with pages as appropriate:

• company.eu/paris
• company.eu/florence
• company.eu/rome

This domain, although not entirely new, does not have much authority or rank. In terms of SEO and link-building, is it better to redirect the old domain to the specific page on the new domain:

companyparis.com --> company.eu/paris

or...

is it better to put a landing page at the old domain LINKING to the page on the new domain:

companyparis.com --> landing page linking to --> company.eu/paris

[TommyTan]

Hi,

I would use 301 redirects from the old pages to the specific pages of the new domain.  Make sure you redirect a page about rome A from the old domain to a page about rome A on the new domain.  The page on the new domain should be something similar to the page you are redirecting so that when visitors visit the old domain and get redirected to the new domain, they will still find what they are looking for.

Although your new domain does'nt have much authority but with 301 redirects, it will redirects 99% of its link juice and authority to the new domain.  So 301 redirect will help a bit with the new domain's authority.

in conclusion, your first plan will work.

Hope this helps.