Domain Networking

plastic.broomsticks.com or plastic-broomsticks.com?

[adfree]

I want to build an expert network on a general topic that is too fragmented and complex to bring under one umbrella.
Solution would be to break it up in themed portions and set-up sub domains or separate domains altogether.

From earlier posts I gather that there is not much difference in terms of stand-alone domains to rank and perform otherwise.

Now, interlinking them and establish a network with dense themes, how would the options perform then:

Options 1 with sub domains:
Major Portal: broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 1: plastic.broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 2: wooden.broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 3: manufacturers.broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 4: using.broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 5: tradeshows.broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 6: forum.broomsticks.com

Option 2 with separate domains:
Major Portal: broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 1: plastic-broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 2: wooden-broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 3: manufacturers-broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 4: using-broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 5: tradeshows-broomsticks.com
Themed Detail Site 6: forum-broomsticks.com

Obviously option 2 would cost a bit more depending on how many domains would be purchased. Also: they might not be sellable at all.

On top: what’s your recommendation for the IP assignment? All on one xxx.xxx.xx.xx:0001… or separate IP’s for this model?

Thanks for your insight, Jens

[Macro]

From my time on this forum I suspect webmasters here would recommend option2. Option 1 is better than having all the content on one domain but things could change and Google could stop treating sub-domains as individual domains. In that case you could take a hit.

Why not implement both options 1 AND 2? Subdomains like plastic.broomsticks.com would have a page or two of content and link to plastic-broomsticks.com. Or even better - use the singular in the sub-domain i.e. plastic.broomstick.com and retain the broomstickS in the plastic-broomsticks.com

Different IPs definitely and different hosting companies in different countries would be my preference. And be careful with cross-linking.

But other webmasters here know a lot more than I do on these matters. So you may get different advice in due course.

[operafan]

Either works fine, but if you want to save cost it would be better if you or more manageable to have it
abc.com/manufacturers/ -

all would rank high if you get the ingredients right.