Domains under pseudonyms

I want to build a new site under a pseudonym

[Joie]

I have a website I use for Business. I want to create another one but I want to register it under a pseudonym so search engines don't know I own the same site. Are there any issues I could face by doing this? Also, if this is a good strategy what are the steps that I need to take?

One more thing, can I register domains off line? What are the pros and cons of that?

[andye]

Google 'whois privacy' and you'll see a load of ads by firms offering this service.

One more thing, can I register domains off line?

Yes

What are the pros and cons of that?

Pros: None, as far as I can see.
Cons: it's slower, and the name could have gone by the time the order's processed.

best, a.

[Joie]

Thanks!

So you mean that search engines are also "blind" to private registrations?

My concern is that google does not allow one company to have multiple high ranking sites or does it?

[stu2]

The usual method of getting whois privacy is by buying it from the same place you registered your domain. Price is usually between $2-$10 per year.

[andye]

So you mean that search engines are also "blind" to private registrations?

The way it usually works (afaik) is that the registrar registers it using their own name and address details but on your behalf. Like a mail forwarding service.

So it's not a matter of them being 'blind' or not to the registration details - the registration details simply don't contain that info.

My concern is that google does not allow one company to have multiple high ranking sites or does it?

No, that's totally false. They do. Try Googling 'fox' (or 'disney' or 'microsoft') to see lots of high-ranking sites belonging to one company.

What they don't allow is for you to have a bunch of different sites with exactly the same content. Well, they can't stop you from owning the sites, but it'll hurt your rankings.

hth, a.