New Domain or Add Services to Existing Domain?

[emikey]

Hello everyone!

I have a situation that I would really love your input on.

My client has a <medical Service-A> business that does extremely well on Google. However, the doctor now wants to expand his business to include <Service-B and Service-C>.

My question is simple: Would it be better to add these services on to the existing <Service-A> website and try to rank for them there, or to create a new site that is dedicated to <Service-B and C> and other <related new services>.

My initial concern is that Google has already categorized the medical <Service-A> site for what it is, and adding other services not related to <Service-A> will be harmful for the site and Google Local. On the flip side having an established domain may help us achieve rankings in a shorter time period.
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[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 12:28 am (utc) on Jan 18, 2013]
[edit reason] examplified specifics [/edit]

[caran1]

It is better to start a new website and link to it from the established website.

[Robert Charlton]

Very intriguing question. In part, I think it depends on whether the name of the doctor is prominent enough that he's strongly associated with the business. Put another way, is the doctor's name the brand, or is the brand "Medical Service-A Business"?

Does the current domain/brand cover what would be a more general practice?

As I remember, Amazon.com started out as an online bookstore, but fortunately they had built a strong brand reputation and had sufficient resources to continue promoting it as they expanded into other areas.

[Roaming Gnome]

I would start another website. No need to jeopardize the current ranking with new pages that may bring it down.

[netmeg]

Me, I'd add to the existing website. Build on the trust and authority he already in Medical Service A to add B & C right in the same place. Ultimately, to succeed in any of his channel marketing (including Google organics) he's going to want to cultivate people to look for him personally, and not just what he does. Specially if there are lots of other people doing B & C. And also, when you're talking medical areas, people are going to be more apt to deal with someone they've known or even heard of. To me, it's a branding issue.

Put another way, is the doctor's name the brand, or is the brand "Medical Service-A Business"?

Even if the Medical Service-A Business is the brand, they should probably work towards making the doctor the brand. What if some day he wants to add D & E?

[bwnbwn]

+1 netmeg assuming B and C are assoicated with the medical industry so the content within these industries will support the parent domain. This is a logical step in growing a website IMO.

[emikey]

Thank you guys for the advice! I really appreciate your insight I think I will keep it on the main site and hope for the best.