Networking Sites Without Losing Top Rank

[Ride45]

We are considering expanding our business by adding another site and building a network. Now, our first site (Site 1) is geared to helping small businesses and it's a top rank site. The second site (Site 2) will be also geared to helping small businesses, but in a different way - it's actually a "different business". In order to maintain top spot for our first site, and then add the second site to have 2 sites that form a network which of the following is the best approach and why (thanks in advance for your advice!)

a) Site 1 and site 2 should just all be part of site 1, even though they are different businesses and in contextual terms somewhat different (for example site 1 is ranked #1 for "Buying Widgets", while the Site 2 that would be added is to allow people to buy something other that widgets, but both are geared to selling something to small businesses.

b) Site 1 and site 2 maintain the same "look and feel", but are at separate domains but are at the same IP. Of course the content is different, but the sites are interlinked by with a small graphic that appears in the footer for each (one linking to one site, and one linking to the other).

c) Site 1 and 2 are not interlinked at all, but both link out on every page to a 3rd domain, which is just a gateway page to Site 1 and Site 2. Therefore it appears as if Site 1 and 2 are part of THE SITE NETWORK.

d) Both b) and c) where the sites are interlined with each other and to a 3rd placeholder domain that serves as a gateway to Site 1 and Site 2.

e) None of the above (with alternative scenario)

[ThomasB]

a) would be my choice. I'd put up a subdomain and have 2 related topics covered under 1 domain, which makes sense imho. The user can get both informations and will be happy I guess.