Should i consolidate multiple sites into one primary doamin?

[gavna]

Hi

I currently have 11 personal finance websites, each one dedicated to a seperate subject area. Each site has a keyword url and is optimised but not in a spammy way and the content on the sites is quite good and updated on a regular basis (all sites are PR5/4).

However i'm about to get the sites updated to improve structure and allow consumers to provide independent product feedback.

Should i take this opportunity to bring all the sites together of a single url with directory structure, creating a super domain which i can invest all my efforts into? I would then use a 301 permanent redirect to the relevent directory from the existing domains.

Bringing it together would help the user and myself but i'm concerned it might damage rankings. Has anyone had a similar experience or knowledge that could help?

thanks
gavin

[neuron]

It's kinda hard to judge the impact of overall impact on ranking without judging the proposed changes to the site and their impact on cash flow, ROI, and user experience.

In the long run, whether you keep the current structure or consolidate, you are likely to do well if you keep transitions smooth and your efforts focused on providing easy to find top content.

There are advantages and disadvantges to each approach, some of which are industry specific, otherwise, each approach is equally valid.

I personally prefer the larger more integrated site, but that is simply more a reflection of my organizational skills (or my resistence to the development thereof) than any inherent advantage in the methodology.

[Jack_Hughes]

must confess that i am a fan of the larger site. i've just consolidated two seperate sub domain sites into the main www site. does not do any harm at all, and i think it does a lot of good.

for you it really depends upon the degree of interaction between your different sites. if somebody is at site a, will they be interested in site b too? if they would be, then i think you have a case for consolidating into a single domain. you will in the single domain have an opportunity to cross sell your content, seperate your visitors will never know it exists.

[gavna]

All sites and loan, credit card, insurance related so there is a common theme.

It seems as if moving onto a single domain is a good idea.

Thanks for your replies!