New site (and domain) to replace an old site (and established domain)

[icequeen]

Hi all,

Once again I find myself apologising for big absenses, the reason being I have been working very hard on my new website getting it ready for launch.

The new site is www.iceideas.co.uk, there are things on there that still need tweaking but as the search engines have begun to pick it up, I thought now would be as good a time as any to do a soft launch (I still need to add a few products and I need to change the recommended product links at the bottom of each product page).

Anyway, that aside, my question!

I have had the domain name www.identifyme.co.uk for a long time now and I enjoy page one rankings for most of our key search terms. However, as part of our "bigger plans" we really want to start to move away from the IdentifyMe/IdentiKids branding and into I.C.E. IDeas which will incorporate more of the new product ranges we have coming in over the next few months.

Obviously I am loathe to lose our number one position on Google so have no idea of the best way to move forward.

Initially I thought I would run the two websites side by side (identifyme.co.uk and iceideas.co.uk) gradually phasing out identifyme but I don't know whether that is practical in terms of the search engines.

I fully intend to keep the third website www.icegems.co.uk as a sister site to ICE IDeas.

So how do I go about all this? Any help would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

[Alvin]

You simply do not loose a No1 position on google never never never.

It has 14 x the traffic of No 10 and 3.5 x the traffic of No 2 .

Alvin

[icequeen]

Absolutely but how do I keep it?? Any ideas?

[Alvin]

you leave the ranking site intact and open a new site with the other domain.Again never under any circumstances loose a No 1 position.


Alvin

[icequeen]

That is what I thought, you don't suggest a 301 redirect (whatever one of those are)??

[Alvin]

Modify your big plan ,if the identity business is bringing in income run it alongside whatever else you want to do.Redirects are a bit iffy IMHO.

Alot of internet companies go to the wall because they are inflexible and put all there eggs in one basket.

Alvin