Best way to combine websites?

[Christine R]

I have combined elements of sites before or even 2 sites in to 1 before, but I am not about to combine 3 websites in to 1 site and was wondering what the best way to go about this is?

Background Info:
All 3 sites are of a similar topic but each has unique content. One site is clearly the dominant site (site A) with a Google PR of 8 and a lot of backlinks. I want to use this site as my final domain and combine the other 2 sites in to it.

Should I 301 redirect the other 2 sites to site A immediately, should I stagger it. Should I do one site at a time? How would you handle doing this as cleanly as possible? Any feedback would be appreciated.

[timmathews.com]

NO!
Keep the 3 sites seperate, and link to the 2 from the 1. This way you keep niche sites niche, and dont become an all-in-one.
I promise you will be happier.

[amar]

Hi Timmathews,

Will it be fine if we inter link between similar sites belong to the same person ?

[bobchrist]

Search engine does not give as much value for interlinking from sites your own but depending on your site theme if it is relevant ( means if you are selling blue widget from site A & yellow widgets by site B )interlinking to each other may help somewhat.

[kgun]

As far as Google go, you should use their "preferred domain name" tool as part of the webmaster tools.

[incrediblehelp]

I am not a big fan of linking websites that sell the same thing. Now if they sell different products but are in the same niche then you should be OK.

Simply put the SE"s dont want you woning 10-20 different websites selling of saying the same hting and then internlinking them together.