I have a travel website in Finnish and I'm going to make an English version of that site. If I put English pages to directory under main domain, I get main domain benefits (PR5 etc) but I can't set geographic target in Google webmaster tools for this folder (I tried it). If I set it: do not associate geopraphic location, whole domain and Finnish pages are then targeting none geographic area (everywhere) and I don't want that. I want Finnish pages are targeting to Finland and English pages to everywhere. And If I places these English pages under subdomain (or a new domain), they lose all the SEO benefits and I have to start promote and to get backlinks etc like a new website. But I can set geographic area targetting everywhere. So what you recommend to do? Thanks for answers.
Hi I have come across the same situation before.A client of my friend wanted to translate his Spanish site to english to get maximum exposure.I suggested him to include his site in a sub domain,for example you can have an option to view the site in different languages.initially he didn't get all the benefits of SEO,but he started his english site to promote again and now both his sites(both) are ranking at the top for his keywords.You can get a good advisory from an SEO expert regarding your issue.Hope this will help you.
Again there is a small problem with this, the sub-domains have less weight then a TLD. I am also with this question atm on what to do next. On one hand buying new domains would give some initial boost, but the branding get damaged. And sub-domains aren't that loved by google as the TLDs.