Hosting translations on separate domain or directory?

[JohnA]

I have a question:

What's best: Should you host the translated version of your site on its own local domain name or instead on a directory on the same site?

ex.

website.com / website.de

website.com / website.com/de/

Does this make a difference SEO-wise or not that much?

[jorgedarin]

Hi, I think it's best if you go with subfolders i.e. website.com/de/ since you can benefit from the authority of the entire COM domain. And you can always register those subfolders as separate sites in Google Webmaster Tools and geo target them to the right regions.