Subdomains and indexing

Crows · 07-09-2009, 12:49 AM

Hi all,

Ive been on this forum for a few months now and trying to absorb all the useful information. I think at times it's better not to read so much as my direction seems to change like the wind.
Anyway my question:
Are subdomains acceptable? I'm trying to setup products or services on my host which are unrelated to each other, I'm not quite ready to have separate domains for each product.Should I be looking at something else?
I have done research on this and it appears that Search engines should have no problems indexing subdomains.

Thanks
Crows

CDarklock · 07-09-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crows

I have done research on this and it appears that Search engines should have no problems indexing subdomains.

This is a religious issue. I am on the side of subdomains/subdirectories being just fine. I don't see any problem with myproduct.mydomain.com, and I don't see any problem with mydomain.com/myproduct. (Both of these are sometimes called subdomains. Only the first one is really a subdomain. The other is a subdirectory.)

Many people violently disagree with me, and think you should get a new domain for everything. They may be right.

pmlharry · 07-09-2009, 01:05 AM

Yes, it is acceptable, and the search engines definitely have no problems indexing the subdomains.

BUT...

This may not be the question you really need to ask.

The reason I say this is because you said these subdomains are for unrelated products and services.

I know you are not quite ready for separate domains. But if you are serious about this as a business, then if I were you these will be my 2 current options:

1) Concentrate on ONE service or product on ONE domain and promote it like crazy. Further down the road when some cash flow starts coming in, then start another domain with the next product/service offering.

2) Alternatively, bite the bullet, get some budget from somewhere else (e.g. search more thoroughly and find a cheaper but still decent graphics designer) and use the money saved to buy all the other domains you need now.

The point is that if this is supposed to be a long-term business, focusing on one product/service per domain will make it easier on a lot of fronts in the future, as compared to lumping everything together first, and then try to split them up later.

Hope I'm making sense!

patje72 · 07-09-2009, 01:29 AM

I use some subdomains and I have no problem to get them indexed.
Be carefull with linking between the domains. I think google doesn't like that.

Kevin Koop · 07-09-2009, 03:36 AM

I'm with pmlharry on this one.

If separate domains are out of the question for now then use subdomains. I'd sure rather see you taking action and out there promoting than to think you had to wait on the sidelines.

Long term though, separate domains (preferably .com, .org, .net) are ideal.

dzulnaz · 07-09-2009, 03:42 AM

Hello,

Yes they accepted but beware of "Add On Domain Duplicate Content"

Do you know when you add the domain you buy and add it to your hosting that support add-on domain the domain can cause duplicate content penalty by google?
Example if you have add-on domain like this :

Main Website : www.yourwebsite.com
Add-on domain Website : www.yourwebsite.com

Try to surf like this for your url :

http://add-on-website.yourwebsite.com

If the add-on domain did not setup properly. You will get the same page as your www.add-on-website.com.

Dan Grossman · 07-09-2009, 04:05 AM

"www" is just an arbitrary subdomain

Realize that and you know all you need to know

Crows · 07-09-2009, 06:24 AM

Thanks for your replies.....will stick with subdomain per product for now.

Crows

HomeBizNizz · 07-09-2009, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patje72

Be carefull with linking between the domains.
I think google doesn't like that.

What if you have...?
blog.domain.com
forum.domain.com

With a link to each from eachother...?

maestero2010 · 07-09-2009, 12:30 PM

There is no problem if you have irrelevant products. You do not need to have separate domain to sell different products.

Crows · 07-09-2009, 07:40 PM

Sorry guys one more question.....what about several domain names but using only one host provider? would this be a problem as all the domains will have the same IP address.

Thanks
Crows

Dan Grossman · 07-09-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crows

Sorry guys one more question.....what about several domain names but using only one host provider? would this be a problem as all the domains will have the same IP address.

So does every site on Blogspot, and the hundreds of sites per server at every shared host. This isn't a problem.

Jgregory · 07-10-2009, 04:53 AM

I've used sub-domains for years.

Each sub-domain has it's own index.XXX page that is considered a home page; however, Google has never given it same status as a top level domains when it comes to Thematic indexing. And Themes are everything when it comes to domain/sub-domain ranking

Remember the Duplicate penalty for same website. Google treats a sub-domain the same as a sub-directorry. Put the same content on domains and sub-domain and you get slapped with duplicate penalty. This means Sub-domains should be considered same as a sub-directory.

Additionally, about 6 months ago Google made a slight change in the way it indexes sub-domains. Previously, related content on a subdomain could be shown on same Search page as a related page on the main domain. Not any more, and that was a big benefit to use sub-domains to pile in on specific keywords.

Subdomains are still great for organizing and making it easy on visitors

But, unless you have the pocketbook for a mega-site such as About com, then stay with tightly focused sub-themes from your main domain.

Example would be
insurance com
car.insurance com

if it is unrelated, violins.insurance, then you weaken your thematic scoring potential. Stay with true sub-categories and it's a good way to expand on a single domain and keep it organized

shooting_star · 07-10-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patje72

I use some subdomains and I have no problem to get them indexed.
Be carefull with linking between the domains. I think google doesn't like that.

Its best to have all separate domains unless your subdomains are close to what your main domain is. And true Google does not like domains linking to each other from the same server. There is a way around that and that is to purchase seperate IP's for each domain "seperate domain" not subdomains that way Google will see the domains as different and you can link your domains together greating a "web" which helps a lot.

basmin · 07-10-2009, 11:21 PM

I create new subdomains and I have no problem to get them indexed.
thanks for tips above this increase my knowledge.

shooting_star · 07-10-2009, 11:53 PM

Glad i could help

UBotBuddy · 07-11-2009, 06:18 AM

Have a plan and stick to it.

I create and use subdomains but not for primary products but rather for traffic and list segmentation. For instance, my public product is the root domain. When I setup my first WSO I do it via a subdomain as well as on for the DP forum.

Just my opinion.

07-09-2009, 12:49 AM	#1
Crows Active Warrior Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Subdomains and indexing Hi all, Ive been on this forum for a few months now and trying to absorb all the useful information. I think at times it's better not to read so much as my direction seems to change like the wind. Anyway my question: Are subdomains acceptable? I'm trying to setup products or services on my host which are unrelated to each other, I'm not quite ready to have separate domains for each product.Should I be looking at something else? I have done research on this and it appears that Search engines should have no problems indexing subdomains. Thanks Crows

07-09-2009, 01:05 AM	#3
pmlharry Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing Yes, it is acceptable, and the search engines definitely have no problems indexing the subdomains. BUT... This may not be the question you really need to ask. The reason I say this is because you said these subdomains are for unrelated products and services. I know you are not quite ready for separate domains. But if you are serious about this as a business, then if I were you these will be my 2 current options: 1) Concentrate on ONE service or product on ONE domain and promote it like crazy. Further down the road when some cash flow starts coming in, then start another domain with the next product/service offering. 2) Alternatively, bite the bullet, get some budget from somewhere else (e.g. search more thoroughly and find a cheaper but still decent graphics designer) and use the money saved to buy all the other domains you need now. The point is that if this is supposed to be a long-term business, focusing on one product/service per domain will make it easier on a lot of fronts in the future, as compared to lumping everything together first, and then try to split them up later. Hope I'm making sense!

07-09-2009, 01:29 AM	#4
patje72 Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing I use some subdomains and I have no problem to get them indexed. Be carefull with linking between the domains. I think google doesn't like that.

07-09-2009, 03:36 AM	#5
Kevin Koop Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 709 Thanks: 424 Thanked 188 Times in 106 Posts Social Networking	Re: Subdomains and indexing I'm with pmlharry on this one. If separate domains are out of the question for now then use subdomains. I'd sure rather see you taking action and out there promoting than to think you had to wait on the sidelines. Long term though, separate domains (preferably .com, .org, .net) are ideal.
	Hey Offliner, Have You Seen My Offline Lead Machine WSO Yet? [OFFLINERS] Click Here to See My Local Business Lead Generation System - SEO Version Want To Make $300-$500+ In Just 7 Days? You Can With My WSO Recipes!

07-09-2009, 03:42 AM	#6
dzulnaz Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Subdomains and indexing Hello, Yes they accepted but beware of "Add On Domain Duplicate Content" Do you know when you add the domain you buy and add it to your hosting that support add-on domain the domain can cause duplicate content penalty by google? Example if you have add-on domain like this : Main Website : www.yourwebsite.com Add-on domain Website : www.yourwebsite.com Try to surf like this for your url : http://add-on-website.yourwebsite.com If the add-on domain did not setup properly. You will get the same page as your www.add-on-website.com.
	Freelance Web Designer

07-09-2009, 04:05 AM	#7
Dan Grossman Happily Self-Employed War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 797 Thanks: 16 Thanked 345 Times in 53 Posts Social Networking	Re: Subdomains and indexing "www" is just an arbitrary subdomain Realize that and you know all you need to know
	I'm Dan Grossman. I run Awio Web Services LLC. >> Know which 20% of your advertising generates 80% of your sales <<

07-09-2009, 06:24 AM	#8
Crows Active Warrior Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing Thanks for your replies.....will stick with subdomain per product for now. Crows

07-09-2009, 12:30 PM	#10
maestero2010 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LK Posts: 489 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 75 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Subdomains and indexing There is no problem if you have irrelevant products. You do not need to have separate domain to sell different products.
	Seo Forum 8000 Directory Links Lanka Forum Seo Company Shared Hosting Privilegeserver.com \| 90% DISCOUNT FOR ANNUAL SIGNUP : XMAS90 Instalatron \| Softaculous \| Fantastico \| Urchin \| R1soft \| RVSitebuilder \| Clickbe \| Attraca Seo

07-09-2009, 07:40 PM	#11
Crows Active Warrior Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing Sorry guys one more question.....what about several domain names but using only one host provider? would this be a problem as all the domains will have the same IP address. Thanks Crows

07-10-2009, 04:53 AM	#13
Jgregory Senior Advisor War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 149 Thanks: 32 Thanked 91 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing - duplicate penalty I've used sub-domains for years. Each sub-domain has it's own index.XXX page that is considered a home page; however, Google has never given it same status as a top level domains when it comes to Thematic indexing. And Themes are everything when it comes to domain/sub-domain ranking Remember the Duplicate penalty for same website. Google treats a sub-domain the same as a sub-directorry. Put the same content on domains and sub-domain and you get slapped with duplicate penalty. This means Sub-domains should be considered same as a sub-directory. Additionally, about 6 months ago Google made a slight change in the way it indexes sub-domains. Previously, related content on a subdomain could be shown on same Search page as a related page on the main domain. Not any more, and that was a big benefit to use sub-domains to pile in on specific keywords. Subdomains are still great for organizing and making it easy on visitors But, unless you have the pocketbook for a mega-site such as About com, then stay with tightly focused sub-themes from your main domain. Example would be insurance com car.insurance com if it is unrelated, violins.insurance, then you weaken your thematic scoring potential. Stay with true sub-categories and it's a good way to expand on a single domain and keep it organized

07-10-2009, 11:21 PM	#15
basmin Active Warrior Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 34 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing I create new subdomains and I have no problem to get them indexed. thanks for tips above this increase my knowledge.
	EkaNews\| Calories in Avocado Best Car Insurance

07-10-2009, 11:53 PM	#16
shooting_star Active Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 35 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing Glad i could help

07-11-2009, 06:18 AM	#17
UBotBuddy HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 203 Thanks: 27 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Subdomains and indexing Have a plan and stick to it. I create and use subdomains but not for primary products but rather for traffic and list segmentation. For instance, my public product is the root domain. When I setup my first WSO I do it via a subdomain as well as on for the DP forum. Just my opinion.