Using keyword sub-domains, Good or Bad?

[Michael Mayo]

Hi Warriors,

Is using a sub-domain such as http://keywordphrase.yourwebsitename.com
in your SEO efforts a good or bad ideal?

Your opinions please?

I need a student of mine to read this thread after it receives your replies.

Thanks,
Michael

[steveaaa]

This is my unverfied opinion. In general, in a phrase, any word that shows up the LEFT has more power than a word to the right.

So if that goes, a keyword subdomain should have very decent SEO value. For example, if your domain is "dog shampoo", then a subdomain of "blue" or "blue dog shampoo" should work very well.

Note: about.com is a master of this technique.

[Michael Mayo]

Anyone else?

I thought this was where all the SEO people hang out and the best place
to post this type of question?

So what do you think is it a good Ideal to do this or is this old hat and there are better ways now?

Thanks,
Michael

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by steveaaa

This is my unverfied opinion. In general, in a phrase, any word that shows up the LEFT has more power than a word to the right.

So if that goes, a keyword subdomain should have very decent SEO value. For example, if your domain is "dog shampoo", then a subdomain of "blue" or "blue dog shampoo" should work very well.

Note: about.com is a master of this technique.

When I first heard of this idea about.com was my first immediate thoughts but there's a difference in about.com and a usual blogging scenario. About.com have extreme authority with google.

Mark

[HomeComputerGames]

Having the keywords in your url is a good thing no matter how you go about it.
One thing I have learned about sub domains is that they are treated by Google as new domains. My sub domains all had to age awhile before Google honored them but directories of the main domain are always treated as a normal part of the site.
This is not just guess work but actual tests I have done.
So where they may be good in the long run or when planning a site, you may want to give some consideration for aging.

my 2 cents

[Michael Mayo]

Hi Mark,

True but keyword placement in the subdomain accomplishes two things:

1. It provides a clue to a potential site visitor what the site is about prior to clicking the link in the search results (as would be the case with a domain like CheapAirlineTickets.mysite.com).

2. It gives the search engines an additional relevancy indicator which they can choose to use - a little, a lot, or not at all - within their overall relevancy algorithm. Over the years, we have found that search engines cannot resist using it to varying degrees - even if only a little.

Think about it like this: If all else is equal (which is only hypothetically possible), the site with the keyword in the subdomain will likely rank higher than an otherwise equally optimized site without it. And, perhaps more importantly, given a choice between two otherwise equally attractive selections within the search results, the average potential site visitor will choose the link containing the keyword in the subdomain over the link that does not.

LSI is a big factor in getting someone to click on a link.

Michael

[steveaaa]

@HomeComputerGames - Actually Matt Cuts has said that google now treats subdomains as part and parcel of the main domain, so that aging is the same. There is a video of him saying that somewhere. Personally I have experienced the same. I have build some content for established sites using subdomains, and they immediately ranked the same way. It could even be on a different IP, no prob.

[steveaaa]

Originally Posted by Michael Mayo

Hi Mark,

Think about it like this: If all else is equal (which is only hypothetically possible), the site with the keyword in the subdomain will likely rank higher than an otherwise equally optimized site without it. And, perhaps more importantly, given a choice between two otherwise equally attractive selections within the search results, the average potential site visitor will choose the link containing the keyword in the subdomain over the link that does not.


Michael

True, it will make a different:
a) a bit if the keyword is in the URL
b) a LOT if the keyword is in the domain
c) medium if it is in the subdomain

also I believe the subdomain would be bolded in the SERP results, which would promote clicking... and regardless of that, users would click since it appears that the url is related (remember, users are getting picky about what they click on).

[Intrepreneur]

I would like to see this thread progress with more input from more Warriors.

My opinion is still that this method is cookie cutter!

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by steveaaa

@HomeComputerGames - Actually Matt Cuts has said that google now treats subdomains as part and parcel.

Show your source.. and also I would take anything Google say with a pinch of salt.

[steveaaa]

"For several years Google has used something called “host crowding,” which means that Google will show up to two results from each hostname/subdomain of a domain name. That approach works very well to show 1-2 results from a subdomain, but we did hear complaints that for some types of searches (e.g. esoteric or long-tail searches), Google could return a search page with lots of results all from one domain. In the last few weeks we changed our algorithms to make that less likely to happen in the future."

I don't have time to find the vid, but this should get you started Matt Cutts on subdomains and subdirectories - vBulletin SEO Forums

Google to Begin Treating Subdomains as Folders: Max 2 Results Per Search

[steveaaa]

It makes sense, they don't want to "crowd" the SERP with lots of subdomains from the SAME domain, so they treat the subdomain as part of the same happy family. This is easily observable, as you rarely see a subdomain and a domain together on the same SERP page.

I have observed instant authority for subdomains I have installed on authority sites... so take it from the trenches...

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by steveaaa

It makes sense, they don't want to "crowd" the SERP with lots of subdomains from the SAME domain, so they treat the subdomain as part of the same happy family. This is easily observable, as you rarely see a subdomain and a domain together on the same SERP page.

I have observed instant authority for subdomains I have installed on authority sites... so take it from the trenches...

It all basically points to..

Using sub domains to try and outsmart Google isn't necessarily going to work any better than using a webpage

[steveaaa]

Ya, subdomains would not be counted as a new domain, but I think they do give you some juice (I believe) if you have your keywords in the subdomain. That was not the subject of Matt Cutt's article.