What do Search engines think of Subdomains?

sadiecopywriter · 08-11-2011, 08:28 AM

Hi there, I'm new to the world of internet marketing, so forgive me if I ask simple questions.

Do search engines see a subdomain as it's own entity or part of the the main domain?

I ask because I don't want to spend a fortune on domain names and I do have one domain already.

If I SEO it like I would a real domain, can it go as high as real domain or do search engines not like that?

(It has nothing to with my main page which is for my writing services. these other domains are just for topics I enjoy writing about and hope to monetize someday.

Mercedes

julien731 · 08-11-2011, 08:38 AM

You can rank a subdomain high in SERP, this is absolutely not a problem. But your subdomain will always appear as your domain's subdomain ! So if you try to link them together, it won't be as powerful as a link coming from another domain.

JamesGw · 08-11-2011, 09:12 AM

Subdomains can do just as well as normal domains. I wouldn't be concerned about that. Julien does raise a good point about interlinking, though.

owenlee · 08-11-2011, 09:16 AM

It depends alot on the content on the page itself...The content plays a much more important role

sadiecopywriter · 08-11-2011, 09:41 AM

Thank you all. I'm not really doing it for SEO purposes, but I do have a question about that linking thing. Do Search engines penalize a link from that site or just ignore it? I was debating putting one on there to show off my writing services, but I was planning to make it look like all the other ads.

I don't care if the search engines ignore it but I'd hate to be penalized. Any thoughts? (Like I said, I'm new to IM. I've been a ghost writer for 3 years though and never had to worry about any of this before. But I'm ready to move to the next level, hence all the questions.)

Jardine · 08-11-2011, 09:43 AM

Thank you, guys for the useful information.

paulgl · 08-11-2011, 09:55 AM

Google does not penalize for linking your sites. No idea where
that nonsense comes from.

I guess that's a BIG seo secret....

A subdomain is looked upon as a complete, separate website,
not even connected to the main domain.

Anybody heard of about.com? Every subject is a subdomain.
And you don't think they interlink? Get a grip people.

About.com, as big as they are, does not use subdomains
for what they were intended, but it works for them, so...

Subdomains are really for separate parts of your site that you
would like to be completely separate from your domain. Such
as mail.domain.com, forum.domain.com, etc.

But like about.com, there are many that BIG networks that use
subdomains, and THEY ALL INTERLINK! Like zap2it.com, go.com, etc.

Paul

08-11-2011, 08:28 AM	#1
sadiecopywriter Mercedes Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 228 Thanks: 219 Thanked 30 Times in 25 Posts	What do Search engines think of Subdomains? Hi there, I'm new to the world of internet marketing, so forgive me if I ask simple questions. Do search engines see a subdomain as it's own entity or part of the the main domain? I ask because I don't want to spend a fortune on domain names and I do have one domain already. If I SEO it like I would a real domain, can it go as high as real domain or do search engines not like that? (It has nothing to with my main page which is for my writing services. these other domains are just for topics I enjoy writing about and hope to monetize someday. Mercedes

08-11-2011, 08:38 AM	#2
julien731 Active Warrior Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: France Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What do Search engines think of Subdomains? You can rank a subdomain high in SERP, this is absolutely not a problem. But your subdomain will always appear as your domain's subdomain ! So if you try to link them together, it won't be as powerful as a link coming from another domain.
	N2Clic is a good web agency that also offer SEO services. Looking for article submission ? Here is a top quality free press release site !

08-11-2011, 09:12 AM	#3
JamesGw Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,337 Thanks: 73 Thanked 132 Times in 121 Posts	Re: What do Search engines think of Subdomains? Subdomains can do just as well as normal domains. I wouldn't be concerned about that. Julien does raise a good point about interlinking, though.
	Adult Wholesale Direct \| Adult Home Party Kits

08-11-2011, 09:16 AM	#4
owenlee Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 940 Thanks: 0 Thanked 65 Times in 56 Posts	Re: What do Search engines think of Subdomains? It depends alot on the content on the page itself...The content plays a much more important role
	Get targeted traffic in less than 20mins!! Free download now

08-11-2011, 09:41 AM	#5
sadiecopywriter Mercedes Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 228 Thanks: 219 Thanked 30 Times in 25 Posts	Re: What do Search engines think of Subdomains? Thank you all. I'm not really doing it for SEO purposes, but I do have a question about that linking thing. Do Search engines penalize a link from that site or just ignore it? I was debating putting one on there to show off my writing services, but I was planning to make it look like all the other ads. I don't care if the search engines ignore it but I'd hate to be penalized. Any thoughts? (Like I said, I'm new to IM. I've been a ghost writer for 3 years though and never had to worry about any of this before. But I'm ready to move to the next level, hence all the questions.)

08-11-2011, 09:43 AM	#6
Jardine Warrior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: What do Search engines think of Subdomains? Thank you, guys for the useful information.

08-11-2011, 09:55 AM	#7
paulgl Plundering the Web War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 4,851 Thanks: 804 Thanked 1,200 Times in 887 Posts	Re: What do Search engines think of Subdomains? Google does not penalize for linking your sites. No idea where that nonsense comes from. I guess that's a BIG seo secret.... A subdomain is looked upon as a complete, separate website, not even connected to the main domain. Anybody heard of about.com? Every subject is a subdomain. And you don't think they interlink? Get a grip people. About.com, as big as they are, does not use subdomains for what they were intended, but it works for them, so... Subdomains are really for separate parts of your site that you would like to be completely separate from your domain. Such as mail.domain.com, forum.domain.com, etc. But like about.com, there are many that BIG networks that use subdomains, and THEY ALL INTERLINK! Like zap2it.com, go.com, etc. Paul
	How to Make Money off Facebook: Login to your account. Deactivate your account. Get your butt to work.