Anyone used subdirectories as primary link in Google Places?

8 replies
I have a client that, for reasons not worth getting into, we aren't going to use their homepage for the Google Places and other directory listings as the url. I am deciding between subdirectory or subdomain, but for SEO value would prefer to use subdirectory. Has anyone ever used a subdirectory link as the primary link in Places/Bing etc.? Does it make any difference to ranking or other factors?
Thanks in any advance for any help.
#google #google places #link #places #primary #subdirectories #subdirectory
  • Profile picture of the author MRomeo09
    I have a client with 26 locations using subdomains and has 4 different places pages for different departments in "home office" and they've been working as subdomains for over two years. As far as Google is concerned subdomains are as unique as separate URL's. At least in my experience.

    I.e. they have:
    Seattle.Bestplumber.com
    Portland.Bestplumber.com
    PlumbingContractor.bestPlumber.com
    CommercialPlumbing.BestPlumber.com
    (not real domains obviously)

    Marcos
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Shelton
    You may want to read this Matt Cutts article Subdomains and subdirectories and make your decision
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  • Profile picture of the author localvseo
    Thanks I had seen that post. I am wondering if anyone has real world experience using subdirectories as your Places URL. I understand the difference between the 2 for seo purposes, just not in relation to places ranking.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jgregory
      Originally Posted by localvseo View Post

      Thanks I had seen that post. I am wondering if anyone has real world experience using subdirectories as your Places URL. I understand the difference between the 2 for seo purposes, just not in relation to places ranking.
      From an SEO standpoint, google treats a subdomain like a subdirectory... no benefit no foul. That is from a few years ago and haven't heard its changed any.

      But from the Google Places standpoint, it makes a nice URL for a landing page... the other poster with the example of City.BestPlumber.com pointed this out. The thing is, the Google Places click-thru URL is what you enter... and using a independent subdomain, or any other domain avoids all the hassle of using a clients existing website for the landing pages and tracking you need to include to measure your performance. That existing website is often a nightmare so you side-step those issues and have control. That's a benefit in my playbook.
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  • Profile picture of the author tsx
    Hi localvseo,
    did you get my PM, have not heard back from you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    I've been using sub-domains almost exclusively for over 3 years now. Even maps is on a Google sub-domain. haha.

    I think subs are better then directory folders for all things maps.
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