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Use subdomains to extend niche reach?

by PBMax
10 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Since Google sees a subdomain (ex. subsite.website . com) as a separate site, would it help to expand my niche reach and focus on one main aspect of the website niche through a handful of subdomains?

Of course the obvious is that my costs go down since subdomains cost nothing. I do understand that my SEO efforts will be split, but that's not a concern I have.

I figured that by expanding my reach and really focusing on one aspect on the niche with each subdomain, I'd allow for better usability by thoroughly covering the spectrum. The main website would be a hub of sorts to link people to the exact area they want to know about.

I feel this would allow for maximum information and focus than would a subfolder and a couple articles.
#extend #niche #reach #subdomains
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    That is a really poor idea for SEO. If the subdomains are going to be about the same niche, use folders. Let each of those categories benefit from the authority of the site and eachother.

    There is no advantage to using subdomains for that type of strategy, and because of all the extra effort in SEO you would have to do, your costs actually go up, not down.
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    • Profile picture of the author PBMax
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      That is a really poor idea for SEO. If the subdomains are going to be about the same niche, use folders. Let each of those categories benefit from the authority of the site and eachother.

      There is no advantage to using subdomains for that type of strategy, and because of all the extra effort in SEO you would have to do, your costs actually go up, not down.
      It's more of the "open" site network idea. SEO efforts aren't my concern, that's easy. I was looking to expand my reach. Subdomains do that, subfolders do not.

      Surely, you of all people, should be able to appreciate site empire strategies.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

        It's more of the "open" site network idea. SEO efforts aren't my concern, that's easy. I was looking to expand my reach. Subdomains do that, subfolders do not.

        Surely, you of all people, should be able to appreciate site empire strategies.
        How does it "expand your reach" in a way that subfolders do not?

        If you had a general site and wanted to focus on 20 different niches, I could see using subdomains. Within the same niche, it is not making any sense unless there is more to this than what you are explaining.
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        • Profile picture of the author patco
          Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

          How does it "expand your reach" in a way that subfolders do not?

          If you had a general site and wanted to focus on 20 different niches, I could see using subdomains. Within the same niche, it is not making any sense unless there is more to this than what you are explaining.
          Yes, I do agree with you! There is no reason doing this!
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        • Profile picture of the author PBMax
          Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

          How does it "expand your reach" in a way that subfolders do not?

          If you had a general site and wanted to focus on 20 different niches, I could see using subdomains. Within the same niche, it is not making any sense unless there is more to this than what you are explaining.
          For example, a site about hamburgers wouldn't need a cheeseburger subdomain, or a bacon cheeseburger subdomain, etc. Folders/pages would be fine.

          However, a site about bariatric surgery, for example, would benefit from a lapband surgery subdomain, a gastric bypass subdomain, etc to EXPOUND and BETTER INFORM the user in a way a few articles and page could not

          Plus the backlinks (from the site and the subsequent subdomains) wouldn't hurt a money site in the same niche either...
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          • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
            Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

            For example, a site about hamburgers wouldn't need a cheeseburger subdomain, or a bacon cheeseburger subdomain, etc. Folders/pages would be fine.

            However, a site about bariatric surgery, for example, would benefit from a lapband surgery subdomain, a gastric bypass subdomain, etc to EXPOUND and BETTER INFORM the user in a way a few articles and page could not

            Plus the backlinks (from the site and the subsequent subdomains) wouldn't hurt a money site in the same niche either...
            I disagree. The subdomains still do not make sense. There is no reason you cannot have as many pages as you want in a folder about gastric bypass surgery. You are explaining this like there is some artificial limit to the number of pages you can put in a folder.

            There is no need or benefit (to SEO or the user) to using a subdomain in this situation.

            Now if you had a larger site about surgery in general or even just cosmetic surgery and wanted a subdomain about bariatric surgery, I could maybe see that making sense.

            Sorry, but I think you are overthinking this and just trying to be too clever by adding subdomains.
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            • Profile picture of the author PBMax
              Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

              I disagree. The subdomains still do not make sense. There is no reason you cannot have as many pages as you want in a folder about gastric bypass surgery. You are explaining this like there is some artificial limit to the number of pages you can put in a folder.

              There is no need or benefit (to SEO or the user) to using a subdomain in this situation.

              Now if you had a larger site about surgery in general or even just cosmetic surgery and wanted a subdomain about bariatric surgery, I could maybe see that making sense.

              Sorry, but I think you are overthinking this and just trying to be too clever by adding subdomains.
              A subdomain is a different website, right? Ergo, a new and beneficial cup of backlink juice as long as it's inside the niche and relevant. If I used subfolders, the benefit diminishes the further I get from the home page. This is counter-intuitive to SEO in my mind.

              Again, I have to appeal to your preaching of PBNs here. You clearly think the more sites the merrier, so why is this not along those same lines?

              Do you think I would benefit more from bypassing the subdomain idea and creating a entirely independent site about each aspect of the larger niche? (I also do that as well, but this was a different approach.)
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              • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
                Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

                A subdomain is a different website, right? Ergo, a new and beneficial cup of backlink juice as long as it's inside the niche and relevant. If I used subfolders, the benefit diminishes the further I get from the home page. This is counter-intuitive to SEO in my mind.

                Again, I have to appeal to your preaching of PBNs here. You clearly think the more sites the merrier, so why is this not along those same lines?

                Do you think I would benefit more from bypassing the subdomain idea and creating a entirely independent site about each aspect of the larger niche? (I also do that as well, but this was a different approach.)
                Ok, so you think that by creating a bunch of subdomains you are creating the equivalent of a private network to link from more or less. Now I understand what you are trying to do.

                Yeah, I have never seen that work all that well. I have seen people try it and the results were pretty poor compared to just building out entire sites and linking from those.
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                • Profile picture of the author PBMax
                  Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

                  Ok, so you think that by creating a bunch of subdomains you are creating the equivalent of a private network to link from more or less. Now I understand what you are trying to do.

                  Yeah, I have never seen that work all that well. I have seen people try it and the results were pretty poor compared to just building out entire sites and linking from those.
                  yea, that was pretty much the idea, but being able to stretch a domain name out with subs. So you think just continuing with building out independent sites (mind you, not PBNs, but branded sites) is the way to go?
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                  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
                    Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

                    yea, that was pretty much the idea, but being able to stretch a domain name out with subs. So you think just continuing with building out independent sites (mind you, not PBNs, but branded sites) is the way to go?
                    You can try it your way, but like I said, every time I have seen someone test and try that the results were not so good. Maybe things have changed. Give it a go.
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