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Use of Subdomains

by Martydee
12 replies
Okay, so here's my question. Since it's so vital that your keyword appears in your domain name, what's wrong with simply creating a subdomain and naming it whatever keyword you're looking to rank for. In other words - mysubdomain.mydomain.com.

I realize that since this is so simple there's got to be something wrong with it. But what? Please enlighten me.

Thanks guys.
#subdomains
  • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
    Hi Marty,

    I'm assuming that the reason why you just can't use a keyword loaded subdomain is because of relevancy.

    Just think, what if your domain is AboutUrHealth.com and you want to venture into cars

    If we follow your initial question to just create a subdomain, it will be cars.AboutUrHealth.com

    It's still a possible topic but I'm guessing that it will seem pretty unrelevant in the eyes of the search engine, no?

    Best,
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    • Profile picture of the author keadams26
      Originally Posted by rapidscc View Post

      Hi Marty,

      I'm assuming that the reason why you just can't use a keyword loaded subdomain is because of relevancy.

      Just think, what if your domain is AboutUrHealth.com and you want to venture into cars

      If we follow your initial question to just create a subdomain, it will be cars.AboutUrHealth.com

      It's still a possible topic but I'm guessing that it will seem pretty unrelevant in the eyes of the search engine, no?

      Best,
      This is precisely why generic and LLL, LLLL domain names are so valuable.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Siemens
    Hi, you can find your answer in this article:
    Subdomain vs Subdirectory – What is Best For SEO? | Chuck Aikens
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    • Profile picture of the author ListBuildingForNewbies
      Originally Posted by Steven Siemens View Post

      Hi, you can find your answer in this article:
      Subdomain vs Subdirectory – What is Best For SEO? | Chuck Aikens
      Thank you for sharing this link
      Indeed this article gives some important tips concerning subdomains and subdirectories.

      dvduval, here is the answer to your question:

      When using subdomains, the SEO has to be careful, though. Depending on the algorithm of the targeted search engine(s), they might not rank as high as when the content is segmented into a subdirectory of the site. They are effectively treated as a separate website by search engines, and multiple sites with the same root domain with similar content do not generally rank as high as multiple pages inside the same website. If you include the same content in multiple subdomains, the search engines will quickly catch on and start degrading the search result ranking because they will be considered as multiple sites with the same content.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Steven Siemens View Post

      Hi, you can find your answer in this article:
      Subdomain vs Subdirectory - What is Best For SEO? | Chuck Aikens
      Not much of an answer - boils down to "it depends."

      Never really covers on what it depends, though.

      Here's the basic rule.

      If you have a keyword domain like "buyitnow.com," and you have stuff about everything, then you should use subdomains. You should have "kayaks.buyitnow.com" and "suits.buyitnow.com" and "cars.buyitnow.com" for these three completely different products. Each subdomain will effectively get its own separate PR.

      If you have a keyword domain like "buykayaksnow.com" then you should use folders. You should have "buykayaksnow.com/thisbrandofkayak" and "buykayaksnow.com/thatbrandofkayak" and "buykayaksnow.com/someotherbrandofkayak" for these three generally similar products. The "buykayaksnow.com" domain will have a single PR.

      And if you have a domain like "mycompany.com" you should use folders, so you flow as much PR as possible to the branding of your company.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        Not much of an answer - boils down to "it depends."

        Never really covers on what it depends, though.

        Here's the basic rule.

        If you have a keyword domain like "buyitnow.com," and you have stuff about everything, then you should use subdomains. You should have "kayaks.buyitnow.com" and "suits.buyitnow.com" and "cars.buyitnow.com" for these three completely different products. Each subdomain will effectively get its own separate PR.

        If you have a keyword domain like "buykayaksnow.com" then you should use folders. You should have "buykayaksnow.com/thisbrandofkayak" and "buykayaksnow.com/thatbrandofkayak" and "buykayaksnow.com/someotherbrandofkayak" for these three generally similar products. The "buykayaksnow.com" domain will have a single PR.

        And if you have a domain like "mycompany.com" you should use folders, so you flow as much PR as possible to the branding of your company.
        On the first basic rule, I would only use subs for branding...Such as I have a sub:
        news.pheeds.com

        I wouldn't build a subdomain for the purpose of creating more PR to a separate "entity". Not that it doesn't work but the sub is always attached to the actual domain, therefore it can't be sold/traded as a unique commodity.

        If my goal is to build PR (link juice), I want it built on it's own domain name so I can have the option of selling it if I want, plus the flexibility of hosting it on other hosts/IP blocks, DNS, etc.

        But if money is an issue now, I can see building subs, but it will limit one's options in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    I recently setup a subdomain and it quickly became a leading referrer to our website, so I was happy with the initial results. Normally, I like a file structure, but sometimes there are good reasons to have a separate subdomain.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    Spiders read from left to right.

    Sub domain is going to be more effective in my opinion, even if the TLD is irrelevant to the sub domains keyword is a different niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Lets check out a site that fits the bill here.

    How about http://About.com(no pun intended)
    About.com is a PR 8 site and if you search for the subject marketing in the site you will see that http://marketing.about.com/ ranks as a PR 7..... Kinda makes you go Hummm!

    Hope that Helps,
    Have a Great Day!
    Michael

    Ref: About.com: Need. Know. Accomplish.
    Marketing - Marketing Strategy - Marketing Plan - Marketing Careers and Jobs
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Maybe it's just what Google says it is. Maybe it's about relevance and quality results.

    Just a thought...lol

    Hey, I've done no seo or back linking to this site and it ranks #6 in Google.
    Search the big G for (weekly special offers) no quotes required. Oh, the site is a PR is 0

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
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    • Profile picture of the author Seo_Oz
      This method is for if you want to use your keyword what you want to rank well is already taken in a domain name.It just lets you use the keyword what you want to rank well for very easily.This is more of a Greyhat seo trick but it works very well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Kurt, I totally agree!

    If you were building an Authority Site then it may be the best way to go.

    You have to let the SE's understand your site structure. Allowing them access to a site map helps.

    As you said, building sub-domains can limit your selling options but having it all together as a Authority Site could increase the over all value.

    Six of One and Half Dozen of Another I guess or If the Shoe Fits ...Do It!

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
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