Mobile website location sub directory or domain with mobi extension?

ktmakwana · 27th Nov 2011, 04:54 AM

Hello Warriors,

I am about to set up my first mobile landing page for a client therefore wanted to seek advice on where is the best place to reside the site.

Do I purchase client's domain with mobi extension or create a sub directory in their main domain with m?

Would appreciate your thoughts on it.

Thanks.

rlhurst · 27th Nov 2011, 08:53 AM

Either way will work. You (client) save money, of course, using the subdomain..... have you asked what your client would prefer? Just make sure whichever way you go, you have a redirect from the main site to the mobile version.

Another factor to consider is who will be hosting... if they have someone else hosting their main site, and you'll be taking care of the mobile site, it might be less hassle setting up the .mobi where you have full control over that.

EvanBeck · 27th Nov 2011, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by rlhurst

Either way will work. You (client) save money, of course, using the subdomain..... have you asked what your client would prefer? Just make sure whichever way you go, you have a redirect from the main site to the mobile version.

Another factor to consider is who will be hosting... if they have someone else hosting their main site, and you'll be taking care of the mobile site, it might be less hassle setting up the .mobi where you have full control over that.

I personally think that Dot "M" is the way to go. I think this is what Google will end up recommending and favoring. Saves time and money,too. I will say that one advantage of the .mobi is you have another url to promote.

ktmakwana · 27th Nov 2011, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by rlhurst

Either way will work. You (client) save money, of course, using the subdomain..... have you asked what your client would prefer? Just make sure whichever way you go, you have a redirect from the main site to the mobile version.

Another factor to consider is who will be hosting... if they have someone else hosting their main site, and you'll be taking care of the mobile site, it might be less hassle setting up the .mobi where you have full control over that.

Speaking with the client, he does not mind as long as the traffic is re-directed accordingly. However, as you rightly pointed out, I need to gain access to his hosting account to add it on the sub-directory.

Thanks for your advice and input. It is very much appreciated.

ktmakwana · 27th Nov 2011, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by EvanBeck

I personally think that Dot "M" is the way to go. I think this is what Google will end up recommending and favoring. Saves time and money,too. I will say that one advantage of the .mobi is you have another url to promote.

You too make a valid point. Thank you.

Jay Moreno · 27th Nov 2011, 05:27 PM

Depends... We had a client that had a super long domain name (22 including .com) so we got him a dot mobi domain that was shorter and more memorable and use it on his mobile marketing materials... It's easier for the clients mobile visitors to type it into their phone then a 24 character domain if you add .m to it!

If someone painstakingly enters the original domain on a mobile device it just redirects them to the .mobi, but they can always come back to the main site from the mobi site if they want.

Also depending on how you create the mobile site you sometimes don't even have to bother with a separate sub domain, folder or domain you just switch out the styling or theme based on user agent detection or screen size detection.

Always think about the end user experience - is it easy for them to type in the full domain name or could it be made simpler/shorter with a .mobi or other domain for that matter doesn't have to be .mobi

HTH

Jay

lanew · 27th Nov 2011, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

Depends... We had a client that had a super long domain name (22 including .com) so we got him a dot mobi domain that was shorter and more memorable and use it on his mobile marketing materials... It's easier for the clients mobile visitors to type it into their phone then a 24 character domain if you add .m to it!

If someone painstakingly enters the original domain on a mobile device it just redirects them to the .mobi, but they can always come back to the main site from the mobi site if they want.

Also depending on how you create the mobile site you sometimes don't even have to bother with a separate sub domain, folder or domain you just switch out the styling or theme based on user agent detection or screen size detection.

Always think about the end user experience - is it easy for them to type in the full domain name or could it be made simpler/shorter with a .mobi or other domain for that matter doesn't have to be .mobi

HTH

Jay

I have to agree with Jay here, I've been in marketing for 10 years and interactive/mobile niche for 5 years and it always comes down to customer needs. Google does prefer the .m sub domain, but it really does come down to what serves the end-user needs. And either one of them can be optimized so it really doesn't matter.

There is one consideration to take. The confusion of domain name. If the company is branded under a certain name, even if it is a long domain name, then it could confuse the end-user if there is a completely different name.mobi, but that just means the client will need some good branding help

Be well,

Lane

Jay Moreno · 27th Nov 2011, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by lanew

I have to agree with Jay here, I've been in marketing for 10 years and interactive/mobile niche for 5 years and it always comes down to customer needs. Google does prefer the .m sub domain, but it really does come down to what serves the end-user needs. And either one of them can be optimized so it really doesn't matter.

There is one consideration to take. The confusion of domain name. If the company is branded under a certain name, even if it is a long domain name, then it could confuse the end-user if there is a completely different name.mobi, but that just means the client will need some good branding help

Be well,

Lane

An option you can put in place could be a kinda reverse non mobile redirect from the mobile site back to the main site for non mobile browsers accessing the mobile site or a least a link/or alert saying they are on the mobile site and click here to go to the main site

That's why i love user agent detection you can use it for some many things than just redirecting mobile visitors - in my opinion it is totally under used!

lanew · 28th Nov 2011, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

An option you can put in place could be a kinda reverse non mobile redirect from the mobile site back to the main site for non mobile browsers accessing the mobile site or a least a link/or alert saying they are on the mobile site and click here to go to the main site

That's why i love user agent detection you can use it for some many things than just redirecting mobile visitors - in my opinion it is totally under used!

Jay, when you say reverse redirect, do you mean give a link back to desktop version or what? For instance, I have a mobile | desktop link at the bottom of all my client's mobile pages. Is that what you mean?

Be well,

Lane

Jay Moreno · 28th Nov 2011, 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by lanew

Jay, when you say reverse redirect, do you mean give a link back to desktop version or what? For instance, I have a mobile | desktop link at the bottom of all my client's mobile pages. Is that what you mean?

Be well,

Lane

Hi Lane

You can have a link but also you can have the opposite effect of a screen size detection script or say use a user agent detection but instead looking for mobile devices it instead is looking out for desktop browsers or screensizes over a certain width

Think reverse of a mobile detection just informing the user they are in fact on the mobile site and would they like to go back to the main desktop site if they are infact using a desktop browser such as chrome, firefox or ie (shudder) - someone mistakenly going to a mobile site on a desktop browser who's not familiar with mobile sites is going to have a very bizarre and possibly limited experience! lol

Hope that makes sense

cheers

jay

lanew · 28th Nov 2011, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

Hi Lane

You can have a link but also you can have the opposite effect of a screen size detection script or say use a user agent detection but instead looking for mobile devices it instead is looking out for desktop browsers or screensizes over a certain width

Think reverse of a mobile detection just informing the user they are in fact on the mobile site and would they like to go back to the main desktop site if they are infact using a desktop browser such as chrome, firefox or ie (shudder) - someone mistakenly going to a mobile site on a desktop browser who's not familiar with mobile sites is going to have a very bizarre and possibly limited experience! lol

Hope that makes sense

cheers

jay

Jay,

Thanks. Totally makes sense.

Be well,

Lane

P.S. How old is your newborn from pic? I have one myself, well, now she's 6 months. Congrats to you!

ktmakwana · 28th Nov 2011, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

Depends... We had a client that had a super long domain name (22 including .com) so we got him a dot mobi domain that was shorter and more memorable and use it on his mobile marketing materials... It's easier for the clients mobile visitors to type it into their phone then a 24 character domain if you add .m to it!

If someone painstakingly enters the original domain on a mobile device it just redirects them to the .mobi, but they can always come back to the main site from the mobi site if they want.

Also depending on how you create the mobile site you sometimes don't even have to bother with a separate sub domain, folder or domain you just switch out the styling or theme based on user agent detection or screen size detection.

Always think about the end user experience - is it easy for them to type in the full domain name or could it be made simpler/shorter with a .mobi or other domain for that matter doesn't have to be .mobi

HTH

Jay

Thanks for your input. Make sense.

ktmakwana · 28th Nov 2011, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by lanew

I have to agree with Jay here, I've been in marketing for 10 years and interactive/mobile niche for 5 years and it always comes down to customer needs. Google does prefer the .m sub domain, but it really does come down to what serves the end-user needs. And either one of them can be optimized so it really doesn't matter.

There is one consideration to take. The confusion of domain name. If the company is branded under a certain name, even if it is a long domain name, then it could confuse the end-user if there is a completely different name.mobi, but that just means the client will need some good branding help

Be well,

Lane

Totally valid point. Thanks.

Jay Moreno · 28th Nov 2011, 03:31 AM

@OP let us know how you get on and good luck with your project!

@Lane - Thanks, congrats to you too she's 6months as well and the youngest of three!

lanew · 28th Nov 2011, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

@Lane - Thanks, congrats to you too she's 6months as well and the youngest of three!

Too funny. Mine is youngest of three too!

Lane

27th Nov 2011, 04:54 AM	#1
ktmakwana HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 417 Thanks: 119 Thanked 82 Times in 61 Posts	Mobile website location sub directory or domain with mobi extension? Share on: Hello Warriors, I am about to set up my first mobile landing page for a client therefore wanted to seek advice on where is the best place to reside the site. Do I purchase client's domain with mobi extension or create a sub directory in their main domain with m? Would appreciate your thoughts on it. Thanks.

27th Nov 2011, 08:53 AM	#2
rlhurst I Do Voice Over Work War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 581 Thanks: 34 Thanked 129 Times in 96 Posts	Re: Mobile website location sub directory or domain with mobi extension? Share on: Either way will work. You (client) save money, of course, using the subdomain..... have you asked what your client would prefer? Just make sure whichever way you go, you have a redirect from the main site to the mobile version. Another factor to consider is who will be hosting... if they have someone else hosting their main site, and you'll be taking care of the mobile site, it might be less hassle setting up the .mobi where you have full control over that.
	I do voice over work... here's a SAMPLE

27th Nov 2011, 05:27 PM	#6
Jay Moreno Mobile+WP = JumpMobi.com War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,270 Thanks: 301 Thanked 449 Times in 309 Posts	Re: Mobile website location sub directory or domain with mobi extension? Share on: Depends... We had a client that had a super long domain name (22 including .com) so we got him a dot mobi domain that was shorter and more memorable and use it on his mobile marketing materials... It's easier for the clients mobile visitors to type it into their phone then a 24 character domain if you add .m to it! If someone painstakingly enters the original domain on a mobile device it just redirects them to the .mobi, but they can always come back to the main site from the mobi site if they want. Also depending on how you create the mobile site you sometimes don't even have to bother with a separate sub domain, folder or domain you just switch out the styling or theme based on user agent detection or screen size detection. Always think about the end user experience - is it easy for them to type in the full domain name or could it be made simpler/shorter with a .mobi or other domain for that matter doesn't have to be .mobi HTH Jay
	Sorry, I am too busy helping people to think of a cool signature!

28th Nov 2011, 03:31 AM	#14
Jay Moreno Mobile+WP = JumpMobi.com War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,270 Thanks: 301 Thanked 449 Times in 309 Posts	Re: Mobile website location sub directory or domain with mobi extension? Share on: @OP let us know how you get on and good luck with your project! @Lane - Thanks, congrats to you too she's 6months as well and the youngest of three!
	Sorry, I am too busy helping people to think of a cool signature!