Subdomain vs Subdirectory – What is Best For SEO?
The debate between SEOs (Search Engine Optimizers) on whether to use a subdomain or a subdirectory for organizing website content has been around since the beginning of Search Engine Optimization. Some of it is left up to the personal preference and past experiences of the SEO, but depending on the situation, it sometimes makes more sense to use one method than the other. In order to gain a better understanding of when to use each organizational tool, we’ll define each and list some instances where it would be better to use one method rather than the other.
A subdomain is usually a section a root website that has a different DNS alias. An example of the root domain of a website could be “example.com”. An example of a subdomain would be “subdomain.example.com”. Subdomains should generally be used when there is enough content to support a standalone website, but when the content is still closely associated with the main subject or theme of the website. 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.
Organizing content into subdirectories is generally easier to maintain than if the content belongs to different subdomains. The content is inside the folder structure of the root website so it can be easily moved without having to modify the DNS settings of website. This is not true for a subdomain. The DNS records must be changed to preserve the integrity of the link. Subdirectories are the best choice when you want a page to target specific keywords that are related to each other and the root domain’s theme. Subdirectories can rank higher in SERPS (Search Engine Rank Pages) since they are closer to the host domain.
Subdirectories also add content to your website, which can be good for new websites because they give search engines more content to help them judge how pertinent they are to the keywords the user is using for their search. A page that is a wealth of keywords, for example a blog, should be contained in a subdirectory of the main website since it is closely related to the main domain and can be used to increase the ranking of the main site.
Both content organization methods are useful tools in the SEO’s repertoire. Both are equally valid in certain circumstances. The SEO should take the algorithms and practices of the targeted search engine(s) into consideration when deciding whether to use either method of structuring their website content. Depending on their target audience, page ranking strategy, and the organization of the content, one method might be more useful given the current situation. As in most subjects dealing with technology, it all depends on the problem at hand to determine which one is better than the other.
Thank you for the insights about this dilema. We are restructuring part of our web site, and this information is very useful. Thank!
This has me thinking …. my problem is 1 portion of a website is in .net and 1 is in php, therefore have no option but to use subdomains..!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
We are rebuilding our web site, but while this information is very useful we still don’t know if we shoud keep our knowledge base section (technical matters about web hosting and domain names) on a sub directory of our domain or move it to a separate sub domain.
Thanks anyhow!
Great post. I was thinking about using subdomains to rank for many local keyword phrases. Such as “Cincinnati attorney, Cincinnati lawyer, Cincinnati tax attorney, etc.” But Im wondering if I will have trouble ranking so many keywords that are closely related. What if Im using unique content on each? Also, can I install a WP blog dozens of separate subdomains?
Thanks for any thought you have.
thanks chuck..
I have to look more into Subdirectories but thanks for mentioning that in the article!
Just busy considering this – food for thought….
Sorry for posting in an old topic, but I have a question I can’t find an answer for. Ok first of all I have successfully created subdomain and it looks everything is working ok, ex. the name is subdomain.maindomain.com but when I enter maindomain.com/subdomain it also appear in the search result. I’m confused because the second variant should refer to a subdirectories. Any hint?
Here is the site I’m talking about
http://www.download.allacronis.com
I wonder if I should use subdomains for multilanguage of my site or subdirectories.
The content will be exactly the same but in different languages.
What’s your opinion on this?
Thanks!