What are the SEO Impacts of a Subdomain vs Subdirectory? (2024)

Deciding where to host your company blog is a big deal. While you have a few options, Google reveals that your choice will impact your website’s overall SEO.

In this blog, Director of SEO, Jason Carleton, will help you find out which one is the best choice for you!

What You’ll Learn:

• What’s the Difference Between a Subdomain and a Subdirectory?
• Subdomain SEO Impacts
• When Should You Use a Subdomain?
• When Should You Use a Subdirectory?
• FAQs About Subdomain SEO

My Expert Insight on Subdomain SEO

Subdomains can be a game-changer for your SEO strategy, but they definitely require a thoughtful approach. However, it’s crucial to integrate them properly with your main site to maintain your site’s overall authority.

In today’s SEO landscape, where search engines treat subdomains as separate entities, it’s essential to ensure subdomains align with your main site’s structure and content strategy. This way, you can avoid diluting your site’s authority and maximize the impact of your subdomains.

Looking ahead to 2024, as search engine algorithms evolve, I recommend staying informed about emerging trends and technologies. Keep an eye on how changes in user behavior, such as voice search and mobile-first indexing, might affect your subdomains’ performance.

Pro Tip: Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content for your subdomains. Optimize them for search engines and provide a seamless user experience. By aligning your SEO subdomain strategy with your broader SEO goals, you can boost your site’s visibility and performance.

What’s the Difference Between a Subdomain and a Subdirectory?

Put simply, subdomains and subdirectories both help organize content on your website, but they have their own unique roles.

Imagine your website is like a big house, and each room serves a different purpose. A subdomain is like adding a new room onto your house, but with its own separate entrance. It’s like having a mini-website within your main website. For example, if your main website is example.com, a subdomain could be shop.example.com. It’s a separate space, but still part of the same property.

Now, think of a subdirectory as a drawer in a filing cabinet. It’s a way to organize your stuff within your main website. Instead of adding a whole new room, you’re just creating a new section within your existing space. For instance, if your main website is example.com, a subdirectory could be example.com/shop. It’s all part of the same website, just organized differently.

While Google treats subdomains and subdirectories equally in terms of indexing and ranking, real-world examples often show that subdirectories tend to perform better in search results.

Subdomain SEO Impacts: What You Need to Know

When it comes to hosting your blog, choosing between a subdomain and a subdirectory can significantly impact your site’s SEO performance. If you select a subdomain, it often falls short compared to integrated content on the main domain. This setup benefits the blog subdomain rather than your main site.

User Experience: Subdirectories are preferred for their ease ofnavigation, as they are part of the main site’s URL. In contrast, subdomainscan create a disjointed user experience if not implemented correctly.

Authority and Links: Subdirectories benefit from inheriting themain site’s authority and links, contributing to overall SEO performance.Subdomains, viewed as separate entities by search engines, may not provide thesame level of authority boost to the main site.

Content Management: Managing content on a subdomain SEO can be more complex, akin tomanaging a separate website. Subdirectories offer simplicity as they areseamlessly integrated into the main site’s content management system.

When Should You Use a Subdomain?

Imagine you’re expanding your website and want to add a new section that feels distinct from your main site. This is where a subdomain shines! Use a subdomain when you want to create a separate but related area within your website. For example, if you have a blog that covers different topics from your main site, a subdomain can help keep things organized and easy to navigate.

Another great use case for a subdomain is when you want to target a specific audience or market. Let’s say you have an international audience, and you want to create a version of your site for users in a different country. You could use a subdomain like uk.example.com for users in the United Kingdom.

When Should You Use a Subdirectory?

On the other hand, a subdirectory is perfect for when you want to expand your website with new content that’s closely related to your main site. Use a subdirectory when you want to maintain a strong connection between the new content and your main site.

Subdirectories are also great for organizing your content hierarchically. For instance, if you have a main category like “blog” and want to divide it into subcategories like “news,” “tips,” and “interviews,” you can use subdirectories like example.com/blog/news, example.com/blog/tips, and example.com/blog/interviews.

In summary, use a subdomain when you want to create a separate, distinct section of your website, and use a subdirectory when you want to expand your site with closely related content that maintains a strong connection to your main site.

Frequently Asked Questions About Subdomain SEO

1. Are subdomains bad for SEO?

Subdomains aren’t inherently bad for SEO, but they can impact your site’s SEO strategy if not used wisely. Since subdomains are treated as separate entities by search engines, they may dilute the overall authority of your main site if not managed properly. However, when used strategically, subdomains can be a valuable tool for organizing and presenting different types of content.

2. What is an example of a subdomain in SEO?

A common example of a subdomain in SEO is a blog hosted on a subdomain, such as blog.example.com. In this case, the blog is a separate section of the website, distinct from the main site’s content.

3. What are the disadvantages of subdomains in SEO?

One disadvantage of using subdomains for SEO is that they are treated as separate entities by search engines, which can dilute the overall authority of your main site. Additionally, managing content on subdomains can be more complex than on a subdirectory, as it requires separate hosting and maintenance.

4. Does Google index and rank subdomains?

Yes, Google indexes and ranks subdomains separately from the main site. However, the SEO impact of subdomains may not be as significant as that of subdirectories, as they are considered separate entities.

5. What is a root domain vs. a subdomain?

A root domain is the main domain name of a website, such as example.com. A subdomain, on the other hand, is a separate section of the website that is treated as a distinct entity by search engines, such as blog.example.com. Subdomains are used to create separate areas of a website, such as blogs, forums, or support sections.

Elevate Your Subdomain SEO Strategy with Ignite Visibility

Whether you’re navigating the complexities of subdomains and subdirectories or seeking to optimize your website’s structure for better search engine visibility, Ignite Visibility is your partner in success.

Thousands of businesses trust Ignite Visibility to enhance their online presence and drive results. Whether you’re a small business owner, a marketing professional, or an SEO enthusiast, we’re here to help you achieve your goals.

Ignite Visibility can assist you in:

• Understanding the nuances of subdomain SEO and subdirectories
• Implementing effective SEO strategies tailored to your business
• Maximizing your website’s potential for search engine rankings
• And much more!

Ready to take your SEO game to the next level?Contact us today!