Do you know the difference between subdomain vs domain or subdomain vs subdirectory? S What is the difference between a domain and a subdomain? In this article, you’ll learn the differences between a subdomain and subdirectory and their effects on SEO. It’s better to consider all the pros and cons before starting your project.
Difference Between Subdomain and Subdirectory and Domain
Your top-level domain is the primary website where all the juice is consumed. The entire site depends on the performance of the top-level domain name.
Subdirectories are the part of the main domain with the different extensions of the domain built for a specific purpose. Generally, the subdirectories are created to host the blog site. For example, Mysite.com/blog
If we want to mention the domain and subdomain difference, we must say that subdomains are a large part of the primary domain name. The domain’s name starts at the beginning of the domain, followed by your top-level domain name. For example Blog.domain.com
If you want to figure out how to find out who owns a domain name , check this article out!
Is URL Structures Matters?
The URL of the website makes a big difference in driving traffic through direct and organic searches. Each type of domain name has its pros and cons that make it separate from each other. Understanding the difference between domain vs subdomain vs subdirectory would allow you to mitigate some of the crucial aspects of digital marketing.
If you desire to know more about the best domain extensions for SEO , click on the link provided!
For Example:
Let’s say you are ready with the content for marketing, and now you want to create a blog on your website to publish the regular content to drive the users. In that case, you need to have the blog or microsite linked to your website for posting the content. You have been given the following options.
- Blog.domain.com
- domainblog.com
- domain.com/blog
The question is which one would be the best option for the blog site. The ultimate goal of choosing the domain name is to achieve a top search engine ranking. Selection of the correct domain name would reduce the time and energy you put into ranking your website. Search engines treat each of the domains differently. As a result, you will see different rankings for the other domain names.
If you want to know ” how to list all subdomains of a domain name”, check this article out!
Do Subdomains Hurt SEO?
Maybe you are wondering are subdomains bad for SEO? Like everything else related to SEO and Google ranks, you must take criteria on a one-by-one basis. There is no set rule dictating the subdomain SEO value; some companies’ benefits will outweigh any potential SEO fallout (neither confirmed nor perceived).
Subdomain or Subfolder; Which Is Better for SEO?
When comparing subdirectory vs subdomain SEO impacts, we must mention that a subdomain is generally created when you have a completely different set of content on the website or you want to target your users based on the location. The subdomain inherits some of the benefits from the top-level domain; however, the concept is still in active debate. SEO communities still have doubts about the benefits of the subdomain from the primary domain name.
When comparing subdomain or subdirectory better for SEO effects, the subdomain does not receive many benefits from the main domain as it is considered a completely new website. You can link the page with each other to flow the traffic from the main domain to the subdomain and help both the pages earn the juice it requires to rank in the organic searches.
subdomain vs domain SEO impact is worth mentioning. The subdirectory is created for blogging or any other purpose and inherits the trust from its primary domain name. Therefore, it is easy to get the pages of the subdirectory in the ranking.
As your main domain starts gaining popularity, the internal pages of the subdirectory also get a boost in the organic ranking. You do not have to perform additional SEO to rank the pages in the organic searches. You can focus on the main domain and pass the benefit to the subdirectory.
If you want to know the domain authority meaning , check this article out!
A subdomain is excellent when you start an entirely new site without getting a separate domain name. You can leverage the trust of the existing website and enter into a new industry or region without leaving the ground. All the content published on the subdomain will be under one brand umbrella. Users who previously visited your primary domain would find it comfortable browsing the subdomain due to their trust in the brand.
If you want to search all pages on a website , click on the link provided!
Moreover, the subdirectory inverts the benefit to the main domain when it starts receiving outbound links. It is crucial to have both the page’s leading domain and subdirectory perform well to achieve the desired success.
You have the option to create the subdomain instead of the subdirectory for your blog site. The difference between subdomain and subdirectory is that subdomain would be treated as a microsite. For example, blog.domain.com.
When To Use a Subdomain?
Choosing subdomains vs domains would depend on the content you are willing to publish on your website. If the subdomain is made for an entirely new set of audiences, it will help you rank your primary domain with different content.
Also, it reduces the confusion between the two niche category content. Two groups of people will visit your website on two different web pages to consume the content. The search engine also finds the subdomain content easy to rank, separated from the other domain extensions. It would be easy for the search engine to decide which directory of the category your website is listed.
If you are interested to know about types of domains , don’t miss this post!
Final Words
When comparing SEO subdomain vs subdirectory and main domain vs subdomain, you should be aware of the end benefit of each domain extension and decide which one is right for you. When working on the new set of content, the subdomain would be a lucrative option as it gives more clarity to the users and search engine algorithm. Subdirectories are best for the blog that complements the top-level domain name.
Regarding SEO blog subdomain vs subdirectory differences, subdirectories are helpful when you want to leverage the exiting domain trust and link juice to rank your blog pages. It saves the time and money needed to rank the new pages of the subdirectories. However, the final decision should be taken based on the purpose that your domain has to serve.