Folders versus Subdomains - Page 3

**Cricket** · 10-17-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webfu

I'm fairly certain you can do it both ways. The spiders are going to find the most relevant page and display that one naturally. For branding reasons I always thought the folder structure was nicer looking than the sub domains to. For example - www.toyota.com/camry

I think the marketing/web people at toyota agree.

Considering what happened with BMW earlier this year, I am not sure that I would automatically assume that the marketing department of a car manufacturer knows what is best.

chrysostom · 10-17-2006, 12:41 PM

I think it depends on the situation for each webmaster, and each website. For a directory, blog, or forum, I think it should have its own subdomain.

Webfu · 10-17-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cricket

Considering what happened with BMW earlier this year, I am not sure that I would automatically assume that the marketing department of a car manufacturer knows what is best.

Looks like BMW.com is back to PR7.

Actually it was Nissan who I first saw market folders for a domain name. Remember that whole " SHIFT_ " thing ?

www.nissanusa.com/z/

They were the first company that I saw to brand FOLDERS on television. You'll see it the next time you see the Nissan or 300z commercials.

Now after checking both nissan and toyota use folders on their websites. Hmm wonder why ?

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...issanusa%2ecom

**Cricket** · 10-17-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webfu

Looks like BMW.com is back to PR7.

Yup, the ban was lifted after they removed the techniques which were violating Google guidelines. http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/rampin...ional-webspam/

My point was only that I would not automatically assume that techniques used by any company are necessarily what is best or what is right.

Webfu · 10-17-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cricket

My point was only that I would not automatically assume that techniques used by any company are necessarily what is best or what is right.

-----------> Agreed

-----------------> So Cricket, what do you prefer folders or subs ?

**Cricket** · 10-17-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webfu

----------->So Cricket, what do you prefer folders or subs ?

I use both, depending on what makes the most sense for the specific situation.

If it is a different but related section of the site, such as a blog, I generally use a subdomain. I have also been known to use a totally different domain for blogs that venture too far from the primary topic of the main site.

In terms of folders, unless the site is so large that I desperately need folders to organize everything, my pages tend to be in the root of the domain.

manageyourlinks · 10-17-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cricket

If it is a different but related section of the site, such as a blog, I generally use a subdomain.

exactly...

to me this is what subdoamins were made for. different subjects that dont coincide with the overall subject matter of the site.

Buskerdoo · 10-22-2006, 07:08 AM

What is the opinion of addon domains? Since it is really a subdomain, will it carry any weight from the root/base url?

ivenms · 10-22-2006, 12:51 PM

Iam using Cpanel 10 for my hosting. There is a subdomain creation option, but that only redirects the subdomain to the folder. Is there any technique to preserve the subdomain for all the pages?

reteep · 10-22-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivenms

Iam using Cpanel 10 for my hosting. There is a subdomain creation option, but that only redirects the subdomain to the folder. Is there any technique to preserve the subdomain for all the pages?

What do you mean by redirect? A 30x redirect? Usually you can setup the source folder which is not the same as a redirect.

Will.Spencer · 12-07-2006, 04:45 AM

I have been using folders for everything, but I am thinking about moving my forums to separate subdomains.

Originally, I put the forums in subfolders so that they would inherit all of the wonderful authority of the main web site...

But now I see how little money the forums are making and I am beginning to think "Hmmm... am I spreading that authority too thinly? Could I save more authority for my cash-generating pages by pushing the forum off onto its own subdomain?"

**Cricket** · 12-07-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

I have been using folders for everything, but I am thinking about moving my forums to separate subdomains.

Originally, I put the forums in subfolders so that they would inherit all of the wonderful authority of the main web site...

But now I see how little money the forums are making and I am beginning to think "Hmmm... am I spreading that authority too thinly? Could I save more authority for my cash-generating pages by pushing the forum off onto its own subdomain?"

Spread that authority too thin? I would love it if you would expand on that thought.

Will.Spencer · 12-08-2006, 07:54 AM

The domain I am focusing on right now has 6,940 inbound links from other domains, according to Yahoo. That gives it a certain amount of "authority."

Pretty much all of those links are to the 1,308 high-value static HTML pages.

I worry that I am decreasing the value which those inbound links give to the high-value static HTML pages by "sharing" that value with all of those low-value forum threads.

I "think" that I have seen SERPS go down on existing keywords/pages when I add new pages quickly.

So, I am tempted to move the forum off to it's own subdomain and let it fend for itself.

**Cricket** · 12-08-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

The domain I am focusing on right now has 6,940 inbound links from other domains, according to Yahoo. That gives it a certain amount of "authority."

Pretty much all of those links are to the 1,308 high-value static HTML pages.

I worry that I am decreasing the value which those inbound links give to the high-value static HTML pages by "sharing" that value with all of those low-value forum threads.

I "think" that I have seen SERPS go down on existing keywords/pages when I add new pages quickly.

So, I am tempted to move the forum off to it's own subdomain and let it fend for itself.

I would love to hear a follow up on the results of this if you choose to go this route.

Will.Spencer · 12-11-2006, 08:24 PM

As of right now, I am still too chicken to test this on one of my successful web sites.

John Scott · 12-11-2006, 09:13 PM

I gotta say, I definitely believe that using subdomains rather than folders will better distribute weight and allow more overall pages to get indexed.

**Cricket** · 12-11-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

As of right now, I am still too chicken to test this on one of my successful web sites.

Lmao...

That's why I was hoping you would try it, so I didn't have to.

Cristian Mezei · 12-12-2006, 02:30 AM

Can I try it for you guys ?

**Cricket** · 12-12-2006, 02:37 AM

I would personally love to see someone put this one to the test. I would be very interested in reading through the before and after results and all details involving the test. It might make for a great blog series of articles too!

Cristian Mezei · 12-12-2006, 09:32 PM

Ok. I think I'll try this and let you know.