Are Subdomains Bad for SEO?
My Personal Experience with Subdomains
As a digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience, I have seen many debates on whether subdomains are bad for SEO. Personally, I have used subdomains for different purposes, and in this article, I will share my experience and research on the topic.
Curiosities and Interesting Facts about Subdomains
- Subdomains are created by adding a prefix before the main domain name, for example, blog.example.com.
- Subdomains are often used to separate different types of content, such as blogs, e-commerce, or support.
- Subdomains were once considered a good strategy to rank for different keywords and increase the website’s visibility.
- Google treats subdomains as separate websites and applies their own ranking algorithm to each one.
My Opinion on Subdomains for SEO
Based on my experience, I prefer to use subdirectories instead of subdomains. Subdirectories are created by adding a suffix after the main domain name, for example, example.com/blog.
Subdirectories have several advantages over subdomains:
- They keep all the content under the same domain, which can consolidate the website’s authority and increase the internal linking.
- They are easier to manage and track in terms of analytics, sitemaps, and redirects.
- They can benefit from the existing backlinks and domain authority of the main domain.
Studies and Data Analysis on Subdomains for SEO
Several studies have analyzed the impact of subdomains on SEO, and the results are mixed:
- Ahrefs conducted a study in 2018 that showed subdomains with high DR (domain rating) can rank well for competitive keywords, but subdomains with low DR may struggle to rank.
- Moz analyzed the correlation between subdomains and rankings in 2011 and found a negative correlation, but they cautioned that it could be due to other factors.
- Google’s John Mueller stated in 2018 that Google treats subdomains as separate websites, but they also consider signals from the main domain.
Expert Quotes on Subdomains for SEO
Here are some expert opinions on the topic:
I believe that subdomains are not inherently bad for SEO, but they require a different strategy and effort than subdirectories. If you have a strong reason to use subdomains, such as targeting a specific location or language, you can make them work, but you need to invest in them as separate websites.
In general, we recommend using subdirectories over subdomains. Subdirectories inherit the authority of the main domain, which can help them rank faster and easier. However, there are cases where subdomains make sense, such as when you have a different brand or product line.
FAQs about Subdomains for SEO
1. Are subdomains good or bad for SEO?
It depends on your goals and strategy. Subdomains can work well for specific purposes, such as targeting a different country or language, but they require a separate effort and investment than subdirectories.
2. Do subdomains affect the main domain’s SEO?
Subdomains are treated as separate websites by Google, but they can still benefit from the existing authority and backlinks of the main domain. However, poor subdomains can also drag down the main domain’s reputation.
3. How can I decide whether to use subdomains or subdirectories?
You should consider your content strategy, audience, and goals. If you have different types of content that do not overlap, such as a blog and an e-commerce store, subdomains may be a good choice. If you want to consolidate your website’s authority and improve the internal linking, subdirectories may be better.