[clickbumped]

Im wondering what you guys think about using sub domains to create a large authority site. I'm kinda starting to get a headache with having so many domains covering all sorts of topics, why can't I just put these sites on sub domains of an 11 year old site and just work that way? Obviously, the only downfall I see is I can't sell these sites individually, but I seriously can't stand waiting 3-4 months for a new site to settle down.

What do you guys think?

[Mansoor]

My understanding is that a new subdomain is treated as a new domain so would face exactly the same situations as would a normal doamin. However I too would love to know more on this, as this is something i know very little about

[GeorgR.]

clickbumped, on 11 February 2012 - 12:54, said:

Im wondering what you guys think about using sub domains to create a large authority site. I'm kinda starting to get a headache with having so many domains covering all sorts of topics, why can't I just put these sites on sub domains of an 11 year old site and just work that way? Obviously, the only downfall I see is I can't sell these sites individually, but I seriously can't stand waiting 3-4 months for a new site to settle down.

What do you guys think?

I THINK that for suprisingly many purposes you do NOT need even need a new site, domain.

In fact, if you would have an established site covering a braoder range (say health, computers etc..)...you can often rank better just by adding a new post/page to the existing site instead of making a brand new (sub)domain just for a particular product/offer.

So: Instead of messing with lots of new domains/sub-domains..think about whether you have an existing site where you can put it on?

Quote

on sub domains of an 11 year old site...

Which is silly since with the new subdomains/sites you are NOT taking advantage of the ranking power of the 11 year old site...

Edited by GeorgR., 11 February 2012 - 14:43.

[clickbumped]

So George you're saying that I should merely make an article directory like website that only I post to? That way I take advantage of the original sites age and authority?

[TerryKyle]

The funny thing about sub-domains - and I have run a batch of tests in the past on this - is that it can be tricky to get the authority of the root domain to pass to the subdomain and subdomains (back then) were relatively sluggish to respond to backlinks like a normal inner page.

However, they may have some value for ranking a number of geo-specific targets within a larger site e.g. homepage: USA-target; subdomain 1: Germany-target,; subdomain 2: New Zealand-target etc.

The downside is that you need to tell Google where you want those subdomains (or subfolders) to rank and that means letting G inside your site through Webmaster Tools:

http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleWebmasterHelp#p/search/1/c9vD9KGK7G8

[Gadget]

GeorgR., on 11 February 2012 - 14:42, said:

I THINK that for suprisingly many purposes you do NOT need even need a new site, domain.

In fact, if you would have an established site covering a braoder range (say health, computers etc..)...you can often rank better just by adding a new post/page to the existing site instead of making a brand new (sub)domain just for a particular product/offer.

So: Instead of messing with lots of new domains/sub-domains..think about whether you have an existing site where you can put it on?

BINGO!

That's what I do and ranking for certain terms with just a subpage makes so much of difference, in terms of ranking difficultly. I don't have to spend quite as much money and wasting time trying to rank an aged domain's subpage vs. a brand new website.


The only downside is that if something happens to this site, well all that "I'm King of the World" feeling will be nothing more than a wreck on the ocean floor.

[GeorgR.]

clickbumped, on 11 February 2012 - 15:01, said:

So George you're saying that I should merely make an article directory like website that only I post to? That way I take advantage of the original sites age and authority?

I dont know about "article directory" respective how you define "article directory". An "article directory" in a strict sense is a "normal" site where users can sign up and contribute with content as "authors"...but wordpress eg. can do this already out of the box.

What i am saying...if you have content and the content would fit on your established site you should put it as post on your site, and the content does not ALWAYS totally need to match the overal subject of your site.

I have a SEO/Marketing blog but can put computer and software related posts on there and they rank very well, although i do not have a computer/software site in that sense!

A sub.domain is *basically* a brand new site and it has no ranking power inititially.

Edited by GeorgR., 14 February 2012 - 22:58.