When it comes to website structure, there are two main options: subdomain or subdirectory. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your business. In this article, we will explore the differences between subdomains and subdirectories and help you decide which option is best for you. Let’s get started!
What is a subdirectory?
A subdirectory is a folder that contains all of the files for your website. The main domain points to this folder and visitors can access your website by typing in the subdirectory name. For example, if your website was located at example.com/blog, visitors would type “example.com/blog” into their browser to access your blog.
Subdirectory URL
There’s a lot that goes into a URL. And if you’re not careful, things can get pretty complicated pretty quickly. But one thing that’s important to know is the difference between a subdomain and a subdirectory.
For example, you might have a subdirectory within a subdirectory, like moeabdallah.com/blog/6 Benefits of using Google Analytics.
A subdirectory is a folder that contains files and other folders. To make it simpler, if you have a folder on your computer called “Documents,” that would be a subdirectory. You can have multiple subdirectories on your website, and each one can contain different files and folders. When it comes to subdirectories, think of a structure similar to nesting dolls. Each folder can build off of one another almost indefinitely.
That means you could have a subfolder within a subfolder within a subfolder until you’re dozens, potentially hundreds, of layers deep. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Too many layers of subfolders can become an SEO nightmare
Subdirectory and SEO
On the other hand, subdirectories can be great for SEO. They keep any earned backlinks, domain authority, and page authority closely tied to the root domain. And when the site is easy to navigate, the URLs are short and simple. which means you can market specific web pages or landing pages by their URL without confusing your audience.
Plus, subfolders are just plain cute. Like a little row of tidy houses on Main Street, subfolders symbolize orderliness and make your website look put together. But don’t take our word for it – ask any librarian. They’ll tell you that subdirectories are the bread and butter of library science.
So if you’re looking to give your website a boost in the SEO department, consider adding some subfolders. Just don’t go overboard – too many subdirectories can start to look like a cluttery mess.
What is a subdomain?
As any web developer knows, a subdomain is a type of website hierarchy that uses folders to organize content on a website.
This subdomain is usually closely associated with the root directory, but it may have its own separate content management system, template, analytics tools, and more. For example, if you have a website for your business, you may want to create a subdomain for your blog.
This subdomain would still be part of your business website, but it would have its own unique URL and content.
Subdomains can be a great way to organize your website and make it easier for visitors to find the content they’re looking for. However, they can also be difficult to manage if you have multiple subdomains with different content. If you’re thinking about using subdomains on your website, be sure to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
When should you use a subdomain?
1 – Support
When it comes to customer support, sometimes it just makes more sense to have a separate subdomain devoted to it. That way, users can easily find the answers and help they need without wading through a bunch of unrelated information. Plus, it can help to keep things more organized from a business standpoint.
For instance, Google uses support.google.com rather than google.com/support. This is likely because Google.com is primarily a search engine, and its customer support line belongs to a different business line altogether. By having its own subdomain, Google can more effectively connect with and serve its users.
2- Different regions
If you’re trying to reach a global audience, using subdirectories is a suboptimal solution. You want your website to be easy to navigate, and having to click through subdirectories can be confusing for users. Subdomains are a much better solution for serving multiple regions. They’re easy to remember and don’t require users to click through multiple levels of navigation. Plus, they help search engines understand the structure of your website. So if you’re looking to reach a global audience, go with subdomains over subdirectories.
How do subdomains and subdirectories affect SEO?
There is some debate about how subdomains are treated by Google’s crawlers. Some experts believe that the crawlers could confuse a subdomain for an entirely different website from the main domain. However, others say its crawlers can recognize subdomains as extensions of parent domains.
According to Google, the site crawls, indexes, and ranks subdomains and subdirectories the same way. So it appears that there is no need to worry about how subdomains will affect your SEO efforts. Here’s how you can Optimize Your Website for Google.
Subdomains can also create a number of problems, especially when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). One of the biggest issues is that subdomains are considered separate entities from your main website.
This means that any link authority you’ve built up to your website will not be inherited by your subdomain. Additionally, if you’re optimizing pages for the same keywords on your main site and subdomain, you could be competing against yourself. Ultimately, it may be better to use subdirectories rather than subdomains on your website.
To Sum Up
In conclusion, there are pros and cons to both subdomains and subdirectories. It’s important to consider all of these factors before moving forward with your website project.
If you’re still not sure which option is best for you, reach out for help. We’ll be able to assess your needs and make a recommendation based on your goals.
