Forum Moderators: phranque
However, I would really like to modify the site further to simulate virtual sub-domains using the categories: category.website.com
I need some direction as to how I could achieve this.
~Thanks in advance
However, you are not "simulating" subdomains, nor are they virtual... They are real subdomains as soon as you establish any links to them. That is, the act of linking defines a URL, and if that URL refers to a subdomain, then that subdomain is not 'virtual.'
The next step is to define the subdomain in your DNS zone file so that it points to your server's IP address, configure the server to 'accept' requests to that subdomain, and then to 'map' those requests to the proper filespace on the server -- which may or may not be the same filespace as other subdomains or services on your site.
I should also point out that if you are embarking on this project to get better ranking, it's going to be a lot of work for potentially little gain, since keyword-in-URL is a fairly minor ranking factor. Also, since your URLs are going to change, you're likely going to see a ranking drop for awhile (a few weeks to several months, even with proper 301 redirects on all old previously-linked-to URLs) while the search engines sort out your new site URL-architecture... This is most definitely not the sort of thing I'd be trying to do just before the Holidays... it's something to do just ahead of your yearly 'dead season' if you have one. And if not, at least plan for a *possible* dead season as your ranking is re-computed and re-adjusted.
To be clear, sometimes changing a large number of URLs goes well, and everything normalizes within a couple of weeks. Other times, it can take months, and sometimes many, many months. I haven't seen enough details of enough cases to say why some sites suffer for so long, but it's likely that they have a poor linking profile, low 'trust rank,' little that is unique, are not spidered very often, or a combination of some or all of those factors.
Jim
