How about a Sub domian?

subdomain.mydomain.com Vs www.mydomain.com/subfolder

[shaadi]

To subdomain or not subdomain, that is NOT the question.

Need a quick run-down on subdomain.mydomain.com Vs www.mydomain.com/subfolder. Basically, looking for the pros and cons and applicability and usage.

[aus_dave]

Not sure I understand what you are interested in shaadi - SEO, usability, organization?

[shaadi]

SEO no doubt it gives an advantage - if done right.

I am looking from usability and organization point of view. And something that can benifit the end user.

[Shak]

Shaadi,

I was under the impression that Subdomain is actually considered as a seperate entity, where as domain.com/subfolder WILL form part of the main domain and its page rank.

So in other words, subdomain has to build up its OWN individuality for it to perform well.

I maybe wrong though.

there are a # of threads here on subdomain, here is 1 of them:
[webmasterworld.com...]

Shak

[peewhy]

If you are talking about www.subdomain.yourdomain.com

No problem in serps it works, I do it.

[shaadi]

I was under the impression that Subdomain is actually considered as a seperate entity, where as domain.com/subfolder WILL form part of the main domain and its page rank.

So in other words, subdomain has to build up its OWN individuality for it to perform well.

I agree with you here Shak. Thanks.

[peewhy]

shaddi, where you looking at subdomains to be treated as separate domains?

[shaadi]

where you looking at subdomains to be treated as separate domains?

Yes, I do.

[peewhy]

Okay, I was confused. You won't have a problem using anything.yourdomain.com.

I use it often for tests and get good serps.

[shaadi]

there are a # of threads here on subdomain, here is 1 of them:
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum34/ [webmasterworld.com]

Brett talks about 3rd level domian

3rd level domains are almost garanteed a ban from Inktomi. In order to get a 3rd level domain into Ink and make it stick without getting banned, it has to be from a site in the white db. Either they get grandfathered (large portion of them), have been hand checked in the past or get let in because of size. Almost all non-www 3rd level domains trigger a hand check. If they don't find some "special" for a site, it gets the boot almost without exception.

what is a 3rd level domian?

[edited by: oilman at 4:41 am (utc) on June 27, 2003]
[edit reason] fixed url [/edit]

[scockerham]

When I administer my DNS servers the subdomains are treated as seperate entry. The subdomain can have everything the domain can have. One advantage of subdomaining is the owner of the top level domain has all control and rights. You could build site after site using subdomains and reduce the need to register a new domain all the time. A good example of this is

lousisana.gov

batonrouge.louisiana.gov
neworleans.louisiana.gov
walker.louisiana.gov

schoolboard.batonrouge.louisiana.gov

This gives each orginazation their own domain space with their own DNS pointers and the state controls all the domains back to the top level. The only person that needs to ever be contacted when adding on would be the DNS admin of the second level domain "louisiana.gov"

Another good example is the .mil top level domain.

[scockerham]

shaadi,

I followed that thread and I tend to disagree with alot that. Every goverment, military, us, top level domain is organized by the goverment in a very strict pattern. They are also all over all of the search engines. The example I will use is .mil

you have .mil

then you have - navy.mil army.mil af.mil marines.mil coastgaurd.mil

then you have - navres.navy.mil usarc.army.mil

I think you can see what I mean. These are ranked by every search engine I tried. So unless the goverment just get ranked because, I don't see how they can say third level domains get booted.

[peewhy]

If the actual tld doesn't suffer, I would suggest testing it with a harmless third level.

I wonder what the objections would be, unless it is considered spammy.

[StanBo]

.mil is not a perfect example.

What we're talking about here is rather army.mil and whatever.army.mil
When done in such a way, subomains
1) never hurts the ranking of army.mil
2) are treated by audience as separate projects under one entity
3) overall a way to go :)

[shaadi]

Thanks StanBo you brought the thread back to its topic...