Which URL is best?

subdomain vs. "regular" URL

[mworthen]

For purposes of building link popularity, does it matter which URL you use, subdomain vs. regular (for lack of a better term)? For example, [joe.fakeurl.com...] vs. www.fakeurl.com/joe [those are indeed fake url's so I don't violate the TOS]

Also, if you have a short forwarding URL should you use that in backlinks or the long, "real" URL?

Many thanks,

Mark Worthen
Charlotte, NC

[Rosalind]

For purposes of building link popularity, does it matter which URL you use, subdomain vs. regular (for lack of a better term)? For example, [joe.example.com...] vs. www.example.com/joe

In practice slightly more people may be willing to link to sites that have their own domain name, rather than a subdomain. It suggests that you are willing to invest more in the site, and that it may be more permanent. Either way it might not make a huge amount of difference. (I exemplified your quote, because the url you used is owned by somebody and could be turned into a domain in future, whereas example.com won't be).

[Iguana]

I checked fakeurl.com to see if I could buy it and set up a joe subdomain (at least it already has one link!). It was taken.

[mworthen]

Wow. I had no idea someone would want "fakeurl.com!" Why is "example.com" not taken? That one would seem to have some uses.

Regarding my original question, is it important to use the actual URL in backlinks, as opposed to using a forwarding URL?

Thanks again,

Mark

[ddent]

Example.CNO are reserved by IANA and will never be made available for registration. They are provided for use in documentation etc.