Can i link subdomains?

Sum up of the rules of crosslinking?

[hitchhiker]

I really need an answer to this, I've been looking for ages. More importantly I'd like to know if anyone has run into problems with this setup:

I run a site that's got a 7yr history, it's fully multilingual. We need different domains to handle different countries.

(.ru for instance is necessary if you want a listing in Russia.)

So imagine I have:

www.widgets.com - points to, only on the homepage:

it.widgets.com, ww.widgets.ru, se.widgets.com

(10x, some domains are subs)

each language domain points back to www.widgets.com ONCE on the home page.

There is a legitimate reason to do this (urls are important in my case) and NO content is duplicated other than it's in different languages. The site (in total) is 470 something pages

[garylo]

Seems like a legitimate structute, I don't see any problems as long as the content is not duplicated.

[rfgdxm1]

Should be OK, as they all aren't crosslinking to each other.

[paynt]

I see nothing wrong with this hitchhiker. In fact you may be too cautious. Don't let over caution hold you back from legitimate linking. Don't let them being a subdomain hold you back from legit reasons to link.

[hitchhiker]

paynt - Thanks I recognise this, nice to hear finally!

I'm trying desperately not to inhibit the idea of the 'web', but for instance I had to remove links on everypage to the equiv translations on each domain, we're long term, i just can't risk it here.

I'm trying to find decent links 'out' on each domain, so I don't hoard the PR. Any off-hand advise on this or how I can remain 'in the clear' would be massively appreciated.

I'm not at all interested in immediate PR, i just want long-term stability! :)

[paynt]

Hitchhiker – long term stability, oh my those are beautiful words.

In relation to subdomains (canonicals for my friends who look for that), my first tip is to build out the content of the canonical so it can hold it’s own. Make it worthy of its status as ‘nearly a domain’. Like you say , you are looking for longevity, I certainly applaud that.

I then look for independent connections for each canonical. In my experience more does not mean better as they tend to bleed their support over. Quiet, let’s not share that with the rest of them, ok?

[Brett_Tabke]

SE's generally don't care for third level domains. If you do own say the CA version of your name, www.domain.ca will do infinitely better than ca.domain.com.

[paynt]

I'm probably into a whole different version of the game than you are Brett and that's great. I don't disagree. When I work canonicals it isn't for the either/or of it.

<added with a smile Brett, which SE's were they?>

In the three years I've been talking for them and you've been talking against them I've been using them with great success. I guess I'm ready to see some facts behind your comments as they don't apply to my last three years of focused experience with them.

[hitchhiker]

Yep Paynt, I treat each as it's own domain with it's own content and links, getting various ppl to link into each seperately.

I immediately assumed a 'canonical' :) would be the same as a primary country extension (.ru,.se etc) Why so brett?, what evidence? Spending time obtaining and remapping/linking would cost money.

Also with certain countries this was necessary (for 'social' reasons), .ru russia, for instance, have a v. controlled network on Yandex, they rarely allow .com's. Italy doesn't seem to mind, but .de germany does.

But I assume you're talking about the ranking of the site in regional SERPS right? .de's would take precedence, and so on?

[In the limited time i've been using them, I've seen no difference with the 4 primary extensions and the 6 canonicals]

[paynt]

Sorry, I may be confused by the terminology, that's what happens and why I refer to subdomains as canonicals. I also hear canonicals refered to as third level domains, virtual domains, viral domains, even vanity domains so it can be confusing. If I misunderstood the flow of conversation, at least when I refer with the term canonical you'll know what I am talking about.

[hitchhiker]

Nope, that was me being confusing not you:

'I immediately assumed a 'canonical' :) would be the same as a primary country extension (.ru,.se etc)'

translated:

I immediately assumed a subdomain, 'a canonical', would act, or have the same influence as, a primary country extension.