Google Penalty for Sub-Domains

sub domains interlinking google

[ljgsites]

Hi Folks!

I’m hoping for some feedback from some of you pros out there.

I run a travel guide that covers 10 destinations. Each destination review is on it’s own sub domain (http://www.<destination>.domain.com). The header of each site links to the main domain (http://www.domain.com) and some general pages which are only on the main domain (about us, contact, etc.). We also have a forums and directory that are also on their own sub domain and linked to on all pages.

Every page on each site (domains and sub domains) link to the home page for all the destinations (top destinations—followed by the link list).

We have over 500 pages of good content and a page rank of 4 pretty much across the board (Some inside pages have a 3).

I saw a big decline in traffic around March 15th. Since then some of the traffic has been restored.

My question is, is there something wrong with the way we have the site setup (domain, sub-domains, interlinking.) We have so much useful info but it’s not being found.

What can I do?

Thanks in advance.

[jcoronella]

GoogleGuy has recommended that you don't interlink subdomains, and there are a lot of reports of it causing issues. Don't interlink them. Link to them all from the home page (or some common page) and link to the home page from all of them. I have had no problems with the latter.

I've heard Matt Cutts of Google recommend that you don't interlink more than 4 domains, but he was talking to a known offender ;) Recently he was quoted as saying 'whatever makes sense to your users' in regards to this, and in your case interlinking Figi and Banff probably doesn't make sense.

[rfgdxm1]

>My question is, is there something wrong with the way we have the site setup (domain, sub-domains, interlinking.) We have so much useful info but it’s not being found.

Google sees subdomains as unique sites. As such, interlinking subdomains is bad. Better to use subdirectories.

[McMohan]

I can not understand how will interlinking subdomains cause problems? If on a Yahoo briefcase homepage (A subdomain), links to other subdomains are placed, and so the case with other Yahoo subdomains, how can that be a bad policy?
Examples are many including many respected sites. Agreed, user benefit is the benchmark here, but how is Google to know whether interlinking subdomains is necessary or not from user perspctive?

I do not want to give any suggestions here ljgsites. I am as much a learner in this aspect.

Best Wishes
Mc

[T_Bill]

I would also like to know if this is a problem and why.

We use subdomains both for tracking purposes and for a better user experience. Each subdomain has unique content. Can this really be a problem?

[experienced]

Hi,

There are a lots of point people have raised since google update its algorithm and delete a big number of sites from the SERP's. I have some point here with me..

1 - Rather than using subdomains, you shud use the directory.

2 - As all the sites are from same domain, offcourse they must not be linked. You create these subdomain so that you can link these with the main site.

3 - You must be having a big pages linked with the subdomain and parent sites. this is the another main reason.

4 - You had create a big network of subsites, where google had got the solid point to declare your sites as spam sites or so..

Sachin

[experienced]

Also google have got the different strategy for branded sites mentioned in algo, like yahoo, about, amazon, ebay and so on... But this is true that travel sites have got the worst experience with this change...

[McMohan]

But what is the problem with interlinking the subdomains, if they can add to user benefit? If I were to have subdomains for blue, green, red and yellow widgtes and a person who is interested in blue widget can also know about red widget, if that subdomain is linked.

Do we worry too much about Google and its algorithm to have lost sight of a simple, useful site design, that as a bottomline helps the visitors?

Best Wishes

Mc

[pavel]

I have a travel site too and tons of subdamains. Before this thread I never though it could be a problem. I had many domains before Florida update. Every domain had his unique content and all domains were cross linked together (to improve my positions and the navigation for my customers), but before Florida there was nothing wrong with that as long as you don’t use the same content or build mirror sites. After Florida I have moved all the content to few important domains and I have changed the IP for each. In every language one so there is only a link to another language. I had a lot of sub domains before and after this big move I have created many news. I tough within one domain name I can do what ever I will (mean crosslinking).

Few sub domains are doing well but my homage is standing miserable. It has a lot of relevant links and lot of content (many sub domains). After this information I have checked links to my home page and found out there are only few links from its sub domains although there could be hundreds. Many of them which are not listed have PR 4-5.

Seems to me Google is counting sub domain as unique domain within the same IP. == penalty, penalty penalty

I was so stupid that I have not fond it out by my self. Thank you ljgsites.

[Haecceity]

But what is the problem with interlinking the subdomains, if they can add to user benefit?

Indeed. My site now exists in several different languages, and each one is a subdomain. I'd assumed it was a good thing (for users) to link the index pages of all the subdomains together.

[ljgsites]

Thanks everyone!

[ljgsites]

I have too many inbound links (including from DMOZ)
to give up the sub-domains and take the sub-directory route.

I have removed the cross linking of the destintaion sites. Further, the header (logo) on each site still links to the main site similiar to lonely planet.

Also, I have a banner, on every page, that links to my directory (sub-domain).

Do ya all think this will do it? How long till I see the results?

[walkman]

damn. I had a few subdomains from years back and about a year or two ago I redirected them (via 301) to the main site. I just double checked after reading this and believe it or not, two of them had escaped.

Glad I read this, can't take any chances.