Google rankings and Subdomains

Subdomains & SEO

[skyewalk]

Hi

I have a series of sites which are all subdomains of a domain I own. Each subdomain covers a different geographic area, whilst the root domain acts simply as a portal for all the other sites.

I started by building one subdomain with lots of unique content. It ranked well on google, MSN etc.

I then made a start on the portal and another subdomain, again lots of unique content.

I've now put about eight pages on each of the intended future subdomains. These pages do contain useful info for site visitors but there's not a whole lot of content on these subdomains until I get round to building up each.

My rankings on google have now plummeted (dropped from first for my best keyword phrase to over 100, also big falls on other keywords with no competition). Rankings on MSN have gone unbeleivably good.

Is this to do with creating the new subdomains? If so it seems unfair as they are not spammy. Do I need to block the subdomains which are not fully developed from Google bot?

Or maybe I need to start again and use folders instead of subdomains (a shame, as I think the subdomains are best for users, as most of them are looking for info on a regional site, rather than the umbrella site).

Anyone any strong ideas or knowledge on this?

[skyewalk]

OK sounds like I should be doing the same. I did think what has happened sounded like the 950 pen, but thought also it could just be because the site was 'newer'. My site also ranks better on Live than I think it should. Yahoo is about right (though I can never get my deeper pages to rank on Yahoo)

A real shame as I thought subdomains looked better from a 'branding' point of view; also I have to get external linkers to change their links.

Do I also need to move my other domain that interlinks with the new one, to a folder? I'm really reluctant to do this as it is so established.

Thanks for all the advice - is anyone else chipping?

[Miamacs]

So you had...

- A domain that was new, linked to your other site that was performing OK
- Subdomains created on the new domain as well
- heavy interlinking with nothing else in the link profile
- ...not knowing that all subdomains are treated as different sites.

Somehow I get the picture that your navigation was like, using subdomains for every other page. But in Google's eyes that's a lot of ultra thin sites interlinking. In other words, spam.

Quadrille was right with everything.

But...
Even if subdomains weren't on the watchlist of the Google algo.
Even if excessive interlinking wasn't forwned on, you couldn't have made these pages rank.

Start getting links to Domain B other than from Domain A.

[mirrornl]

i must thank you all for this discussion,
finally i see light at the end of the tunnel,

i am going to put my subdomains in folders now

hope it helps

thanks a lot again!

[skyewalk]

Hi there, thanks for everything.

I think I might be moving my subdomains to folders as well.

ps. There are external links to DOMAIN_B, but they all go to SUB1.DOMAIN_B, none to the other subdomains.

I agree Google is likely to see the others as very thin sites.

[skyewalk]

Taking the plunge...

that's the first two subdomains across.

Is it ok to do the whole lot at once or will the Great Google have a fit about that too?

[mirrornl]

thats what i asked myself also
but i just did the whole lot at once

fingers crossed

[skyewalk]

Whoo hoo.

Now I've 301 redirected every somedomain and changed almost all my internal links....

[skyewalk]

OK - last question on this.

Google doesn't spider some of the subdomains very often.

Anything I can do to hurry it up so it sees they are now 301'd to folders?

[mirrornl]

[google.nl...]

and if you got a sitemap add it there

relax, keep fingers crossed and have a few beers

[mirrornl]

it's 2 days later now....
my index page just went supplemental..........

anyone got an answer to this?

[Quadrille]

No - but after a major change, you'll really need to keep your fingers crossed and give it a little while.

Do try a few searches for "a unique phrase from the site", do check that the 301s are set up properly; else it's wait and see, I fear ...

[mirrornl]

ty Quadrille...
i find my unique phrase supp....

i'll sit it out for a few days

[skyewalk]

As an afterward to this, just two days later:

My site was heavily spidered on the day after the changes.

My pages both on the old subdomains (where still indexed) and the new folders (where newly indexed) have rocketed up the rankings; in both cases going from 130+ to positions in the top 6 on Google.

Which seems an amazingly quick result.

[mirrornl]

4 days later
both sites on wich i 301-ed the subdomains to folders on the main domain, the main domains are gone almost completely supplemental now..... also the index pages....
any help mostly appreciated

[skyewalk]

1000 thankyous to Quadrille;

My sites, now hosted in folders rather than subdomains, are now ranking really well on Google and visitor levels are shooting up.

Many thanks once again.

And a message to anyone else on site structure:
probably best to use folders and avoid subdomains