keyword1.keyword2.com = keyword1-keyword2.com?

[barleduc]

keyword1.keyword2.com = keyword1-keyword2.com?

Does google treat dots the same way as hyphens?

Does it matter if keyword1 is a subdomain instead of being part of the main domain?

I have a good 1 keyword domain, I'm thinking of splitting the site up in themed subdomains.

keyword1.mainkeyword.com
keyword2.mainkeyword.com
keyword3.mainkeyword.com
etc.

Do you think this is a good idea?
Would google see 'keyword1 mainkeyword' as 1 keyphrase?

[Macguru]

As far as I know, Yes. Be carefull to have sufficient content for each "dot". I saw some abusers disappear really fast. But they did it all wrong and for the sole purpose of getting more than 1 spot on Google SERP.

[IanTurner]

I have also seen a lot of spammers using the "." technique. Though there are also good sites which use it too.

I would say thatif your content will stand up under scrutiny then you are okay, but if you are using similar content across a lot of URLs then beware.

[fathom]

Remembering that a sub-domain of a domain (keyword.keyowrd.com) is not a new domain but similar to keyword.com/keyword/file.html you would receive no extra weight -- just more appeal.

It doesn't hurt if used wisely, but it doesn't help any more either.

[Macguru]

fathom, when I try some high demand queries I often see sub.domain.com as independant domain.com on SERPs. I believe Google treat them better than 2 keywords in URL.

[fathom]

Although I to see the same thing, we need to place this in perspective.

Sub-domains are common among large sites and large sites tend to have lots of pages with lots of content, many backlinks, PageRank.

Keywords in the domain (+ sub, directory, file) help: yes

Is one weighted over the other, when all other things are equal: I doubt it

To clarify a bit further keyword.keyword.com implies the same domain, keyword-keyword.com implies a new domain that can also have:

keyword.keyword-keyword.com

[Dante_Maure]

It doesn't hurt if used wisely, but it doesn't help any more either.

I'm with MacGuru on this one fathom.

I know of at least one case where the intelligent use of sub-domains is yielding very favorable results with very few off site links.

[Macguru]

<off topic and sorry about it>
Not to mention indirect positive impact of multiple directory listings...
</off topic and sorry about it>

[fathom]

I know of at least one case where the intelligent use of sub-domains is yielding very favorable results with very few off site links

One use though is not a good sampling rate.

There are millions upon millions of www.domain.com in and around #1.

Using keyword.domain.com as opposed to domain.com/keyword strikes me as the same thing, and if sub-domain weighing (a preferred weighing) was indeed true, I would think that millions upon millions of these would out rank just domain.com.

I personally have not seen any such evidence the would support that conclusion -- across the board.

I few domains is just "intelligent use of sub-domains" and not an increase in weight.

[Chris_R]

I have used both and my opinion is it probably doesn't matter much.

It certainly SEEMS more spammy to use a subdomain, but the advantage of multiple SERP listings Mac mentioned come into play as well.

Personally, if you ask me - having

keyword1.keyword2.com is SLIGHTLY better than
keyword1-keyword2.com is SLIGHTLY better than
example.com/keyword1-keyword2/

I don't think it matters much. If it is in the URL - google places SOME weight on it - which doesn't seem as much as it used to be.

[barleduc]

Thanks for the comments!

The reason I was thinking of subdomains in this case, is because I have a good 1 keyword domain.
I'm going to develop a site based on that topic, the site will be divided in 5 or 6 subtopics with different content.
Therefor I thought I might as well use 5 or 6 subdomains.

I thought subdomains would work better in this case because people who would link to my subdomains will more likely use 'subkeyword.mainkeyword.com' as anchor text.

The keyphrases 'subkeyword mainkeyword' are much more popular than 'mainkeyword subkeyword' in this case.

If I would use mainkeyword.com/subkeyword/ then people would be more likely to have that as anchor text when linking to me, and as said, the keyphrase 'mainkeyword subkeyword' is by far not so popular as 'subkeyword mainkeyword'

Does it make sense to go for the subdomains in this case then? :)

[doc]

I would consider the following my preference:

keyword-keyword2.com the best or vise versa
keyword2.keyword.com second
keyword.com/keyword2 third

I have seen Google treat a subdomain (keyword2.keyword.com)
separate from keyword.com/keyword2 which may be included under the keyword.com listing.