Can sub-domains be SEO friendly?

sub-domain SEO

[timhomer]

I want to launch a suite of websites. Each will concentrate on a specific segment of a common industry so will all the related.

I could launch www.aaa.com, www.bbb.com, www.ccc.com etc, which makes SEO easier, but I could also launch a primary domain with sub-domains such as www.primary.aaa.com, www.primary.bbb.com etc. This would be far cheaper and easier to manage, but would this make SEO that much harder for the sub-domains?

[caveman]

Hey timhomer, welcome to WebmasterWorld!

As long as you don't over do it with the number of subdomains, and/or how you cross link them back and forth to/from the main domain's pages, not only will it be fine, but it will probably make your SEO life a bit easier.

Some sites, e.g., with lots of authority and good standing, run tons of subdomains (e.g., About.com) and have no problem.

The only caution about running too many on a smaller site (i.e., one lacking the age and authority of an About.com) is that using lots of subdomains used to be a tactic very much associated with spam. So do it prudently and you should be in good shape.

[LifeinAsia]

I could launch www.aaa.com, www.bbb.com, www.ccc.com etc, which makes SEO easier, but I could also launch a primary domain with sub-domains such as www.primary.aaa.com, www.primary.bbb.com etc.

I think you meant www.aaa.primary.com, www.bbb.primary.com, etc.

I recommend that you drop the www. part and just do aaa.primary.com, bbb.primary.com. etc. Although do keep www.primary.com and redict and www.*.primary.com to the non-www subdomain.

[hereyougo]

What is the advantage of dropping www?
Won't having redirects affect my SEO standing?

[SandySEO]

Yes, Please clear me also what's the difference between wwww.a.abc.com & a.abc.com? Is there any benefits of using non www URL's in subdomains?

- SandySEO

[SandySEO]

Hello,

Is no body able to post answer in webmasterworld?

SandySEO

[coopster]

The "www" in any host name is a subdomain. If I register a domain "example.com" then "www.example.com" is a subdomain of the primary domain. The biggest reason that folks use "www" is a cultural carryover. In the early days everybody referred to the internet as the World Wide Web and the whole "www" thing took off.

Dick: Do you have a "www" yet?
Jane: Huh?
Dick: You know, a web site?
Jane: Oh, no, not yet. I'll have to get a "www" set up!

Some browsers even latched on to the idea and would automatically wrap anything you keyed into their address bar with a prefix of "www" and a suffix of ".com" in order to try and help you get where they though you might be going.

So, many folks still associate a web site as having to have the "www" in it the domain. Many will try to key this into the address bar. If they don't find your site, you might lose the traffic. So, people starting setting up redirects even if they didn't really advertise or promote their sites as a "www" site. If somebody keys in the "www" version in their browser address bar or setup a link to your site with the "www" in the reference, they would never find you unless you have something setup on your end to capture and redirect that traffic to the resource they seek.

[caveman]

SandySEO:
[google.com...]

[SandySEO]

Many Thanks Guzz........

Cheers!
SandySEO