Forum Creation: Create Subdomain or Folder?

Should I create a forum in a subdomain or folder?

[GatorMan]

Hi there! Thanks for taking a look to see if you can help!

I'm going to create a forum that will be related to my website. Would it be best to create a subdomain (forum.mysite.com) or just place the forum in a folder within my "public_html" folder (mysite.com/forum)?

What are the pros/cons of each?

Also, I'm going to use free forum software and I don't know a whole lot about them, other than I've got some experience as an assistant site admin & mod on a phpBB forum. Is there any reason I shouldn't use phpBB 2.x or anything that I should know about it?

Thank you, very much for taking the time to try to help me. I really do appreciate it! ;)

Have a great day!
GM

[Quadrille]

If the forum is very specific to your site, perhaps partly discussing site content, then using a folder will be the logical approach, as well as maximizing SEO benefits of the two being part of the same site.

For example, you have the definitive Pamela Anderson site (who doesn't?), and you want the forum to say so, frequently!

If, on the other hand, the forum needs some independence; perhaps you want some spin-off customers, but you don't want to risk scaring people away by being too cosy, then a subdomain may be the better route.

For example, if your site is specific to one motor racing team, but the forum is to be motor racing in general.

But the SEs (mostly) treat subdomains as separate sites, so there is a price to be paid for independence - separate marketing and SEO.

[Swanny007]

I always prefer to keep everything under a single domain. I'm not a big sub-domain fan. Another pro for the sub-domain crowd is that if you want to put forum.mydomain.com on a separate server, that's easily done. If you want to do it using a folder i.e. mydomain.com/forum then it's trickier.

[GatorMan]

Both of you gave good responses, plenty of food for thought.

I could easily use either one of Quadrille's reasons, it's just that close. You gave good supporting examples, Quadrille.

Swanny007,
I'm not a fan of subdomains, either. It's either part of the existing website or not. If not, then a new domain would be better (at least in non-hosting situations like mine.).

I'm going with a folder instead of a subdomain.

Thank ya'll! Very much!

Take care!
GM

[Quadrille]

I'm not a fan of subdomains, either. It's either part of the existing website or not. If not, then a new domain would be better (at least in non-hosting situations like mine.).

I agree 101% (and before you ask, standing up in a hammock) :)

And I'm 89.2% sure you've made the right decision.

[GatorMan]

I agree 101% (and before you ask, standing up in a hammock)

And I'm 89.2% sure you've made the right decision.

LOL!

Funny you should mention "hammock." I rolled out of one the first time I slept in one, way back when my wife & I first started dating. We were just laughing about it last week.

Thanks for the "right decision" confimation!

Now I just hope I made the right decision in using phBB 2.x.

Catch ya later!
GM

[edited by: GatorMan at 10:40 pm (utc) on April 9, 2007]