Client has franchisees on separate sub domains

[johnos-journey]

Hi, a large client of mine has all of his franchisee network on sub domains and on separate wordpress websites (multi-sites). I have advised him that the best way forward is to use the main company .com domain and create sub folders for all of his franchisee areas.

Does anyone foresee any problems with this going forward or do you have any advice to offer. I'd be interested in hearing what your verdict is on the subdomain vs subfolder war.

Many thanks

[johnos-journey]

Good to know I'm on the right track, thanks for your feedback Highland.

[Highland]

I think you're right. it doesn't sound like there's a solid case here for subdomains. Consolidation would make for easier marketing as well.

[johnos-journey]

Hi Highland, thanks for your input. As it stands at the moment the 'carpet' company has its main website on Wordpress with 20 multi-sites (franchisee sites) all on separate subdomains. BUT the main problem is, is that main company website used to get about 250 sessions per day and now they only get around 60 per day.

The franchisees have basically duplicated each website and changed a few headings but no real change in content making the site have loads of duplicate content. My gut feeling is that they have lost a substantial amount of authority due to all the subdomain websites. I am planning on a rebuild and then putting all the franchisee pages in folders feeding off the main company website. The only reason for the separate franchisee sites is so they can update their own news section.

I think this can all be done from one main website and pull local 'tagged' news articles from the franchisee pages.

[Highland]

Subdomains are a bank shot at best. Google can determine their relationship to the root domain, but you're relying on Google to make that connection. A subfolder, however, has an implicit connection to the root domain (because it's under said domain). Just understand that a subdomain (for the purposes of SEO) should be treated like it is its own site. That means each one gets its own marketing campaign.

Should you consolidate? Possibly. How related are the franchisees? I mean, if we're talking restaurants that's a no-brainer to consolidate, but if we're talking about, say, carpet cleaning you could make a case for subdomains focusing the local aspects better. Additionally, a subdomain would afford them their own site so they could do distinct advertising/promos.