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  4. Passing value in a subdomain

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Passing value in a subdomain

On-Page Optimization
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  • NextDigital51
    NextDigital51 last edited by Mar 2, 2011, 2:49 AM

    Hi guys,

    I am planning of setting up a blog within a client's website, due to limitations to their server environment, I can only setup the blog in a subdomain, I have read in some articles saying subdomains don't pass value as well as subfolders. My questions are:

    1. Is it true that subdomains can't pass SEO value? For example, if I set up a blog (say blog.mydomain.com), will that improve long tail searches for my website (mydomain.com)?
    2. What are some recommendations for subdomains so that it passes more value back to the root domain (for example, internal linking from subdomain back to root domain)

    Thanks guys.

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • KeriMorgret
      KeriMorgret @saibose last edited by May 4, 2011, 5:24 PM May 4, 2011, 5:24 PM

      Clement, did this answer your question, or do you still need some more help? We'd be happy to help, just drop a note here.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • topic:timeago_earlier,2 months
      • saibose
        saibose last edited by May 4, 2011, 8:09 PM Mar 2, 2011, 4:10 AM

        Based on the version you have on your server, these documents would be helpful:

        http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.0/mod/mod_rewrite.html

        http://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/mod/mod_rewrite.html

        Please note: this is not something you would like to do unless you know Apache confuration yourself and you know the codes and its logic.

        KeriMorgret 1 Reply Last reply May 4, 2011, 5:24 PM Reply Quote 1
        • NextDigital51
          NextDigital51 @saibose last edited by Mar 2, 2011, 3:56 AM Mar 2, 2011, 3:56 AM

          Thanks for your response,

          I haven't try apache based redirect and url rewriting, care to elaborate more on these?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • saibose
            saibose last edited by Mar 2, 2011, 3:43 AM Mar 2, 2011, 3:43 AM

            Subdomains do not pass on good link juice to your domain. As Alan rightly pointed out the value is undermined due to the fact that Google sees them as separate domains.

            Have you tried apache based redirection and URL rewriting?

            NextDigital51 1 Reply Last reply Mar 2, 2011, 3:56 AM Reply Quote 0
            • AlanMosley
              AlanMosley last edited by May 4, 2011, 8:10 PM Mar 2, 2011, 3:20 AM

              Lets say you had a domain xyz.com, and you had 3 peole tbhat had their own blogs
              tom.xyz.com
              dick.xyz.com
              harry.xyz.com

              wel then search engines may see this as non related sites

              but if you had a site clothing.com

              and had shirts.clothing.com
              and shorts.clothing.com
              and pants.clothing.com
              then search engines proobably will see them as the same

              to help to make sure you are seem as one in the same site, do planty of linking betwen sites, haveing all your images and stayle sheets in teh parent domain will also help search engines see that you are one large site.
              try to make the links both ways,

              i have done this on a few sites and i have had good results

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
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