SEO and subdomains

[redbird]

My plan is to set up loads of subdomains on basics co uk
eg.

food basics
guitar basics
myspace basics
learn basics
football basics
accounting basics
poker basics
fishing basics

there are potentially hundreds more all with search results

My question though is as far as SEO is concerned does anyone know how the two words are ranked by google when one is a subdomain compared to the two words being in same domain.

eg foodbasics co uk compared to food.basics co uk. If the sites were identical (ignoring the duplicate content issues) which would rank higher.

I guess what I'm asking is, will my idea work?

Dave

 

[mxm]

jump up and find a fruit in your hair

yes it will

 

[damion]

Hi Dave,

If you're using subdomains you have to keep in mind that each instance would be regarded as a unique site on it's own.

Example:

food.basics[.co.uk]
guitar.basics[.co.uk]
myspace.basics[.co.uk]

Would all be regarded as unique websites.

Would this mean that a URL like this would have priority to rank higher then the actual two word combo?
Nope

It still depends on the authority a page/domain receives so it wouldn't give you a automatic advantage over a exact keywordkeyword.co.uk type of domain.

I would use subfolders, because you will be expanding one one site and grow that to something authoritative - using subdomains you will be using as Google is concerned multiple sites.

And as you can imagine all the hardships that come with dealing with one site alone is now multiplied by...the amount of subdomains you're planning to use.

2cents

 

[BFTUK]

If you use subdomains they are largely treated as new sites however they can gain strength and trust from the 'main' domain so make sure you don't neglect that aspect.

Also be sure to be ready to 301 all subdomains URLs to subdirectories if Google ever crackdown on subdomain spam your 'quality' (as i'm sure it will be) site might get snagged in their filters and bang goes your traffic!

 

[mxm]

treat me good and fly high

superb advice BF... something lots of peeps overlook when setting a toaster site up... also have your sub folders named exactally the same as SD, so IF you need to change the site map / structure the engines will not loose you overnight...

 

[paul]

For what it's worth I believe that keywords in a URL before the extension are more powerful than ones after it. Also what you have to consider is that people who link to you without being asked to, often use your URL as anchor text which is what gives keyword domains much of their strength. It would also be hard for a search engine to penalise you for over use of anchor text in external links (this does happen) if those keywords were your exact domain name.

 

[mxm]

look up and fish your trout

redbird.. you couldnt ask for a better response if you paid for it

Again, excellent and 100% no sandbox info from Paul... looks like your toaster site is going to be SO BIG on the engines! :-D

 

[redbird]

redbird.. you couldnt ask for a better response if you paid for it

Again, excellent and 100% no sandbox info from Paul... looks like your toaster site is going to be SO BIG on the engines! :-D

Strange you should say that, was just about to do a reply along those lines.
These sort of responses are excactly what this forum is all about to my mind.

Thanks very much to all, much appreciated.

Dave