What is a Subdomain And When do You Need it?
Site Audit Issues
With a subdomain, you can organize the content on your website, aid users in discovering more products, and even increase sales. However, to achieve those goals, you should first figure out how to use it correctly.
So, what is a subdomain for a website, how do subdomains work, and when do you need them? Read along to find out!
Subdomain definition
Let’s kick off our guide with the basics and answer the key question – what is a subdomain? In a nutshell, it’s an extension of your domain that structures the content and broadens your business offerings.
With the help of subdomains, you can create specific standalone pages or functions — for instance, a blog or an online store.
How to understand the URL structure
To further understand a domain and subdomain, let's analyze the URL structure. A URL consists of several components, with the protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) preceding the subdomain. When loading the website, this part transmits data from a web server to your browser.
In turn, the root domain comes after the subdomain, which consists of two core parts:
- The second-level domain (SLD) — your website's name (usually your brand or business name).
- The top-level domain (TLD) — the ending of your domain (like ".com" or ".org.")
The most widespread subdomain is "www," which stands for "World Wide Web." The subdirectory guides visitors to a website's main directory, where you can find the homepage and other essential pages.
Different subdomains play distinct roles in shaping a website. One of the most prominent domain and subdomain examples is Google. Its root domain is www.google.com, which is necessary for online search. However, Google is much more than just a search engine. It also offers subdomain names like docs.google.com for Google Docs and ads.google.com for Google Ads.
Thanks to this isolation of different products on subdomains, Google ensures its search engine delivers search-related content without distractions. At the same time, the company can showcase diverse products effectively while maintaining the same well-known and trusted domain name.
How do subdomains differ from subdirectories?
Both subdomains and subdirectories are smaller subsets of a root domain that organize the website content. However, their functions differ significantly.
A subdomain works as a separate website that differs from the main domain in design or interface. A subdirectory, on the other hand, is like a folder inside a domain.
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https://www.stellardigital.in/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Subdomain-VS-Subdirectory.jpg
Alt text: Subdomain vs. subdirectory
Now, imagine you run an online bookshop and want to add a blog with book selections and news. Making the blog a subdirectory means creating a new page within your main website. It will have the same look and system as the rest of your site. In this case, the URL will be something like “www.mybookshop.com/blog.”
However, opting for a subdomain is better if you're starting a blog about something entirely different (for example, personal book reviews). This way, you use a different system (like WordPress) with a unique look. The blog will live outside your main site. Then, the subdomain URL will be “blog.mybookshop.com.”
When you look at URLs, a subdomain comes before the main domain, while a subdirectory comes after it. And there's a subtle difference in how they affect your site's structure.
With a subdirectory, you have subfolders pointing to different topics. But a subdomain lets you organize pages differently. For instance, ads.google.com has "home" as a subdirectory, leading to more pages like "How it works." Thus, it’s easier for users and search engines to navigate the website.
Subdomain or subdirectory: What to choose?
If your content differs from your main site, a subdomain structure is best. It keeps things clear for users and search engines.
But if your content fits well with your main site, like book selections on a bookshop site, a subdirectory is your go-to. This solution keeps everything organized and connected.
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Alt text: Subdomains and subdirectories
Subdomains use cases
Subdomains give specific pages a distinct identity within your main website. Here are a few scenarios where this option can bring value to your brand or business.
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https://makewebbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/subdomain-feature-1-1024x647.jpg
Alt text: Subdomain address
Blog
If your blog covers topics and keywords that don't align closely with the central theme of your website, a subdomain is a perfect solution. This way, you'll present diverse content without confusing your audience.
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Alt text: Subdomain blog address
eCommerce store integration
Use a subdomain to incorporate eCommerce features into your website, especially if you want to distinguish your primary offerings and your merchandise store clearly.
Such a subdomain example can be a website that initially started as a blog. Over time, you've grown your audience to the point where you’re ready to sell products or services.
With a subdomain, it’s possible to create an online store using an eCommerce platform. For instance, add Shopify or WooCommerce as a subdomain to your existing WordPress blog.
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Alt text: Subdomain in eCommerce
Website development and testing
Subdomains are an excellent environment for testing a new iteration of your current website or specific pages. Experiment with new features and address any bugs without disrupting the functionality of your live site.
Also, you can use subdomains as platforms for new websites, especially if you develop them using website builders. In this case, it’s possible to create a website for free during the trial period. Thus, you can explore the builder's features freely before committing.
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https://weblium.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2-eng.png
Alt text: Subdomain for the Weblium website builder
Mobile optimization
There are plenty of small business websites with built-in responsiveness. It ensures that the content adapts easily to users' devices. However, you may also need to optimize for mobile.
Integrating mobile functionality into an existing website initially designed for desktops is challenging. Use a mobile subdomain to facilitate this process without a site overhaul.
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Alt text: Mobile subdomain example
Addressing new audiences or business goals
With a subdomain, you can tailor content to specific goals or target audiences hassle-free. It’s especially relevant if new offers or audiences differ from those on the main website.
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https://www.nichemarket.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Root-domain-and-subdomain-structure.png
Alt text: Subdomains for different audiences
Creating a support hub or community forum
A subdomain is ideal when your product requires in-depth guidance beyond the FAQ section. It works as a platform with a distinct navigation structure where users find all the necessary resources.
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Alt text: Subdomain support page
Global audience reach
Expanding your business into new countries requires tailoring content to the specific needs of that audience. A subdomain is a perfect space for this purpose. Create multiple subdomain extensions at no additional cost, preserving your domain name. It’s much cheaper than purchasing separate country-specific domains.
It’s also possible to use subdomains to address different languages. Wikipedia, for instance, simplifies language-specific navigation with smart subdomain naming — it.wikipedia.org for Italian speakers, ge.wikipedia.org for German ones, and so on.
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https://www.portent.com/images/2019/11/Example-of-International-Subdomain-1024x723.jpg
Alt text: International subdomain
Can subdomains benefit your SEO?
The short answer is "yes" — a well-optimized subdomain significantly boosts your website's overall SEO strategy. But how, exactly?
Google recognizes the relationship between subdomains and the primary domain. It considers them parts of the same entity. As a result, Google bots find and index subdomain pages similarly to subdirectories.
With a subdomain, you can also achieve the following:
- Organize content separately to reduce the information clutter on your main site and improve navigation.
- Focus on international markets or different topics to target a broader audience.
- Dive deeper into specific subjects to establish authority in niche markets.
- Target different keywords without compromising your main website's primary purpose.
Users quickly find relevant content on a subdomain. It creates a positive user experience and boosts engagement. Increased visitor time on your site indicates to Google that it's credible and valuable, resulting in improved search rankings.
But does it make subdomains better than subdirectories for SEO? Unfortunately, there’s no single answer to this question.
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Alt text: Subdomain vs. subdirectory for SEO
Subdomains vs. subdirectories: What's best for your SEO?
Many SEO experts prefer subdirectories as they directly link to the main domain's authority. Subdirectories use the benefits of your hard-earned backlinks and optimized content from your main site. As a result, their ranking and organic search performance improve faster.
Why? That’s because subdomains start from scratch. Google acknowledges their connection to the primary domain but treats them as separate pages. Therefore, the subdomains don't receive the authority of the main website. You need to spend extra time and effort optimizing them for SEO. Therefore, it usually takes longer to see positive results.
Even when a subdomain achieves high rankings, it doesn’t necessarily boost your primary site, just like subcategories. At the same time, subdomains excel at improving overall brand visibility and channeling traffic to specific business segments.
To achieve efficient subdomain SEO, create them only for content that differs significantly from your main site (but still maintains a brand association). Thus, you will optimize for new keywords and attract traffic from specific audiences.
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https://www.fourfront.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/subdomain-or-subdirectory-fourfront.jpg
Alt text: Subdomain and subdirectory benefits
A short guide to subdomain creation
Now that you know what a subdomain example is, you may wonder how to create one for your root domain. Although the specifics vary depending on your hosting interface, the general steps are similar. Here's how to do it in IONOS.
- Log in to your account. Next, access your hosting provider's control panel or CPanel. In IONOS, go to "Domains & SSL" and select your primary domain name.
- On the "Domain Details" page, find the "Subdomains" section and click "Create Subdomain."
- Type in the desired name for your subdomain. Ensure it aligns with the purpose of the subdomain. For instance, use "Shop" for an eCommerce site or "Help" for a help center.
- If your subdomain targets a new language, use the correct country code top-level domain (ccTLD). Refer to the World Standards website for a complete list of these codes. That minimizes user confusion and organizes your content for SEO purposes.
- Once you create the subdomain name, click "Save." Your hosting provider will integrate the subdomain into your domain name system (DNS) settings.
- It may take up to 48 hours for your subdomain to become fully implemented. Then, your new domain will appear under the "Subdomains" section in your DNS settings.
How to find domains that need to be checked with Netpeak Spider
Selecting the right websites for expired domain analysis is vital. This guide will help you identify potential domains with valuable links.
- Choose the top websites
Use platforms like SimilarWeb and Ahrefs to choose high-rated news and media websites. Then, manually review the list to identify sites with many external links, such as Wikipedia, Wikihow, BBC.co.uk, Foxnews.com, and others.
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https://static.netpeaksoftware.com/media/ru/image/blog/post/dd96103a/image6.png
Alt text: SimilarWeb top websites ranking
- Run a server response content check
Use Netpeak Spider to check server response content for the following values:
- Status code = 200 OK.
- Make sure that the source code includes meaningful content.
- Use the 'Source code and HTTP headers analysis' tool to verify the correctness of the source code.
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Alt: Netpeak Spider 'Source code and HTTP headers analysis' tool
- Set up crawling settings and parameters
Enable multi-domain crawling to analyze multiple sites deeply at once. Crawl all subdomains to identify them as internal and prevent unnecessary duplication.
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Alt text: Netpeak Spider crawling settings
As for the crawling parameters, focus on the three essential ones:
- 'Status Code' for compliant pages
- 'External Links' to gather necessary links
- 'Outgoing Links' automatically enabled for collecting external links
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Alt text: Netpeak Spider key parameters
- Crawl the websites
To crawl websites efficiently, use a proxy and limit crawling threads. Thus, you will avoid potential blocks. Specify the maximum crawling depth for each site. Consider limiting the number of crawled pages in iterations to manage RAM usage.
- Export the reports
Create a segment for compliant pages to streamline the exported links. Then, export external link data to ensure it includes relevant details like source and anchor text.
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Alt text: Netpeak Spider segment choice
- Check the domains
Check your domains manually or extract unique links from exported files through a script. If you choose the second option, use Netpeak Checker to handle filtering and extraction.
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Alt text: Domain verification in Netpeak Checker
Once you have completed all the steps above, apply regex filters to extract desired domains and export filtered data to manageable xlsx files for further analysis.
Conclusion
Now you know what is subdomain, how it differs from a subdirectory, and which is the better option for specific pages. Use the tips from this article to identify situations when you need a subdomain and set it up correctly.
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