What is a Subdomain? An Intro to Website Structure 

Your website is growing, but with all the pages and sections adding up with your growth, organizing it may get confusing. You need a solution that’s both user-friendly and optimized for search engines. The answer? Subdomains.  

We’ll cover what a subdomain is, how it works, and why many businesses use them. You’ll also learn about subdomains vs. subdirectories, their impact on SEO, and get a quick overview of how to set one up. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether subdomains are the right choice for your own website. 

What is a subdomain?  

 A subdomain is an add-on to your main domain that lets you create separate sections under your website. With it, you don’t need register a new domain name so it’s fantastic for sites that need multiple or distinct sections. 

Businesses and brands often use subdomains to:  

• Organize content 

• Expand into new markets  

• Provide specific resources to users  

Companies, for example, would use subdomains for regional sites or a support portal for their customer service. It makes your website more accessible while you get a structured experience that keeps content well-organized.  

Common uses of subdomains 

Blogs and content hubs 

If you want content organized and separate from the main site, then subdomains might be right for you. HubSpot’s blog, for example, lives at blog.hubspot.com. It provides a tailored interface with hundreds of articles on marketing, sales, and business growth, giving readers an easy way to explore specific topics. 

eCommerce stores 

Businesses often set up subdomains to improve their eCommerce experience. It lets them add features like secure checkout and customized inventory management, which is separate from the main site. Take shop.mattel.com, it’s a dedicated space for toy shopping, making the experience smoother and more tailored than the main website. 

Regional sites 

You can cut down the process for language translations and SEO efforts whenever you use subdomains. For businesses with a global audience, subdomain examples like “uk.example.com” or “fr.shop.com” allow for localized regional content. Your site can be more effective in reaching out to international customers with this method. 

Customer support and help centers 

Show customers you care about them by using subdomains as dedicated customer service portals, FAQs or support articles. Having support resources on a separate subdomain makes them easier to find and ensures your users get straight to the info they need. 

Staging and testing 

Developers employ subdomains to test new site features, design updates, or integrations before they go live. If you’ve got a dev team, they can adjust and spot issues without touching the live website. Using subdomains for staging environments is a really safe way to manage website updates. 

Mobile 

Some businesses may create subdomains to offer a mobile-optimized version of their website.  CNN utilizes “m.cnn.com” to provide a streamlined viewing experience for mobile users. With this, you can ensure that your website is tailored to mobile users. Mobile subdomains can still be useful for older sites or those with highly specialized mobile needs. 

Subdomain vs. Subdirectory: What’s the difference? 

Subdomains are the perfect tool for organizing content but how do they stack up against subdirectories? 

Organizing a website doesn’t have to be complicated, both subdomains and subdirectories simplify the process. But each of them has a different purpose in structuring your site. 

Definition 

• Subdomain. A subdomain is an extension of your main domain, placed before your primary domain name. For instance, in blog.example.com, “blog” is the subdomain. Consider them a separate part of your website that allows you to create independent sections. 

• Subdirectory. A subdirectory is a folder within your main domain’s structure. It also appears after the primary domain name, such as example.com/blog. Subdirectories organize content to create a more unified, cohesive structure. 

SEO impact 

Subdomain  

Pros: 

• Allows for focused SEO on distinct content types, targeting different keywords and audiences. 

• Useful for clear segmentation of content, as subdomains are treated as separate entities by search engines. 

• It has flexibility in different server configurations and environments. 

 Cons: 

• Requires separate SEO efforts which can divide your site’s search ranking and make it harder to build a cohesive SEO strategy. 

• Links and traffic to a subdomain might not benefit the main domain’s search ranking, potentially slowing growth. 

• Each subdomain is treated as a separate entity by search engines, so domain search ranking doesn’t pass between main domain and subdomains. 

Subdirectory  

Pros: 

• Places SEO authority or search ranking under a single domain, while strengthening your main website’s rankings as all content contributes to one URL. 

• Easier to manage as subdirectories share the main site’s SEO metrics, allowing for a more unified strategy. 

Cons: 

• May lead to keyword competition within the main domain, especially if content covers a wide variety of topics. 

• Not ideal if you need highly distinct areas, as search engines may view all content as interconnected, potentially limiting specificity. 

• Less flexibility in server configuration compared to subdomains. 

Uses 

Subdomains are best for diverse content that stands apart from the main site, such as: 

• Blogs  

• Online stores  

• Regional or language-specific sites  

• Support or customer service portals  

• Testing and staging environments 

Subdirectories are ideal for smaller websites or those with content related categories such as: 

• Product categories  

• Company information  

• Blogs that are tightly integrated with the main site’s SEO strategy  

• Resources or guides  

Technical considerations 

• Subdomains often require separate analytics tracking and individual SSL certificates, along with dedicated SEO management. Each subdomain also needs its own DNS configuration to ensure proper routing. Remember that subdomains on different servers can affect load speeds and the overall user experience. 

• Subdirectories are easier to manage within a single analytics and SEO strategy. They share the main domain’s hosting environment, which greatly simplifies technical upkeep and provides a more unified experience. Also doesn’t require additional DNS or SSL certificate requirements.  

 If you’re looking to create a separate area with unique content, then a subdomain may be the way to go. A subdirectory might be more effective for related content that benefits from a unified structure.   

How to create a subdomain on Domain.com 

Creating a subdomain on Domain.com is pretty simple and allows you to expand your website efficiently. To create a subdomain, follow these steps: 

1. Log in to Your Account Manager. Access your Domain.com account. 

2. Navigate to the Hosting tab. Click on the “Hosting” tab on the left-hand side of the menu. If you have multiple hosting accounts, select the one you want to update by clicking the “MANAGE” button. 

3. Edit your subdomain. Click on “Assign/Edit Your Domain” to add your subdomain. 

4. Add a new subdomain. Click on “ASSIGN NEW,” then select “Add Domain not listed” and click “SELECT.” 

5. Enter subdomain details. Type in your desired subdomain name and click “SELECT.” 

6. Done. Now your subdomain is added to your account manager. 

That’s it. After completing these steps, your new subdomain will be set up and ready for use. 

The impact of subdomains on SEO 

How exactly do subdomains impact your site’s SEO?  

Potential for divided traffic and links 

Search engines treat subdomains as a separate website. However, this also means any traffic or links pointing to your subdomain doesn’t automatically boost the main site’s ranking power. You might miss the opportunity for better visibility and authority in a single domain. 

So, if your blog on a subdomain gets popular then it won’t necessarily improve the visibility of your main site in search results. 

Separate content focus  

Organizing content by topics helps search engines understand the structure and purpose of your site. Grouping related content under a specific area tells search engines what each section is about, helping them match it with relevant searches.  

Subdomains help with targeted organization. You improve your chances of ranking higher for specific keywords because search engines can more accurately connect each topic with user queries.   

It also helps user experience (UX) since the content is organized and navigable, so users know exactly where to go and what to expect when they explore your site. In turn, they’re more likely to stay longer on your site, telling search engines that your content is relevant and helpful.  

Independent SEO authority 

SEO authority is the amount of trust a website has in the eyes of search engines. It’s influenced by factors like high-quality backlinks from reputable sites, relevant and valuable content, and good user engagement. Websites with strong authority are seen as more trustworthy and are likely to rank higher in search results. 

So, independent SEO authority means that each subdomain builds its own search strength, separate from the main domain. It allows you to target specific keywords or audiences for each subdomain without affecting the SEO of your main site.  

You can make a blog ranking for informational keywords, while the main site might target product-related keywords. 

Key factors in using a subdomain  

Before you get started on creating subdomains, you need to recognize a few factors: 

• Purpose of the content. If the content serves a unique function—like a blog, store, or support portal then a subdomain may help keep it organized and separate from your main site’s core focus. 

• SEO goals. Subdomains require separate SEO efforts, so if you’re looking to strengthen overall site authority, consider whether a subdomain or subdirectory better aligns with your strategy. Subdomains are better when you want to rank distinct content independently. 

• User experience. A subdomain can help users find specific sections more easily, especially when targeting different audiences or regions. But see whether users would prefer a unified experience under one domain. 

• Maintenance and management. Subdomains can be more complex to manage, as each may require individual tracking, search engine optimization, and security settings. Choose a subdomain only if the benefits of separation outweigh the additional upkeep. 

Get the best out of your brand’s organization with subdomains    

Subdomains are a pretty powerful way to expand your website and provide specialized content for your audience. You can organize diverse content like a pro and create a seamless user experience with it. 

When used strategically, subdomains can give your site the flexibility it needs to grow in new directions without compromising your main brand. 

Ready to take control of your subdomains? Transfer your domains to Domain.com today and keep everything, main domains and subdomains included, organized in one convenient place! 

Frequently asked questions