Sub-domain dilema - variations

[Bragg]

Hi All,

We're creating a sub-domain for a new program launch on a client site and we need to choose the "right" sub-domain name that properly reflects the offering and hopefully keyword driven.

The client is already using the preferred sub-domain name but until we get clarification that we can take it over, I'm doing my due diligence and expecting a worst case scenario in that we cannot use it.

The current preferred sub-domain is only a landing page (not a full site) and it does NOT rank for anything and it's not being built out further.

My question:

Would pluralizing our preferred keyword have any effect in the way SEs see the two sub-domains as they're very closely related?

hardcandy.sitename.com

or

hardcandies.sitename.com

The new sub-domain would be a fully-functional-SEO-friendly site (well that's the plan anyway).

Thanks for all your help.

[YannickVeys]

No. Search engines look at the subdomains as two different sites. One letter difference, or one hundred won't make a difference.

Good luck!

[Bragg]

Thanks Yannick. I figured but a little part of me was seeking reassurance and since this is a client's site it's always best getting a second opinion, no matter how trivial.

Cheers!

[YannickVeys]

No problem, glad I could help! Good luck!

[EGOL]

I agree with Yannick that search engines currently seem to be viewing subdomains as separate websites.... and... for that reason... I would place this content in a folder in the root domain rather than on a subdomain.

In early 2010 I redirected two large subdomains to folders in the root and the results have been kickass.

[Bragg]

I'm not debating that folder structure off the root domain is always better but the current situation is that we need to work off a sub-domain.