Website, webshop and blog. Subfolders or subdomains?

[WesleySmits]

Hello fellow mozzers,

I've seen a lot of discussion and confusion about whether you should use subfolders or subdomains when you have a website, a blog and a webshop.
Of course with subfolders the PageRank will be more effective since it's all in one domain.

On the other hand subdomains will be a better user experience since you can focus on just the webshop or just the blog.

Was wondering how you guys/girls think what would be the best way to handle this.

[ChrisDeGraff]

Hi Wesley,

I am new here, but I believe I can answer this one. As of the end of 2012, according to Google's Matt Cutts, brands using multiple subdomains will no longer receive the SERP advantage and subdomains and subdirectories are now both classified as internal links. Cutt's is recommending that you choose the structure that is easiest for you to maintain. Here is the YouTube video for more explanation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MswMYk05tk

I hope that answers your question.

Thanks,
Christine DeGraff

watch?v=_MswMYk05tk

[Raydon]

DEFINATELY subfolders.

If they are going to affect your SEO, you want to avoid subdomains as each subdomain will be treated as separate and irrelevant from others with regards to link juice and authority build up

you may have to work a little harder this way to achieve similar user experience to sub-domains, using things like geolocation services instead, or even making your site socially friendly and personalized with SSO and so on, and you may have to change your web design around this as well by incorporating navigation buttons or breadcrumbs in proper locations to enhance or organize user experience. In the end, for most situations, subfolders will pay off far far better in the long run, especially for new sites who need heavy SEO work. Down the line and when traffic and authority are established, you can always switch to subdomains and not care about SEO anymore, with proper 301s and other mitigations.

[WesleySmits]

Thank you for the answer and video Christine!

[Perfect007]

Hey Wesley,

Sub-directory will be a good option. You can find more info http://moz.com/blog/understanding-root-domains-subdomains-vs-subfolders-microsites  

I also like the common sense approach. Is your blog part of your site? Yes? Then have it as part of your site. Are you going to write around the topic of your products and services? Yep, Great. Then have it as part of your site so you can link them when natural to do so.