Subdomain, subfolder or separate domains?

[Horizon]

Hi Mozzers,

We're in the process of re-developing and redesigning several of our websites, and moving them all onto the same content management system. At the moment, although the websites are all under the same brand and roughly the same designs, because of various reasons they all either live on a separate domain to the main website, or are on a subdomain. Here's a list of what we have (and what we're consolidating):

• Main site - http://www.frenchentree.com/
• Property database - http://france-property.frenchentree.com/ (subdomain)
• Forum - http://www.france-forum-frenchentree.com/ (separate domain)
• Classified ads - http://www.france-classified-ads-frenchentree.com/ (separate domain)

My question to you lovely people is: should we take this opportunity through the redevelopment of the CMS to put everything into subfolders of the main domain? Keep things as they are? Put each section onto a subdomain? What's best from an SEO perspective?

For information - the property database was put onto a subdomain as this is what we were advised to do by the developers of the system. We're starting to question this decision though, as we very rarely see subdomains appear in SERPs for any remotely competitive search terms. Our SEO for the property database is fairly non-existent, and only ever really appears in SERPs for brand related keywords.

For further info - the forum and classifieds were under a separate brand name previously, so keeping them on separate domains felt correct at that time. However, with the redevelopment of our sites, it seems to make more sense to either put them on subdomains or subfolders of the main site. Our SEO for the forum is pretty strong, though has dwindled in the last year or so.

Any help/advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Matt

[Dan-Lawrence]

Hi Matt

My personal opinion is to consolidate everything on the one domain using subfolders (as you suggest) and set up domain forwarding from the old domains to the new subfolders which are replacing those domains.  Interesting to hear what others think too though ?

All Best

Dan

[Rubix]

I had this issue so many times with different clients in the past and I still continue to come cross with the same issue.  It's a challenge to deal with bunch of domains with no quality website or SEO, especially since the first penguin update.

Here is what I do and what i recommend,

1- Subdomain:  I don't recommend subdomains for SEO purposes at all as they are considered as a new domain and if they are related to main domain there is no reason why they shouldn't be created as a subpages. ( To be honest, i don't even like typing subdomains as I have to put dot in the middle of the domain, I already have to put one before .com I don't want to use another one). As  subdomains are treated as a new domain, you will have to do all marketing activities twice so you are actually duplicating the work.

2- Forum: I would recommend to have forum as a subdomain as well but In my previous tasks we actually had a lot of technical issues with forum integration. Things can go wrong easily on forums and it does effect the main domain, therefore i would say have the domain as a subpages as long as they don't create technical issues. If they do, then it could be worthwhile to consider a new domain.

3-  Classify Ads:  I  am not quite sure why you would have classify adds on a separate domain. Your specific domain is also a bit long to type. I would recommend subpages for this as it gives you chance to increase the number of pages on your main domain and i think it'd make user journey easier. Visitors wouldn't have to jump from one domain to another, everything will be under one roof.

In terms of separate domains, I use separate domains, only keyword related domain, for PPC purposes as i pay less click rate on some of the keywords. Does it save me a lot money? No, but the domains were already bought by my clients and at least I manage to save some money rather than keeping them for nothing. Other than that, as long as the domains don't have a new product, service or something different that worth to get a new domain, i don't recommend buying separate domains.

I agree with Dan, I strongly recommend to have one good website and do all you marketing activities on one of them.

I hope that helps.

[irvingw]

yes, one website with subfolders is definitely best.

[Horizon]

Thanks for the responses all.

I've always had the suspicions that subfolders are the way to go, and will incorporate this into our development.

Thanks

Matt

[carlod]

Hi Rubix (and everyone else!)

I actually posted a question of my own that is similar, and another member Vadim Mialik referred me to this video by Matt Cutts (Google) on subdomains vs. subdirectories-- in a nutshell, Matt says that there is really very little difference, and it is up to what you prefer.

What do you guys think?

P.S. Would be keen to know how you got on with your implementation

Cheers,
Carlo