Using subdomains for related landing pages?

[nodiffrei]

Seeking subdomain usage and related SEO advice...  I'd like to use multiple subdomains for multiple landing pages all with content related to the main root domain. Why?...Cost: so I only have to register one domain. One root domain for better 'branding'. Multiple subdomains that each focus on one specific reason & set of specific keywords people would search a solution to their reason to hire us (or our competition).

[AlanMosley]

Unless those subdomains for single page sites, may look spammy to google. you can put those pages in your own site, there is nothing to gain using subdomains

[ThompsonPaul]

Fully agree with Alan - subdomains would be a major waste of effort and SEO value.

Are you thinking you want subdomains perhaps so you can track them differently? There are many ways to do the necessary tracking with pages in subdirectories of the main site, so it's not necessary to use subdomains for this reason either.

Unless there's something missing in what you need here, integrating the landing pages into the main site is the vastly superior solution here.

Can you give us an idea what it is about subdomains that you feel you need?

Paul

[nodiffrei]

Thanks for both responses. Alan- These landing pages would be single page sites. Thompson Paul- The reason I thought sub-domains IS TO SAVE $ with Lander ($ per # domains) and the cost of registering many domains.

Here's the specifics of my search.. The targeted property owner mailing lists are based on data: mortgage, taxes & assessors. They give NO CLUES as to human condition that we look for when our mailers get responses.We have a list of motivations (or reasons for distress to sell their house) are financial or circumstantial: divorce, inheritance, job loss, job transfer, can't sell house, bankrupt, tenant trashed apartment, etc. These motivations are not apparent, obviously, on a mailing list. We want to learn the best way to specifically find people, who own their property in CT, who aren't searching to sell - but are looking for solution to divorce or whatever NOT realizing a cash buyer (us) is a real & UPRIGHT solution. ** We have a list of motivations that we want to define into what phrases people ask in Google to find answers; then what keywords get found for those queries.. and limit it the best we can to CT.** Thanks, Peter

PS:Like Squarespace is drag and drop creation for websites plus hosting, ecommerce & stats; so is www.landerapp.com to landing pages -- they offer customize-able templates that are SEO optimize-able, have great stats & offer drag & drop opt-in forms to integrate into my email service. Comments/advice?

[JaneCopland]

Hi Peter,

I understand that the platform only allows for subdomains. From a purely SEO point of view, subfolders or pages are preferable to subdomains because authority does not appear to pass between a parent domain and its subdomains in the same way as it does between subfolders and parent domains. If your landing page sites are only one pagers, they may be seen as quite thin as well.

However, there is no reason why you can't build quality content like this - it just may take more link building to establish the authority for the subdomains than it would for pages on the same site. You will need to ensure that as much unique content as possible is placed on the landing pages to increase their 'worth' in Google's eyes, given that they are separate from each other on subdomains.

[nodiffrei]

Hello again; after looking at your feedback; then a fresh look at our marketing needs & budget...  After viewing each of our competitors sites with keyword 'semi'-stuffing, empty tags, horrible SEO structure, very light traffic & way too much info.... So now we're thinking that we do not need a main site; AND JUST HAVE multiple landing pages each very focused on a single financial or situational motivation causing a property owner to want to sell quickly & we'll explain how we are an alternative than a realtor. Does using subdirectories still seem best for only having single page landing pages? Does anyone have a few informative links regarding setting up & use of subdirectories? Thx, Peter

[JaneCopland]

Hi Peter,

In some ways, subdirectories seems even more sensible when you're dealing with single landing pages, as they'll work together somewhat to look like a fuller site from Google's perspective, rather than just a collection of subdomains happening to exist on the same domain.

[nodiffrei]

Thanks very much Jane! I think subdirectories are how I'll go.

Effective; organic SEO is HUGE for my initial online success. We market only with direct mail so far. But mailing lists don't address human situations ie: people who've inherited a property AND with it a 2nd mortgage payment AND they're stressed because they can't afford the 2nd payment AND their realtor hasn't sold the inherited property.One last question for all-

With effective landing page SEO & SERP being my primary goal; is the web URL structure term "siloing" familiar to anyone and applicable / adaptable to my multiple landing pages? (I found the term  & explanation here: http://www.bruceclay.com/seo/silo.htm) Or is some other method more advisible in order to "pool" my subdirectories for better SEO in SERP? Peter