To Subdomain or Not Subdomain?

[cschwartzel]

I have a client that has a construction company that services a regional area. They now developed a PRODUCT that they want to promote that would have a national reach.

We are redesigning the site, with new branding and all. How do I treat the website URL structure? Is the product it's own domain because of the target market? Or should I make a subdomain because we want to tie the companies together in some fashion. Every article I read confuses me more on how to handle this.

Thoughts?

[FCBM]

Sub domain creates competition with the current domain. If it's a stand alone product it makes sense to have a whole different site. With that said It really depends on the product and what exactly is being done.

[DennisSeymour]

Hi Courtney,

Such a tricky problem! You'll probably get a lot of subjective replies.

I would only use subdomains if I wanted to treat it like a different "main" product or a company under the main brand

For SEO purposes, it's better to not make it a sub domain to get the full benefits of the main domain (I'm assuming the domain is already strong) so it's only a last resort for me.

[cschwartzel]

It is SO tricky……Driving me crazy kind of tricky….

It is a company under the brand. Basically, they install solar on residential and commercial buildings. The product is something that mostly government agencies I think would buy, and they will ship the product anywhere (I don't know yet if they even install the product). That product is solar as well.

They never invested in SEO on the first site they have up (which is only for their regional solar services)….so I am staring from ground zero.

Does that change your opinion Dennis?

Thanks!

[AlanMosley]

I would go subdomain, there has been much said about subdomains v subfolders where most say subfolders are best, but when asked no one has ever been able to provide evidence of this, in fact all I have seen said by google is that there is no difference.

So with subdomain you should benefit from shared authority, as well as separation in appearance.

[DennisSeymour]

LOL! Don't sweat it too much.

Then I would go with a sub domain. It's easier like that in this situation. You'd have plenty of options when something changes down the road.

PS. Alan is correct, it's hard to find much proof/evidence of this posted anywhere online. It's more of a "from experience" kind of thing.

[EGOL]

Rand answered a Q&A question here in February.  He recommends keeping all content on the same subdomain.  He said that Moz tested it..

http://moz.com/community/q/moz-s-official-stance-on-subdomain-vs-subfolder-does-it-need-updating

I redirected a couple subdomains into folders and the results have been kickass.

[AlanMosley]

I would not say I am convinced, but that is the only tested evidence I have seen. plenty of antidotal evidence, but the first test.
Thanks