Negatives to using custom sub domain?

[blitzna10]

So - being photographers, we have our main website, but also, we use a hosted service for all our client galleries (www.zenfolio.com)

So, in effect, we have two websites:

1. Our main informational website
2. Our client gallery/proofing website

The client gallery has back links to our main website - so, when people are viewing their gallery, they can easily get back to our main site. We also have thrown a few of our preferred keywords in there for SEO purposes. The gallery has thousands of pages which link back to the main site.

So.. the client gallery URL can either be: http://ourbusinessname.zenfolio.com OR we can have it so it uses our own domain, such as: http://gallery.ourbusinessname.com

The question is, which domain name will benefit the back links more? Our custom subdomain (which links to our main domain) or, using the Zenfolio domain (which is external to our site). Or, is there no real difference either way?

Or.. do I make no sense?

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[RyanKent]

I agree with most of what Mysterio shared, but I prefer a third option that was not mentioned.

If your current site is ourbusinessname.com then I prefer your gallery to be at ourbusinessname.com/gallery

By combining both sites under the same domain, you will combine your Domain Authority from both sites, which should offer a ranking benefit to both sites.

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[RyanKent]

There is a big debate of ourbusinessname.com/xxxx and sub-domains but let's not get into that

The challenge with our not discussing the topic is it leaves blitzna with trying to make a decision, and the results of his decision will differ depending on which route he chooses.

If he chooses the subdomain path: http://gallery.ourbusinessname.com, then he actually gains no ranking benefit at all from the move, and he will lose ranking based on the juice lost from the 301 redirect. There may still be financial benefits from not having to support two distinct websites, but that is not related to ranking.

If he chooses the folder approach: http://ourbusinessname.com/gallery then the main site will increase their DA (assuming the gallery has backlinks or will gain backlinks) which offers a benefit for both the original site and the gallery.

What advantage do you see being offered from choosing the subdomain approach in this instance?

[blitzna10]

Thanks everyone.

So - it is all agreed that using my own domain (in some form) is definitely the best option. That's good.

**In regards to Sub Domain V Folder. **

Before tackling that issue fully  - Just to be clear, the Gallery is a hosted solution, so, I can not just pick it up and move it to wherever I like.

I can however, create a CNAME record and redirect it that way. BUT Im no expert in this area - I know I can use a CNAME record to redirect to a sub domain, but can you redirect to a folder?