Which is better for linkbuilding - Internal or external blog?

[Bolius]

Well, here's one for the linkbuilding experts.

I'm having a discussion with a client regarding a linkbuilding campaign utilizing a blog. Which is better:

A. Setting up a blog on a subdomain (blog.website.com) and anchortextlinking to main domain (website.com/page)?

or

B. Setting up a blog on an external domain (external-blog.com) and anchortextlinking to client domain (website.com/page)?

I've had success earlier with a blog on a subdomain (solution A), but everyone in the internets-sphere says external links is better....

Well, which is it?

[Marcus_Miller]

That is a question with no answer, it's like saying, which is the better hair style,  which is the better film, which is the best Beatles album, it simply does not have a definite or simple answer.

The best blog is the one you make a lot of effort with and make valuable to the intended readers. If the only purpose of the blog is to throw up some quickfire content to build links, then neither will do any great good.

In fact, I would suggest a third option, the best blog is the one on the main domain, the one that enriches the site, allows you to link to your products / services where applicable and to hopefully generate a readership and some external links into the main domain.

If you want a quick fix to build some text links, the subdomain or external options are both relevant, but don't expect them to sky rocket you to the top of the rankings unless you make the content valuable and if you are going to do that, then put the blog on the site itself.

Probably not the answer you were looking for so... sorry!

Marcus

[jeffreytrull1]

If I'm understanding correctly, you're trying to site up a blog for a company and to derive SEO benefit from that blog by sending links back to the main site?

First off, if you're trying to acquire links to your site, I wouldn't recommend either strategy. A company blog is typically used to write great content and have other sites link back to your content.

If you're using either of your strategies (A or B), there might not be much value for a link back to your own website depending on how the websites are hosted  from the same server (see here: http://www.seomoz.org/q/do-sites-on-the-same-c-block-and-same-server-count-as-seperate-linking-root-domains-when-linking-to-each-other)

I would recommend this: set up a blog at either blog.website.com or website.com/blog and post content on their. It can link back to your website.com/pages. No, these don't count as external links, but there is still the potential for SEO benefit.

If your write great content, you can earn links from external sites, which is potentially more valuable and seems to be what you are looking for.

[Thommas]

I would also recommend a third option ie. www.companysite.com/blog (this way  backlinks will be strengthening your domain's authority) Use it to communicate with your customers, publish  good content to attract external links.

[Bolius]

Hi guys.

Thanks for the awesomely fast replies...

I'll go with my initial instincs - subdomain blog (blog.website.com).

[EGOL]

I agree.  If this was my site I would place it in a folder.  My blogs are in folders.

[EGOL]

I urge you  to reread the replies of Jeffrey, Marcus and Tom.

I have placed all of my blogs in mysite.com/blog/

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

Still, its your site and you can do as you please.

[Bolius]

Heh...

No, it's my clients site.
That's why the subdomain solution is the best, cause then I'll control the blog 100% and the client can do whatever they like on their main site....

You've "twisted" (unintentionally I pressume) my initial question ;o)

[Marcus_Miller]

for clarity, here is another vote for:

mysite.com/blog/

[imavex]

Just throwing this angle out there ... it depends on a few factors.

Let's say you've got a blog for a local business that really has little momentum. The fact that they are getting any links that is from an external IP address (given that is the case) may be better than if they hosted that same content at domain.com/blog.

To me though, if it is done right, and the blog is getting traction, visits, shares, retweets, and links, you would prefer those are associated with your main domain, i.e. domain.com/blog

I'm not a fan of the subdomain option, assuming it shares the IP of your main domain. That is kind of the worst of both worlds.