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Sub Domain and Sub Web Sites

 

Sub Domain and Sub Web Design Tips, Traps, Benefits.

 

Sub Domains

A Sub Domain will look something like this > http://www.brisbane.thebannerking.com

The Sub Domain website can be very useful for large sites that need to be split into regions or divisions of a company. The URL is independent of the master domain name and acts independently of the master. This sub domain is a UNIQUE Website in it's own right.

You can hyperlink between sub domains as you would other pages. Check out this Banner Sign Site, Operating independently from the main, it is dedicated to a business department of that site. The region has it's own pages, images and details.

 

Advantages of Sub Domain Websites

• Each sub domain is treated by the spiders, bots and engines as a unique site.
• The sub domain is searched autonomously from the master.
• The content (although must not be duplicated) can be updated without affecting the main site.
• Sub Domains are great for storing secondary databases.
• Each Sub Domain can have a unique index.html page as it's home page.
• Sub Domains can utilise different email options and address names.
• If you achieve a top ranked page in a Sub Domain, you can hyperlink to your master domain and receive a 'high page rank external relationship'.

Disadvantages of Sub Domain Websites

• Without page referral hyperlinks, the pages within will not receive equal page ranking as master.
• Sub Domain Web Sites must be designed with new levels, new pages and new non duplication content.
• Sub Domain Websites are difficult to use a master database spread across the master and sub domain.
• Any cookie or Session ID's will be lost when navigating across the domains.

Using Sub Web pages for listing databases, multiple category sections of your site

 

Sub Web's

 

Sub Webs are internal sites (sectional areas) that have folders or other complete websites within their root or folder levels. They do not require a sub.domain address in the URL. You can go here to view an example of a Sub Web for the Online Signage Company. Sub Webs also allow separated index.html, index.php, index.asp pages etc.

 

To make a Sub Web

 

To make a Sub Website, inside your root or level directory folder, make a new folder and name it.
Then, using your web page editor create a new website and call it the same name as your new folder on the server. When complete, upload the new site into the folder on the server. This is a great technique for using a website that is reliant on a database. E.g. Ecommerce, Photo Gallery etc.

 

Advantages of Sub Webs

• Each Sub Web is titled / associated with your main domain's address and URL
• Each Sub Web can have a home page. Great for database applications.
• Each Sub Web can intertwine with included pages, templates and themes. Any change to a menu can be cross folder platformed.
• All pages inside a sub web are counted in your master domain's page count.

• Read more What is domain page count

• Short URL hits are available for Sub Web pages
  e.g. www.quicksmart-design/design  | Readers can access your sub web without full listed URL's. You may have seen lots of advertising promoting such a sub web page. Like this... abc.net.au/news  when you type this into your browser, your are taken inside the News Department pages bypassing the master home page.
  In this manner, you can separate your Sub Websites without losing your master URL Address.

Disadvantages of Sub Webs

• Sub Web Sites are not considered a Unique Domain such as a sub.domain is.
• Sub Webs must flow to and from your main pages to be worthwhile to the reader. Any cross linking must be carefully used. Any broken hyperlinks will reduce your overall site classification.

Tips

Use Sub Web pages for ecommerce sites that have a shop(s) that will operate independently from the master root directory.

Use Sub Web pages to categorise different areas of your site.

Use Sub Domain Web Sites for example shops with demos, example or testing site programs.
Use Sub Domains for Regional Sites that express different languages etc. There is no loss of speed with either technique.

 

Traps

Never use a Sub Web or Sub Domain to overload keywords or even worse, duplicate content.
Sub Domains will require equal Search Engine Optimisation, updating and renewing.
Sub Webs may require careful link maintenance.

 

Suggestions

Enter a search on one of the engines to find a Sub Web or Sub Domain in an industry or category that your site will be classified under/with. Compare how that site has used either method to benefit their site or their customer. Researching how you use these two techniques will also benefit your own site. When used to benefit the web experience, you can expand your creativity and purpose with both.

 

 Next > Ecommerce Store Duplicates

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Summary

Using either a Sub Web (a website in the root directory folder) or a Sub Domain ( a website independent of the root directory) can give your site great flexibility and expandability.

 

If you are not sure which system to choose, do an engine search, look at sites in your category and study the advantages and disadvantage of how the web is being used.