SEO Benefits of using one Domain vs Subdomains

When it comes to building a website, one of the decisions you have to make is whether to use one domain or multiple subdomains. While both options have their advantages, there are significant SEO (search engine optimisation) benefits to using one domain over subdomains.

What is a subdomain?

A subdomain is a domain that is part of a larger domain. It typically appears before the main domain in the URL and is separated by a dot. For example, “blog.example.com” is a subdomain of “example.com”. Subdomains can be used for various purposes, such as organizing different types of content, creating separate sections for different languages, or hosting experimental or temporary content.

It’s possible for you to create unlimited number of subdomains on all Ecenica web hosting plans.

What are the alternatives to using subdomains?

The alternatives to using subdomains is adding content on your main domain, for example adding a blog at “www.example.com/blog” or you could register an additional domain and use this to host your new content.

On select Ecenica Managed WordPress hosting packages it’s possible to host multiple domains from one package.

How search engines crawl one domain vs subdomains

First, using one domain makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site. When you have multiple subdomains, search engines have to treat each one as a separate entity and crawl them individually, which can lead to fragmentation of your site’s authority and relevance. On the other hand, when you use one domain, all your content is on a single website, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site as a whole.

Retaining Link value

Second, using one domain can help you consolidate your link equity. Link equity is the total value search engines such as Google calculate for the links from other websites to your domain. If you get a link to your domain from a high profile and popular website, then it has a high worth.

When you have multiple subdomains, you have to build links to each one individually, which can be time-consuming and lead to an inconsistent link profile. However, when you use one domain, all the links you build will go towards improving the overall authority of your site, which can help boost your rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Brand consistency

Third, using one domain can help you create a cohesive brand identity. When you have multiple subdomains, it can be challenging to create a consistent brand image and message across all of them. However, when you use one domain, you can design your site to have a consistent look and feel. This makes it easier for visitors to recognise and remember your brand.

Duplicate content issues

Finally, using one domain can help you avoid duplicate content issues. When you have multiple subdomains, it can be tempting to duplicate content across them to save time and effort. However, this can hurt your SEO efforts, as search engines may view this as duplicate content and penalise your site. By using one domain, you can avoid this issue altogether and ensure that all your content is unique and valuable to your visitors.

While there may be some benefits to using subdomains for certain types of content or organizational structures, using one domain is generally the better option when it comes to SEO. It can help you consolidate your link equity, create a cohesive brand identity, avoid duplicate content issues, and make it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site.