A question about subdomains and one-way backlinks

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Quail, Sep 8, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hey guys,

    I'm building a site with a few different sections, and I've decided to put these different sections in subdomains.

    Doing some research, it seems a popular theory is that Google considers subdomains as a completely different website to the main domain (albeit, on the same IP).

    My question is, would one way links from my subdomain to my main domain, have the same value as a one way backlink from a completely different site?

    It also raises the question of whether Google really does care about links between sites on the same IP.

    Opinions?
     
    Quail, Sep 8, 2010 IP
  2. Quail

    Quail Peon

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    #2
    Quail, Sep 9, 2010 IP
  3. theseomonk

    theseomonk Peon

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    #3
    Yes right you are here SE's counts sub-domains as different web site hosted at same IP and defiantly this helps to gain PR juice to your main web site.Some web masters use to make forums/blogs and article sections at sub-domains and targets their web main web for specific keywords.
     
    theseomonk, Sep 9, 2010 IP
  4. Quail

    Quail Peon

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    #4
    Thanks SEOMonk. My idea is to have a social bookmarking sites on subdomains with footer links pointing to my main domain. I'll report back with results.
     
    Quail, Sep 9, 2010 IP
  5. fm1234

    fm1234 Peon

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    #5
    Actually, that answer is incorrect. Testing bears out that juice is passed from main to sub, not sub to main. Basic logic bears this out as well: if subdomains passed juice or penalties to main domains, then it would be trivial to sink a member-driven site that used subdomains for member accounts by putting up a bunch of content which would get slapped, deindexed, malware warnings etc.

    Bluehat did some tests on this a while back: http://www.bluehatseo.com/open-questions-subdomains-and-main-domains/

    Some related info in the "SEO Empire" post there.


    Frank
     
    fm1234, Sep 9, 2010 IP
  6. Quail

    Quail Peon

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    #6
    fm1234, to clarify, a subdomain won't pass any link juice to a main domain, even if there is a one way link from the sub to the main?
     
    Quail, Sep 9, 2010 IP
  7. fm1234

    fm1234 Peon

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    #7
    People say that they can, but as penalties are definitely not passed, it is hard to see how juice can be. Think about it: if you could do it that way, then anyone who wanted to could simply get PR9999999 simply by setting up endless subdomains and linking into their own main domain. I see people here and there claim that they do this but have never seen anyone actually post a link to a site that has used this tactic successfully. So ... if anybody wants to post some credible examples I'm certainly open to being educated, but again, as penalities are not passed and passing juice doesn't make basic logical sense, it's hard to see how it could be.


    Frank
     
    fm1234, Sep 10, 2010 IP
  8. GeorgeKuipers

    GeorgeKuipers Peon

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    #8
    fm1234 shot the right point. Do not waste your time by promoting your sites by subdomains - those links will be counted as internal links (there is some value in them as well, but not as juicy as from external links other sites).
     
    GeorgeKuipers, Sep 11, 2010 IP
  9. thinkingahead

    thinkingahead Peon

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    #9
    This is my experience. I was optimisizing a subdomain. When that subdomain got PR4, the main domain got PR2. I never build any backlink to the main domain but automatically it received PR2.
     
    thinkingahead, Sep 11, 2010 IP
  10. dum

    dum Member

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    #10
    yes I am agree with you; that those links will be counted as internal links which have some value but not as juicy as from external links. however, as Quail said that he need to improve all (main domain and also subdomain as different section of site), so subdomain promoting is worthed too. :)
     
    dum, Sep 11, 2010 IP
  11. saptakmandal

    saptakmandal Active Member

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    #11
    Obviously it will give you a better ranking but you must optimize each section separately
     
    saptakmandal, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  12. Quail

    Quail Peon

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    #12
    Thanks for the response guys.

    I will still try out the theory and post any results I find!
     
    Quail, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  13. skyhighlnkr

    skyhighlnkr Peon

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    #13
    Sub domain will still matter but doesn't have greater percentage in terms of optimizing your site.
     
    skyhighlnkr, Sep 12, 2010 IP