I've currently installed Wordpress in my public_html/blogs and I specified the URL on the Wordpress option to be www.michaelaulia.com/blogs (so my blog is accessible on the web by going http://www.michaelaulia.com/blogs) I have an entrance page at www.michaelaulia.com which then have navigation links to my blog, my photo gallery and my flash site. What I want to know, is it a good idea to change my blog into http://blog.michaelaulia.com/ ? (subdomain) Or should I just keep the installation files in public_html/blogs/ and then change the URL of the blog to www.michaelaulia.com on the Wordpress option? I've asked in a lot of forums but never really got a good answer.. I really want to fix this up before it's too late (well it IS kinda too late now)
Do you want the blog showing on the homepage? If so, you should install in that directory, not just change the options. Sorry, not entirely sure what you're asking with the second part.
Well I was reading a post here http://www.dailyblogtips.com/always-install-wordpress-on-the-root-directory/ and realise that I make a big mistake by using http://www.michaelaulia.com/blogs as the entrance to my blog (reasons mentioned in the post) So I just want to consult as to what I should do to improve/fix it?
I don't see any mileage in changing the blog from the /blog to subdomain blog. They are basically the same thing. As far as changing the blog to the root, it might be a good idea. One thing I noticed (and of course this is just an opionion), the home page is weak. I personally would make either the website or the blog the homepage and then add links to remaining sections. I think it would make more of an impression when someone lands on the home page. hope this helps you a little.
Thanks guys. I totally agree with you. I made the site a few years back (before blogging came into mind) So is it as simply as changing the option in Wordpress: Change the WordPress address (URL): http://www.michaelaulia.com/blogs BUT Change the Blog address (URL) to : http://www.michaelaulia.com ? or I need to do some tinkering like what this page says? I guess I'll lose the Pagerank, backlinks, search engines etc as a result of this (as it was advertised to be at www.michaelaulia.com/blogs) before, but I guess this is for the better?
I would move the blog to the home directory, not just change the options. Seems like that could avert potential problems. Also, you dont have to lose SERPs, backlinks, etc. Just set up a 301 redirect.
Well I like it clean if possible.. I also have other accesses on my site at the moment, for example: http://www.michaelaulia.com/gallery2/, etc so it'll be harder to update them with all of these wordpress folders and files lying around on the root folder..
It seems crynos and I are in agreement on this one - lol - I was going to write the same thing......... I think it won't be too confusing as long as you keep all the other stuff in separate folders - for example /gallery1, /gallery 2, /website, etc.
Hm I see (btw, really appreciate the 2 of you here ) Is there really a negative side though in keeping it clean? (installing it in a folder but Wordpress' URL is accessed through the root domain?)
I've never done that, so I have no personal experience. It just seems like its not difficult to install wordpress in the root, so why not do that and just make everything normal, instead of installing it in a subfolder and causing potential difficulties. Wordpress isn't a really complex program or anything - its what, 12 files and 3 folders or something? I mean, it may be absolutely fine keeping it in the subfolder, I think it's just better to do it the simplest possible way.
It depends on what do you want, but domain.com/blog is better then blog.domain.com at SEO. Google considers subdomains as new websites, not part from domain website. So my advice is: keep your blog on a sub-directory not on a sub-domain.
I would put the blog right into the root directory. You can even use a static page to put whatever you want for the home page of the blog, by editing home.php.
I will try to give you my most honest opinion but please don't get offended, take it as the constructive criscism I intend it to be. You have a blog with a horrible theme installed: It's dark, looks really badly coded, the navigation and layout is short of confusing and useless. You have a blog install on the wrong directory: Not only that but your "splash page" is terribly amateur and extremely unproffesional, getting rid of it would cut half your problems, re-installing wordpress on the root folder would be ideal. Your monetizing methods cloud content and the site's navigation: Unless you are getting a decent 2-5,000 page views and some 500+ unique visitors those ads aren't going to pay you enough to be used so forceably upon your members, cut donw on the ads and concentrate on getting the content and navigation up to the top. Your content needs to be fresh. I was bored out of my mind to read some of your posts, try to spice up things and use the latest internet tools to give your audience more for their time, for example; your last post talked about Vista's Snipping Tool, to get to the full post I had to click the more button but when I got there, there was only one more line of text to read, it's fustrating. Hope this helps you get your blog on a successful track, wish you the best.
Hi EJRaven, I don't mind constructive criticism at all! Thanks for all of your inputs and I'll certainly take those into considerations All the best of luck for your blog too
the main website should remain in the root. So you decide whether [1] or [2] is the main section of your website . After you make a decision >> place it at the root "public_html" folder. If you choose [1] , then i advise you to alter [2] to become [3] [1] http://www.michaelaulia.com/flash/index.html [2] http://www.michaelaulia.com/blogs/ [3] http://www.michaelaulia.com/blog/