Could someone please explain two things to me? First, why do so many directories choose not to list sites that are on subdomains? Second, what do people using subdomains for distinct, individual sites do to promote them? It seems reciprocal link exchange is devalued now. Thanks,
Due to the fact that spammers abuse sub domains extensively they are not accepted by many directories. Some directories will accept them if the content is unique from the root domain or not easily linkable from it.
I've employed subdomains with female celebrity site. Partly to experiment and also partly to do more specific keyword targeting. Ironically, some of the subdomains have better PR than the main site. Also, initially, my Lindsay Lohan subdomain got tons more traffic than the main site until a few months a ago. I too find it hard to get the subdomains accepted for links sometimes. However, the Lohan site was picked up by DMOZ over a year ago, and when I get replies from directories that say they won't list subs, I give them this as an example, if not validation.
Yes a lot of directories dont accept them for free but if your willing to pay then there more likly will accept your site.
That is true for many directories. They will allow subdomains and sometimes internal pages to be submitted via paid submission. It may be unfair to the website owner who has a legitimate site on a subdomain that he can't get listed free in all the directories. But the reasons behind not allowing subdomains and internal pages are sound ones. As someone else mentioned spammers LOVE to bombard directories with subdomains. If, as a directory owner/editor, you decided to accept URLs other than just the top-level domain name, spammers would flock to your directory like flies on cow sh*t.
I have a subdomain to. Generally if I notice that they don't except subdomains, I try to send an email after the submission asking them to review it and take notice that it was not created for spamming purposes.
Sounds like a good plan. It helps the directory owner recognize that you're not trying to spam them. As far as a case by case basis, if you have alot of sites awaiting review, you are more likely to just immediately delete any submissions that appear to not have followed the rules. Let's say, you get up this morning and have 200 new submissions awaiting review. That would be an all-day project right there. Hmm, 50 of them appear to have submitted subdomains and internal pages. Another 50 are keyword stuffing titles and descriptions. 20 morons wrote no description. Are you going to review them anyway? Probably not. DELETE DELETE DELETE. Then move to the ones that read and followed the submission guidelines. I sometimes get emails from submitters asking if their site is listable, before they officially submit. I guess this is because of the tough guidelines on the submit page, and the fact that I mention YOU WILL BE BANNED several times in the guidelines. I usually list the sites these people ask about.