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FREE
+50 XP
Domains, Subdomains & Microsites
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Startup choosing structure
"We need a blog, a store, and a support section. Let's make three separate domains โ so each is its own 'independent brand'. Cool, right?"
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Alex
"No. Three domains = three separate sites in Google's eyes. Link equity doesn't add up. Put everything on one domain in subfolders โ and in a year that site will be five times more authoritative."
๐ Core principle: put everything possible on the main domain in subfolders. Subdomains and separate domains fragment link authority.
Subfolder vs Subdomain vs Separate Domain
| Option | Example | SEO Impact |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ข Subfolder | site.com/blog/ | All link equity โ main domain |
| ๐ก Subdomain | blog.site.com | Google may treat as a separate site |
| ๐ด Separate domain | site-blog.com | Completely separate site, zero authority |
When Is a Subdomain Justified?
- Different products for different audiences: store.site.com for an ecommerce store with a very different audience
- Technical limitations: when the CMS can't mix content types
- International site: ru.site.com, en.site.com (though site.com/ru/ also works)
TLD โ Choosing a Domain Extension
For most projects: use .com (international) or local ccTLDs (.uk, .de, .fr) if targeting a specific country. New gTLDs (.shop, .blog) provide no ranking advantages.
๐ก Rule of thumb: if the content is part of the same site and audience โ use a subfolder. Subdomain only if there's a strong technical reason.
๐ฎ Test yourself: where is it best to place your site's blog?
Lesson Task
Test your knowledge and earn +20 XP