What Is a Subdomain? The Complete Guide for 2023
If you‘re setting up a new website, you may have come across the term "subdomain" and wondered what it means. How is a subdomain different from a regular domain name? When should you use subdomains, and what are the pros and cons?
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll explain everything you need to know about subdomains. By the end, you‘ll have a clear understanding of what they are, how they work, and whether using subdomains is the right choice for your website. Let‘s dive in!
What Is a Subdomain?
A subdomain is essentially a subsection of your main domain name. It appears as a prefix before your primary domain.
For example, let‘s say your main domain is "mywebsite.com". You could create subdomains like:
- blog.mywebsite.com
- shop.mywebsite.com
- es.mywebsite.com
Technically, a subdomain is still part of your main domain. However, it allows you to organize your website into distinct sections that are treated as separate sites.
Think of your domain like a house address. Subdomains would be like rooms or apartments within that house, each with its own entrance and purpose. They‘re part of the same overall property but function independently.
Subdomains vs Domains: What‘s the Difference?
It‘s important to understand that a subdomain is not the same as a separate domain name.
Your primary domain name is the core URL of your website (like mywebsite.com). You have to purchase and register a domain name with a domain registrar.
In contrast, subdomains are created in addition to your primary domain. You can set up subdomains for free through your web hosting account as long as you own the main domain name. Subdomains all use the same primary domain but act as distinct web properties.
Why Use Subdomains? 6 Common Use Cases
So why would you want to use subdomains on your website? There are a number of scenarios where subdomains come in handy:
- Separating Distinct Website Sections
Many websites use subdomains to create clear divisions between different parts of their site. For example, you might use subdomains for your blog, online store, discussion forums, support portal, etc.
This is helpful if you want to use different designs, layouts, or functionality in each section while still keeping everything under your main brand umbrella.
- Creating a Mobile Version of Your Site
Some websites set up an "m." subdomain for their mobile-optimized site version. So while desktop users see mywebsite.com, mobile visitors are redirected to m.mywebsite.com which has a mobile-friendly design.
However, Google now recommends using responsive web design instead of separate mobile subdomains. Responsive sites adapt to any screen size, providing a better user experience.
- Targeting Different Languages or Locations
Subdomains are often used to create localized or language-specific versions of a website. You might see subdomains like:
- us.mywebsite.com
- fr.mywebsite.com
- de.mywebsite.com
This allows you to tailor your content and site experience to visitors from different countries or who speak different languages. You can detect a user‘s location and automatically direct them to the appropriate subdomain.
- Setting Up an Online Store
If you‘re adding ecommerce functionality to your site, a common approach is to put your store on a subdomain like shop.mywebsite.com or store.mywebsite.com.
An ecommerce platform requires specialized configuration and has unique requirements compared to a regular website. Putting it on a subdomain keeps the store separate from your main site for easier management.
- Making a Staging or Testing Site
Developers often create a staging subdomain, like staging.mywebsite.com or test.mywebsite.com, to build and test a new website version before pushing it live.
With a staging subdomain, you can experiment with design changes, new features, WordPress updates, etc. without affecting your live production site. Once everything looks good on the staging site, you can migrate the changes to your main domain.
- Providing Hosted Services
Some web apps and platforms provide free subdomains to their users. For example, a site like WordPress.com lets you create a blog with a subdomain URL (yourusername.wordpress.com).
The subdomain belongs to their primary domain, but gives you a personalized web address to use. Similarly, educational institutions often provide subdomains to students and faculty for class websites or personal pages.
As you can see, subdomains are useful for keeping different areas of your site separate while expanding your web presence under a single domain name. But there are also some potential downsides to consider.
How Subdomains Affect SEO: Subdomains vs Subdirectories
One important factor to understand is that subdomains can impact your site‘s SEO.
Search engines like Google treat subdomains as separate websites for ranking purposes. This means that the SEO authority and rankings of your main domain don‘t automatically carry over to your subdomains.
In most cases, you‘ll have to build up the reputation and SEO of each subdomain from scratch. Backlinks to your main domain won‘t boost your subdomain‘s rankings, and vice versa.
For this reason, many SEOs recommend using subdirectories rather than subdomains for better SEO. Subdirectories appear after your primary domain name, like:
- mywebsite.com/blog
- mywebsite.com/store
- mywebsite.com/es
Search engines view content in subdirectories as part of your main site. So any link authority, keyword rankings, etc. apply across your entire domain and all subdirectories.
The subdirectory approach keeps things simple and consolidated. You can focus your SEO efforts on a single domain rather than juggling separate subdomains.
However, there are still cases where using a subdomain can be beneficial for SEO, such as:
- Targeting different keywords with a subdomain dedicated to a specific topic
- Optimizing user experience by providing targeted resources on subdomains
- Keeping spammy or low-quality content isolated on a subdomain
- Creating location-specific sites to reach different regional audiences
If any of those scenarios apply to you, then strategic use of subdomains may be worthwhile. But for most bloggers, small businesses, and websites, sticking with subdirectories is usually the best approach for SEO.
Consider your goals and weigh the benefits of subdomains vs subdirectories in your situation.
How to Create a Subdomain (In 4 Easy Steps)
Now that you know what subdomains are and when to use them, let‘s walk through how to actually set one up. Don‘t worry – the process is straightforward! Just follow these steps:
Log In to Your Web Hosting Account
The first step is to log into your hosting provider‘s control panel. The exact interface will vary depending on your web host, but look for an option called "Domains" or "Subdomains."Navigate to the Subdomain Settings
In your control panel, find the area for managing domains and subdomains. Again, the location and wording will differ between hosts.
For example, the popular host Bluehost has a "Domains" section in the cPanel where you can "Create a New Domain."
- Choose Your Subdomain Name
Once you‘ve accessed the subdomain settings, you‘ll see a field to enter your desired subdomain name. This is the prefix that will appear before your primary domain.
For instance, you might choose "blog" to create blog.mywebsite.com. Simply type in the name and make sure the correct primary domain is selected.
- Create the Subdomain
After filling in your subdomain name, just hit the "Create" or "Add" button to set up the new subdomain. You should then see it listed as an active subdomain on your account.
That‘s it! Your subdomain is now ready to use. You can add site files, install WordPress, or point it to another location.
Some hosts may have a slightly different subdomain setup process, but the basic steps are the same. Consult your provider‘s support documentation for specific instructions if needed.
Keep in Mind: Subdomain Best Practices
While subdomains are useful tools, there are a few best practices and cautions to remember:
Be Selective with Subdomains
Don‘t go overboard creating subdomains for every small section of your site. In most cases, keeping content in subdirectories on a single domain is better for SEO, usability, and management. Use subdomains sparingly for major site divisions.Choose Short, Memorable Subdomain Names
When possible, pick concise, descriptive subdomain names that are easy to remember and type. Avoid hyphens, numbers, and special characters. You want people to instantly know what the subdomain is for.Be Careful About Mixing www and non-www
If you use subdomains, pay attention to whether you include "www" in the URL. Technically, www.mywebsite.com and mywebsite.com are different domains, which can cause duplicate content issues. Pick one format and stick with it.Consider Subfolders as an Alternative
In many situations, using subfolders (aka subdirectories) is preferable to subdomains for SEO benefits and simplicity. Thoughtfully evaluate whether a subfolder could work instead of defaulting to a subdomain.Promote Subdomains Separately
Remember that subdomains don‘t automatically inherit the SEO authority of your main domain. Be prepared to build links, optimize content, and promote each subdomain independently to rank well in search engines.
With these tips in mind, you can make smart choices about when and how to utilize subdomains on your website.
Frequently Asked Questions About Subdomains
Before we wrap up, let‘s address some of the most common questions about subdomains.
Do subdomains need DNS registration?
Since subdomains are technically part of your main domain name, you don‘t have to register them with a domain registrar. Your primary domain ownership covers subdomains too. You just need to set them up through your hosting control panel.
Do subdomains cost money?
In most cases, subdomains are free to create. As long as you have a web hosting plan and a registered domain name, you can add subdomains at no additional cost. However, some hosts may limit the number of subdomains allowed or charge extra for additional ones. Check your hosting plan details.
Will a subdomain help my SEO?
The impact of subdomains on SEO is mixed. On one hand, subdomains allow you to narrowly target keywords and audiences with dedicated microsites. On the other hand, search engines treat subdomains as separate sites, so rankings and link authority aren‘t passed between them like with subdirectories. The SEO benefits depend on how you implement subdomains.
Does every site need a subdomain?
Not at all! Many websites function perfectly fine without ever using subdomains. They‘re an optional tool, not a requirement. Most sites will do well with content organized in subdirectories of the primary domain. Consider subdomains when you need to separate major site areas or create localized/topical variations.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this guide has given you a thorough understanding of subdomains and how they work. To recap, a subdomain is a subsection of your main domain name that allows you to create distinct website divisions or localized versions while keeping everything under your primary domain.
Subdomains can be useful for organizing your site, targeting different topics or locations, and providing staging environments. However, subdomains are treated as separate sites for SEO purposes, which means their optimization and authority must be built up independently.
In many cases, using subdirectories is the simpler and more SEO-friendly approach for organizing site content. But subdomains are still a helpful option to have available when the situation calls for it.
Now you have the knowledge to decide if subdomains are right for your website and to set them up easily. Use your newfound subdomain powers wisely!
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