So I have my own domain name registered and I would love to throw in there a blog.

I’ve never even thought about using a folder for a different language because it’s not what I’m used to see on the web.

I was planning to use (i.e.) es.myname.com but since I already own the same ccTLD domain, I think that the crazyness about subdomains vs directories (folders) is finally over for me.

I can just use myname.com for English and my corresponding ccTLD domain name for my native language. The End.

It was fun reading the article and the comments though. Learnt a few things although I highly doubt that Google hasn’t changed anything since Dec 2007.

Sergio

PS. Did you finally started running full marathons now?

Wow, you wrote this article back in 2007 but the conversation is still going strong. Do you still have the same views today that you did about subdomains 5 years ago?

Well it is still the same after 5 years of this post. If you are dealing in supplies of {dogs, cats} and you have all supplies under separate folders I will say that it is not that good implementation of your business. You will be better off if you have sub domains in this case.

Another advantage of having sub-domain in above example would be that due to unforeseen circumstances if you screw one of your sub domains the other will still keep bringing you business.

If you have a very large, powerful site (HP is a common example) relative to many of your search terms, subdomains (or even different domains) rise in value.

If you have different language/geography sites, subdomains rise in value.

If you have a small site without massive power over relevant search terms, and a single important nationality/geography, stick with folders.

Notice how site links are changing the landscape of SERPs as they relate to sub-domains, I’ll explain…

Once upon a time each sub-domain stood by itself in the results when you searched a brand. So, if you searched “Company Name” you were likely to retrieve results with that company name in the URL (because most companies buy domain names with this in mind it works to their advantage) like: http://www.companyname.com, hopefully at the #1 position. Elsewhere in the results you’d see results like forum.companyname.com, blog.companyname.com, etc.

Site links (the links directly below a result usually organized in 2 columns) now include sub-domains. So, instead of them standing alone as #2, or #3, they act more like 1a, 1b, and so on.

Word of caution to anyone using sub-domain strategy to ‘push down’ negative reviews like pissedconsumer.com that clearly use underhanded tactics to rank, sub-domain strategy doesn’t work like it used to.

@Matt –
Do you have any plans to revisit the strategies being employed by these flame-board style review sites? PissedConsumer.com seems to have disproportionate advantage in ranking for a brand name and are ‘in my opinion’ a bit shady in practice. Even a positive review on their site is made to look negative, something isn’t ethical about that if you ask me.

We have been toying with this idea for several months. It’s a huge decision for a small businesses like myself to decide which is the best option. I think we have decided to go down the subdirectory route as we are building multi language parts to the site and need to target specfic countries (plus there is a little SEO benefit i think)

i think it really import to weigh up all the pros and cons.

Choose wisely…..

I accidently came accross this article of yours and find it very refreshing for my SEO knowledge.
I thing that subdomains shouldn’t be used as separate parts of website for every language or other similar content, but only for bigger part of website that is more or less a part for itself, yet connected to the main content.
Blog in subdomain or subdirectory. It depends on website type. If the blog is the main content of the website than it should be in subdirectory, but if there is a webshop on the same website wchich is primary, than blog could be in a subdomain.

But one thing that you said is definitely true. We should keep it simple.