Website URLs are essential as they serve as the digital addresses for web content, impacting navigation, search engine optimization (SEO), and user experience. Clear, structured URLs enhance visibility and click-through rates, making it easier for users to understand the content they are accessing.
There are a lot of components in a URL, however, we will focus on the subdomain in this post. Here is a quick refresher of all parts of a URL:
| Scheme: This indicates the protocol used to access the resource, commonly “http” or “https” (the latter being secure). | Subdomain: A subdivision of the main domain, such as “blog” in “blog.example.com,” which helps organize different sections of a website. | Domain Name: The primary address of the website, like “example.com,” which identifies the organization or entity hosting the site. |
| Top-Level Domain (TLD): The extension at the end of the domain name, such as “.com,” “.org,” or “.net,” which can signify the type or origin of the website. | Path: This follows the domain name and specifies the location of a particular resource on the server, like “/articles/2024” in “example.com/articles/2024.” | Query String: This optional part starts with a “?” and includes parameters for dynamic content, such as “?id=123&sort=asc,” which can help in filtering or sorting data. |
| Fragment: This optional section begins with a “#” and links to a specific part of the page, like “#section1,” guiding users to a certain location within the document. |
Understanding Subdomains
Subdomains are subdivisions of a main domain that help organize website content. Specifically, they enable the creation of distinct sections, such as blogs or marketing pages, without altering the main site structure.
Moreover, subdomains are beneficial for content-heavy websites. They function as mini sites, which is ideal for individual landing pages in sales funnels or e-commerce sites on different platforms. Additionally, if your website covers multiple topics, subdomains can improve SEO since Google prefers niche sites over broader ones—unless, of course, you have a wealth of backlinks like Wikipedia.
Importantly, Google crawls subdomains in a similar way to subdirectories, recognizing their connection to the main domain. However, for bloggers and small businesses, subdirectories might be more effective for faster rankings, as they consolidate links back to the main site.
For instance, examples like Steam’s store (store.steampowered.com) and various Google services showcase effective organization and branding. To set up a subdomain, simply go to your DNS settings and add a new “A” record using your hosting IP address.
In conclusion, while subdomains enhance organization, they can introduce management complexities and linking challenges. Therefore, use them thoughtfully to maintain a smooth user experience.