subdomain vs subdirectory

[Dagz]

I want a different url for trade customers.

example.com/trade or

trade.example.com ?

I think the subdomain is better right? If so, what's the best way of doing this? I use wordpress. All I want is one page. Should I use this subdomain plugin?

 

[mit74]

I want a different url for trade customers.

example.com/trade or

trade.example.com ?

I think the subdomain is better right? If so, what's the best way of doing this? I use wordpress. All I want is one page. Should I use this subdomain plugin?

If it's one page you may as well do a seperate folder. Subdomains are usually setup in your cpanel if your host allows it.

 

[Astaroth]

Better in which sense?

From an SEO point of view subfolders are certainly better than sub domains for connected business

 

[Faevilangel]

Don't quote me on this but I did read a while ago that Mr G treats a subdomain as a seperate site, so I would go for a sub-directory or even a new domain e.g. mybusinesstrade.co.uk

 

[Dagz]

Not so concerned about the SEO, really just want to choose what looks right on a business card.

 

[Dagz]

I mean, of course I do care about SEO... but I don't think mybusiness.com/trade looks right on a business card.

 

[Dagz]

Would it be advisable to put the subdomain on the b.card, with a 301 on the subdomain to a subdirectory?

 

[cmcp]

Sounds to me like a different site, which I would put on a sub-domain of your main URL.

 

[Dagz]

I had a go with that plug in and couldn't make it work. I've now deactivated the plug in, and deleted the subdomain I created, but the page redwood-tints.co.uk/trade still doesn't load. If I change the slug to anything else it works. But not 'trade'. Any ideas?

 

[Dagz]

pleeeeeease help! i just want to undo what ever that plug in did

 

[Dagz]

SORTED

sorry for making so many posts!

 

[nitro23456]

Better in which sense?

From an SEO point of view subfolders are certainly better than sub domains for connected business

thats wrong. Google will treat a subdomain as a separate site. So you can link between them both or just in one direction and help your SEO.

use a keyword as the name of your subdomain too.

 

[DesignerNick]

I would use a subdomain. It would give the Trade customers a sense of them having their own site, their own access and a sense of importance over the normal retail customers.

Use something like trade.domain.com and I think it will look better than an addon to your current site.

 

[sidera]

If you have WordPress installed, you could enable the Network functionality, which means you don't need to make a new WordPress installation, but control both sites from the same backend.
For example : http://practitioners.acupuncturetwincities.com/ and http://acupuncturetwincities.com/ are on the same install of WordPress

 

[refinedline]

I mean, of course I do care about SEO... but I don't think mybusiness.com/trade looks right on a business card.

I agree. I think it looks better as trade.mybusiness.com.

 

[fredofred]

trade.yourdomain.com will look much better, also when people type in 'trade' and your products it is likely to be quite high in search results, which is what you want.

 

[deepred]

From the SEO point of view - subdomain is more effective
From the business card point of view - IMO / is better as it looks established and more like web 2.0. You know, successful companies dont do SEO..