Subdomain vs Subdirectory: Does it even matter for SEO? [2024 update]

What is better for SEO: subdomains or subdirectories? Does it even make a difference? This has been a hot topic among SEO pros for years. The most prominent ones (e.g. ahrefs) claimed it doesn't matter.

Why Subdomains Gained Popularity: Ease of Implementation

Subdomains (blog.domain.com) and subdirectories (domain.com/blog/) serve different purposes. But why did subdomains become so popular?

Simple: they're easy to set up. You can host your blog on a different server, giving you flexibility: You can choose your normal stack for your main website and then have you blog on a different provider like medium or substack.

The SEO Impact: Subdomains vs. Subdirectories

Here's where things get interesting. Google used to say there's no SEO difference between the two. But the May 2024 SEO leak proved that Google has been lying about this. Turns out, subdomains have their own ranking, separate from the main domain. This means:

• Your blog on a subdomain won't directly boost your main domain's SEO.
• Link equity and authority don't flow as freely between them.

Why Subdirectories Are Better for SEO

So, why consider switching to subdirectories?

1. Consolidated domain authority: All your SEO efforts work together. You don't need to put effort into different entities.
2. Improved link equity: SEO "juice" flows more easily between pages.
3. Simplified tracking: Clearer picture of your site's performance (I always had issues with subdomains treated as separate entities in trackers)
4. Enhanced internal linking: More effective SEO structure across your site.

While subdomains have their uses (like international sites or multi-tenant setup), subdirectories generally offer better SEO benefits for most solopreneur websites.

Implementing Subdirectories for SEO Success

Thinking about making the switch? Here's what you need to know:

1. Same server? Use Nginx to redirect your subdomain to a subdirectory. See here
2. Different server? Cloudflare can help create a subdirectory structure. See here
3. Assess the effort: If it takes more than a week, focus on creating quality content instead.

Remember, content quality always trumps structure in SEO. Don't sacrifice your content creation for a structural change!

FAQs

1. How do I decide if switching to subdirectories is worth it? If you need more than 1 week to do the switch then rather spend the time in more SEO articles. There are benefits for subdirectories but they don't outweigh well written articles.

2. Will switching to subdirectories instantly boost my SEO? Not necessarily. While it can help long-term, consistent, quality content remains key.

3. When should I stick with subdomains? Subdomains allow you to appear more than one time in search results. This might be a benefit in some cases, e.g. when you have different products.