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A Guide to Subdomains

We know that subdomains are a way to organize your website but how do you use them? Here’s what you need to know about subdomains before you build your website.

A subdomain is a subsection of a website that is identified by a second domain name. The most common use for subdomains is to host different content on different parts of the same website.

This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as localization (having a version of the website in another language), creating separate identities for different brands or products, or serving specific types of content (such as images or videos) that are not found on the main website. In some cases, subdomains differentiate between sections of a website that have similar purposes but are operated by different teams or individuals.

For example, on the website www.example.com, the subdomain www.example.com/blog might be used to host a blog written by members of the website's staff. Similarly, www.example.com/store could be used to sell products related to the content on the main website, while www.example.com/support provides customer support for the website's visitors.

You can create subdomains for any existing domain name, and they are often used to organize different types of content on a single website. Many companies use subdomains to provide a more customized experience for their users, and they are an effective way to keep a website organized and easy to navigate.

Domain vs subdomain

A domain is the primary address of a website, while a subdomain is a subsection of that website. The main domain name is what you enter into the address bar of a web browser to visit a website. For example, the domain name for Google's homepage is www.google.com.

A subdomain is created when you add another word in front of the main domain name. For example, Google's blog is accessible at the subdomain blog.google.com. In this case, "blog" is the subdomain, and "google.com" is the main domain.

You can use subdomains for various purposes, such as hosting different content on the same website or providing a more customized experience for users.

What does a subdomain do?

A subdomain is a way to divide a website into sections with different content. For example, a website about cars might have a subdomain for each different type of car. This would allow the website to have a section for sedans, another for SUVs, and so on.

Subdomains can also be used to host different content in different languages. For example, a website might have a subdomain for each language it is translated into. This would allow the website to show its content in French, Spanish, and so on.

Subdomains can also create separate websites related to the main website. For example, a website about cars might have a subdomain for its blog. This would allow the website to have a separate website for its blog, which would be hosted on the subdomain.

When to use a subdomain

Using a subdomain can be a helpful way to organize your website and make it easier for visitors to find the content they're looking for. However, there are some things to keep in mind before you create a subdomain.

One thing to consider is that search engines treat subdomains as separate websites. To rank well in search results, you'll need to optimize each subdomain separately.

You should also remember that subdomains can make it difficult for visitors to remember the address of your website. For example, if your website is www.example.com and your blog is on the subdomain www.example.com/blog, visitors might have a hard time remembering the address of your blog.

If you're unsure whether you should use a subdomain, here are some general guidelines.

For mobile website versions

During the early days of mobile web browsing, it was common for companies to create separate websites for mobile devices. These websites were typically hosted on subdomains, such as m.example.com.

Nowadays, it's more common to use responsive design to create a single website users can access from any device. However, some companies still use separate mobile websites, typically hosted on subdomains.

If you're considering using a separate mobile website, you should first consider whether it's really necessary. In most cases, it's better to use responsive design to create a single website that people can access from any device.

If you operate in multiple countries or use different languages

When you operate in multiple countries or use different languages, you can use subdomains to keep things organized. For example, you might have a website for your main company, www.example.com, and then create a subdomain for each country you operate in, such as www.uk.example.com or www.de.example.com.

This can make it easier for visitors to find the content they want. However, you'll need to ensure that each subdomain is optimized for search engines so that people can easily find your website.

For your blog

If you have a blog, you might consider hosting it on a subdomain, such as www.blog.example.com. In this way, you can keep your blog separate from the rest of your website, making it easier for visitors to find your blog.

For your e-commerce pages

If you have a website that offers products or services for sale online, you might want to consider using a subdomain for your e-commerce pages. This can help customers know that they are on the part of your website where they can make purchases, and it can also make it easier for you to track traffic and sales statistics for your e-commerce pages separately from the rest of your website.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you're considering using a subdomain for your e-commerce pages:

  • Make sure the subdomain is relevant to your e-commerce pages. For example, if your website is about selling pet supplies, you might want to use a subdomain like www.petshop.example.com.
  • Avoid using a subdomain similar to your main website's URL. This can make it difficult for visitors to remember which URL they need to use to access your e-commerce pages.
  • Use a subdomain that is easy to pronounce and spell. This will make it easier for visitors to remember the URL, and it will also make it less likely that they will mistype the URL and end up on a different website.

Differentiate from other parts of your website

Let's say you have a website for your main company, www.example.com, and you want to create a separate website for your product. In this case, you might want to use a subdomain, such as www.example.com/product.

This can be a helpful way to differentiate between your main website and your product website. It can also make it easier for visitors to find the website they're looking for, and it can help you track traffic and sales statistics separately for each website.

You can promote your subdomains on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get website hits from social media and encourage organic traffic.

How to create a subdomain

Once you get a domain, you'll need to do two things to create a subdomain:

  1. Register the subdomain with your domain registrar.
  2. Set up DNS records for the subdomain.

  3. The process for registering a subdomain is similar to registering a new domain name. You'll need to choose a name for the subdomain and then see if it's available. If it is, you can register it through your domain registrar.

Once you've registered the subdomain, you'll need to set up DNS records for it. This will tell the DNS servers where to find the website for the subdomain. You'll typically need to create an A record and/or a CNAME record for the subdomain.

If you're not sure how to do this, you can contact your web hosting company, and they should be able to help you set up the DNS records for the subdomain.

And that's it! Once you've registered the subdomain and set up the DNS records, your subdomain should be up and running.

Of course, you'll still need to create content for the subdomain and optimize your landing pages for search engines. But that's a topic for another day.

Mailchimp offers a variety of tools to help businesses and companies design a website. You can use their templates to create a professional-looking website, or you can use their tools to create your designs. They also offer a range of customized options to make your website look exactly like you want.

So, if you're considering using a subdomain for your website, Mailchimp is a great option. With their easy-to-use tools and customizable designs, you can build a website that's perfect for your business or company.

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