Question
Wasn't sure which forum to start this in.
What is anyone's take on using sub-domains?
(i.e. - your base domain name is say: YourSite.com -
you have a couple sub-domains like art.YourSite.com, blog.YourSite.com ...)
Other bigger examples are stores.ebay.com - gmail.google.com
I have been thinking of using this on my own site,
to keep some things seperate from the strictly business side.
Or even to maybe have different business branches
(main focus is graphic design, but I have a couple other things
I might wanna market/sell that don't QUITE fall into that category)
I'd like some input from anyone who does this and how you feel it works,
what the purpose is, benefits/drawbacks are, etc.
THANKS!
~ gem ~
Answer
biggest drawback is if you expect people to remember the name for the subdomain pages
if you are just using it to keep things clean in your own mind then i dont see any problems just not sure what benefits are offered
Answer
The primary reason to use a sub domain is to separate content, or content load. A sub domain can be directed to an IP address other than your main site. It can also be used to 'prepare' for putting content on multiple servers.
Here's some examples..
http://classifieds.here.com/
http://sigs.here.com/
http://auctions.here.com/
http://community.here.com/
Note where each one above takes you.. community.here.com is no longer used and is just for re-directing from the old here site.
Another reason for using sub-domains is to create separate ftp logins that limits assess only to that section of the site...
There's lots of reasons to use them, the question for you to answer is WHY you need them, (or want them) - and take it from there...
-Jim
Answer
Thanks for that information, Jim.
I never gave it much thought until this question appeared.
Guess I always assumed that it was the cheap path to having multiple domains - without having to pay for the domain name.
To me, if the reason for a sub-domain is for completely different content, why not just purchase a new domain name and take if from there?
Answer
There are reasons for using them, like balancing traffic load, etc.
In general, though, I don't like them. People don't usually remember the first part of the subdomain name. If they are looking for art.YOURSITE.com, but they don't quite remember the name, they will go to www.YOURSITE.com looking for a link.
If you are providing them a link off the homepage, why use a subdomain at all?
Unless it's a hardware reason, in which case they should be transparent to the user.
Answer
Thanks guys, great responses -
I agree the lack of name recall is a big drawback,
if you are trying to steer people to that section of your site
- and have them get back there by memory, say.
(How often do you TYPE stores.ebay.com? Exactly. Never.)
I guess the thing about "why dont you just buy another domain", for me, would be - usually you can't get a good, short name for what you want anymore. So taking your current name (if you like it) and adding the "department/division" what have you, seemed like a better way (in theory) to keep it nice & neat.
In my case I don't really haaaave to or neeeed to use them - I have something like 10 sub-domains as part of my web hosting package and I think they have just been burning a hole in my pocket
I might like the idea of it as a sort of 'filing cabinet' for my own use.
GOOD TALK! Thanks
~ gem ~