Optimizing with Subdomains

[newreality]

I've noticed some of the search engines seem to be giving preference to key-termed subdomains, (MSN)

What is the navigational structure, moving from the run-of-the-mill URL to and from subdomains like? (simple/complex?)

Do the same rules apply to a subdomain as the main url?
(backlinks, etc)

I've found that one of the biggest sites on the web is using
dynamic subdomains ( that places the requested key term from the search engine's search box, inside the code; title and page hyperlinks ). And these seem to be indexed for hundreds if not thousands of key terms.

[Anthony Parsons]

Quite honestly, if you don't need sub-domains then don't use them. A sub-domain is unique as such, which means you are starting a completely new site as far as the engines are concerned. You can place keyword terms within the URL's, normally done on large dynamic sites, though for anything with some mild competititon, your doing nothing more than annoying the search engines with clutter if the pages are created solely for them.

MSN is receiving results from Yahoo, Yahoo is slowly removing lots and lots of large dynamic sites pages that are there for clutter purposes and nothing more than gaining a few rankings here and there. Mind you, those few rankings here and there can mean thousand of visitors.

I put it like this: If a keyword term you want to create an entire page for and the term is only used in the URL query and can rank based upon that fact alone, then why bother. If the term has absolutely not one sceric of competition about it, though may still capture visitors, then just make some content specific pages utilising many of those type terms, instead of just a crap page to create another long keyword rich query string.

In most circumstances, they are nothing more than a doorpage in a better term. You are far better off to concentrate more on your links, buy them at will, obtain where possible, simply ensure the terms in those instances are within / upon some other pages that you already have optimized, and you will find the same top ranking will be achieved.

The next fallout if you where to create something like hundreds of sub-domains, is that you would require to make yourself a little link farm in essence, which the engines will generally discover at some time, whether quick in a several months down the track. This is the point when people begin to whine about their major lose in rankings for something they caused in those circumstances. If you can afford to lose everything, then do it. If not, then don't. Again, there are ways to achieve that aim, and hopefully not be caught, but the risk is still increased.

For what your asking, NO. For terms off that little relevance and meaning that you could obtain their ranking through spitting it out in a query string and a few content specific places through a dynamic page when you can achieve the same thing with ten terms of the same statua incorporated within other more important pages reflecting and possibly highlighting their content instead.

Think how to work with the engines, not so much against them or creating more domains, and your work will generally pay off.

[newreality]

Think how to work with the engines, not so much against them or creating more domains, and your work will generally pay off.

Assuming this is, working against the search engines, then what's the purpose of the subdomain. To help categorize another large subject matter. Isn't this why the engines index them?

Don't get me wrong, I see this being abused. One competitor site in particular is filling page upon page of serp's for key terms. With nothing else listed but their subdomains, wrongly in my opinion and so repititively.

Actually, I have in mind a second site I operate.

While this entire site is based for the residential market, a small portion of the site is very commercially based. These two aren't much compatible, and I'd rather spin-off the commercial portion into a subdomain.

I've seen Yahoo give listings to subdomains, rare as it is. Perhaps this is one of those exceptions (just as listing secondary URL's) -I can see why if the customers are so different.

I'm contemplating this for the first mentioned site for some main terms.