URL Branding for Verticals (SEO)

[Dj Morri]

Hi, I would like to hear your comments on this post.

I work for a huge dot com that is owned by a TV Channel (like discovery, food network, etc.) and we are determining a new structure for the entire site. What type of URL structure you will use having in mind that you need to promote all verticals, shows, etc. on air.

Subdomains, ex: showname.example.com

or

New domain name, ex: www.showname.com

- AOL is moving to this approach with some of their verticals (popeater.com, asylum.com, pawnation.com, etc)

- We will use 301s to pass all the juice to either one.

What type of approach do you think is the best and why?

[AussieWebmaster]

I would go with the subdirectories - this way all juice passes to the one domain and will boost the site overall... granted it then thins the number of pages you can get into the first page but with the diversity it will help lift all of them...

[Dj Morri]

Thanks Aussie for your post.

Don't you think is more difficult to advertise a sub domain on TV rather than a domain name?

Maybe we can use both - we create adomain name for advertising purposes and we do a redirect to the sub domain? I think this is the best option.

[jag]

If you have a catchy sub domain it will help or you can redirect - 301

Best,