What is a Subdomain?

Not too long ago we wrote a piece on our blog about all the things to keep in mind when buying a domain for your business. 

We talked about how many domains are currently in circulation (1.87 billion and counting) as well as the sneaky hidden fees that can attach themselves to the process. 

View the rest of the article here: What to Keep in Mind When Buying a Domain.

But what about subdomains?

What are they and why exactly would a business need them?

What is a subdomain?

If your website is likened to a pair of fill-in-the-blank-favorite-brand jeans, then your subdomain is one of the pockets. 

Okay, the analogy might start and end there, but essentially the subdomain of any website is an additional part of your website used to organize and separate your content for a different function, such as a blog (example A) or language (example B) change.

Example A

Example B

For this example, the “en” notates this page is in English.

Okay, so now that we know what exactly a subdomain is and where to find it on a URL, why might this be helpful and when should you use them? 

When to use a subdomain on your website

Subdomains serve many purposes and functions. 

Like in the examples above, they can tell the user where they currently are within a company’s website while also helping clarify to the user what content they are currently viewing.

But the use of a subdomain doesn’t end there.

In fact, the most common use for a subdomain is to help create a testing and staging environment prior to going live. 

A few more common uses for subdomains are:

• Mobile
• Example: https://m.website.com
• This type of subdomain, not to be confused with responsive web design, boasts incredibly fast site speed, which also happens to be one of Google’s Core Web Vital ranking factors. This option plays very favorably to e-commerce websites whose customers are less patient than others. 
• Location
• Example: https://dallas.examplerestaurant.com
• This type of subdomain is beneficial if you have a business, like a restaurant, with multiple locations that offer regional dishes and menu items.
• E-Commerce
• Example: https://shop.yourwebsite.com
• This type of subdomain is a great way to separate different functions within your site. 

Subdomains are an excellent way for your business to organize your content without having to come up with entirely new domains. They also help every web visitor who comes across your site navigate through your content with ease, and as we always say, when the focus is on the consumer experience, you can rarely go wrong.

Explore more ways your business can stay ahead of the digital transformation by reading our blog: Digital Transformation: Focus on Your Website