Where to add a blog?

We have a couple subdomains in addition to our main domain. We are looking at adding a blog. My gut says add it to the main domain in a subfolder in order to ensure the tight connection of any inbound links to the domain, rather than diluting by sharing link popularity with the subdomain.

Any thoughts?

Either is reasonable.

I personally follow this pattern:

1 - make the blog the actual site where practical.
2 - if the blog is related to a main website topically, I place it in a folder off the root - www.domain.com/blog/
3 - if expanding on somewhat related topics to the main website, I might consider a subdomain, but you need to tread carefully here - this option has been beaten to death by spammers, so ask yourself this:

Is this space we're trying to set up really it's own website. if yes, go for it. (subdomain)

Ultimately my decisions are based on experience and my personal long term goals for a project. of 9 or so sites I have running or had running, none were ever subdomained. A couple could have been, but I chose to start a new site on it's own domain each time.

HTH

I'd like to offer some of my own thoughts. I have a blog on my web site and use a link to it direct from the main web site. I have gone as far as using a keyword along with the blog name as I feel this gives good balance and lets others know, "hey, this is what my blog details are all about; come visit and read what I am sharing."

Hope this makes sense.

ETA: what I did to use a keyword and the blog directory was this..

www.mydomain.com/keywordblog (SportsGuy is right keep your blog off of the main web site don't use subdomains)

Hope this helps!

When you say off of the main website, do you mean as a subfolder on your main domain (not a subdomain) or do you mean a separate domain name altogether?

Hi jsmith,

Sorry for the delay in response, have been busy with grad classes. When installing a blog script you will be asked where to put it (what directory) Do not put it in a sub domain.

For example, if you go through the installation of WordPress you are asked what directory you want to install the files to. The directory you choose will be off of your domain (www.yourdomain.com) otherwise it will go into your root (where your index and other html files are) and that isn't a good idea in my opinion.

As I mentioned in previous post, give it a name that is specific purpose so it will stand out.

Hope this helps!

Whilst at it, you may want to think again about the subdomain root. With blogs - unless proactively moderated and appropriate mods are installed, you leave yourself wide open to comment spams.

Most comment spams are laced with URLs to the bad neighbourhood. The impact both ways will be less when your blog is 'safely' tucked away in a subdomain.

I know this topic is a bit controversial as the opinions are divided.

Let's start at the beginning again, jsmith.

What is the purpose of the blog?

What will it be used for? I mean, are you planning to use it to add more content to the overall domain, or is it to be used as sort of a corporate press release section, or is it's focus to be to build a community, etc.

Let's define it's use, then get to where it should be. WHERE it goes is less important than how it's maintained.

OK, now sorry for my delay. I was at the SMX conference this week and am just getting caught up. ...

The main purpose would be building content for the overall domain. We already have a corporate press release area, but it's not set up in a blog format, just and index of press releases really.

I envision it as a place to provide useful content to our users, with new content about once a day.

Does that help clarify?

Thanks for sticking with me. ...

No worries. We haunt this place.

So, any chance for a stand alone domain for the company's blog? (just floating the idea)

IMO, this sort of thing would be fine in a folder - www.domain.com/useful-info-blog/

Just beware of the fact that over time that blog could build into a serious asset and begin ranking very well on it's own. If that ever became the case, I'd be wanting it on it's own domain so I could have a link pointing from it ot the company's main website - helps with traffic and rankings.

Either route is valid, so maybe the real question is one of setup and money.

Who's going to set it up and maintain it?
is there a dedicated budget if one is needed?

Those are excellent questions to consider, thanks for pointing them out!

Looks like I have some thinking and planning to do.