But does Google index subdomains? If you’re looking to improve your search engine ranking, understanding this can empower you.
What Does Google's Indexing Mean?
When we talk about Google's indexing, we're essentially referring to the process that Googlebot, Google's web crawling bot, follows to collect and store information from every web page on the internet. This content is then evaluated and arranged on the SERPs.
If Google cannot find and index your site, it can’t understand, rank, or display it in search results.
By understanding how Google indexes the web, including domains and subdomains, you are better equipped to create SEO strategies that will propel your site to the top of SERPs.
👉Read our blog: How Often Does Google Crawl a Site? -Factors & Ways to Learn
What is a Subdomain?
In the simplest terms, a subdomain is a separate entity that falls under the main domain. We recognize it as a domain that is part of a larger domain and functions as an independent website.
For instance, if example.com is the main domain, then blog.example.com is a subdomain.
The core purpose of a subdomain is to manage and divide the different sections of your website logically and efficiently. This division not only helps in website organization but also in improving the user experience with clear navigation.
In the web address subdomain.domain.com, com is the top level domain (TLD), domain is the second level domain (SLD), and subdomain is the third level.
Keep in mind that subdomains are treated as separate entities by search engines. This means that, for Google and other search engines, subdomain.example.com and example.com are two different websites.
🎯 You may want to read: Subdomain vs. Subdirectory: Which is Better for SEO?
So, Does Google Actually Index Subdomains?
Yes, Google does index subdomains.
Google's John Mueller confirmed in a Webmaster Hangout that Google does index and rank subdomains, similar to other pages on your site.
However, it's crucial to note that while Google indexes subdomains, each subdomain's ranking would still depend on the quality and relevance of its content, its inbound links, and several other SEO factors.
The myth that Google doesn't index subdomains likely stems from the misconception that Google treats subdomains and the main domain as a single entity. In reality, Google considers subdomains as separate websites, as we discussed earlier.
Therefore, optimizing your subdomains with unique and valuable content, keyword-rich meta and title tags, backlinks, and more, helps in driving organic traffic, ultimately resulting in improved SEO ranking.
How Can I Check If Google is Indexing My Subdomain?
To start with, you can use Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool to check the indexing status of your subdomain. This tool helps identify why a particular URL was not indexed and provides actionable insights on how to address the issue.
You can also easily use SEOmator’s Free Website Crawl Test to retrieve information such as the URLs of the pages visited, the response codes, and the page titles. Analyze the results to check for any issues and quickly fix them.
Why Doesn’t Google Index My Subdomain and How to Fix It?
While we know Google does indeed index subdomains, certain problems may arise that could hinder the proper indexing of your subdomains.
Once you encounter an indexing problem, it's crucial to zoom in and analyze why this might be happening. Don't panic if you face an issue – it happens to everyone. The key lies in understanding and addressing the problem effectively.
🎯 You may want to read: How to Fix 'Crawled-Currently Not Indexed' Issue in GSC
So, let's glance over instances where Google might not index your subdomain:
⚠️ Subdomain is Blocked in the Robots.txt File
This file is crucial, as it instructs search engine bots about which parts of your website they can or can't crawl. If your subdomain is incorrectly blocked in this file, Google may not index it.
💡Solution: If your subdomain is blocked in the robots.txt file, correct it and ensure that important pages of your subdomain aren’t dissuaded from being crawled by search engines.
⚠️ Noindex Tag is Present
Similar to the robots.txt file, a noindex meta tag in your page's code tells search engines not to index that page. If this tag is accidentally inserted on your subdomain, Google will refuse to index it.
💡Solution: You can remove the noindex tag from the page(s) you want indexed. This might require a bit of working with the code, so you might need a developer's assistance if you're not sure how to do it.
🎯 You may want to read: How to Simply Check if a Page Has Noindex
⚠️ Poor Quality or Thin Content
Google is committed to delivering the best possible results to its users, and therefore, content quality is paramount. If your subdomain contains poor quality or thin content that doesn't provide significant value to the readers, Google might choose not to index it.
💡Solution: If lack of quality content is the issue, start producing more valuable, high-quality content that benefits your target audience. Optimize this content with relevant keywords, but make sure to avoid keyword stuffing.
⚠️ Issues with XML Sitemap
This is another important file that guides search engines through the structure of your website. If your sitemap is not correctly configured or does not list your subdomain, Google may not crawl and index it.
💡Solution: Check your sitemap file and ensure it’s correctly configured. Adding your subdomain to your sitemap will tell Google to consider it for indexing.
How Can I Improve My Subdomain’s Ranking?
Since subdomains are treated as separate websites by Google, all SEO efforts directed towards your subdomain can potentially lead to improvements in its search rankings.
Using subdomains, you can segment your website content more effectively, ensuring better user experience and enhanced understandability for Google's indexing algorithms. These factors can boost the SEO effectiveness of your subdomains, provided you employ your SEO strategies wisely.
Here are a few advanced techniques that can be highly effective in improving your subdomain's SEO ranking:
📌 Country-Specific Subdomains: If you’re a business operating in multiple countries, then having country-specific subdomains can significantly enhance your SEO. You can create different subdomains for different countries and regions, helping Google understand the geographic relevance of your subdomain, leading to improved SERP ranking in that region.
📌 Categorizing Different Services: If your website offers different kinds of services, then having a unique subdomain for each service can prove beneficial. For instance, a digital marketing firm can have different subdomains for SEO services, pay per click services, content marketing services, and so forth. This increases the relevance of your subdomains in the eyes of Google, pushing them higher in SERPs.
📌 Mobile-Specific Subdomains: With the rise of mobile search traffic, creating a mobile-version of your site can significantly improve your SEO. You can create a separate subdomain for your mobile site (like, m.example.com). Just ensure that your mobile subdomain provides the same level of quality and user experience as your primary site.
📌 Blog Subdomains: You can also decide to host your blog on a subdomain, especially if your blog content is significantly different from your main site's content. Google provides equal opportunity to both your primary domain and subdomains to rank on SERPs. On the other hand, this can lead to a rivalry between your own pages. So, decide this based on your specific circumstances.
Final Thoughts
Subdomains aren’t just mere extensions of your primary domain, they are independent and unique entities in themselves.
Google's indexing of subdomains is an integral part of its search mechanism. Google treats subdomains as separate websites and indexes them accordingly.
Your understanding of this principle is the compass that can guide your SEO strategy towards successful shores!
🎯 You may also want to read:
- Mobile-First Indexing: What is It & How it Works
