should my blog be on a subdomain?

So, you’ve finally decided to start a blog. Congratulations! (We’ll assume you’re not just here to procrastinate on writing your next post.) Now comes the existential question that has haunted marketers, business owners, and caffeine-fueled SEO professionals for years: should my blog be on a subdomain?

Let’s break down the facts, sprinkle in some wit, and help you make a decision that won’t keep you up at night — or at least not for SEO reasons.

Subdomain vs. Subdirectory: The Eternal Struggle

First, a quick refresher for those who skipped Web 101:

Subdomain: blog.example.com
Subdirectory: example.com/blog

It’s a small difference in the URL, but a big one in the eyes of Google (and, let’s be honest, your future self).

What Does Google Think?

According to Google’s official guidelines, subdomains are treated as separate websites. That means your shiny new blog on blog.example.com is, SEO-wise, starting from scratch. No free rides from your main site’s authority. Meanwhile, a subdirectory (example.com/blog) is considered part of your main site, so all that hard-earned SEO juice flows freely between your homepage and your blog posts.

Quick Stat Attack:

Subdomains need to build their own authority and backlinks.
Subdirectories inherit the main site’s SEO value.

If you’re hoping your blog will boost your main site’s rankings, a subdirectory is usually the way to go. But don’t click away just yet — there’s more to the story.

When a Subdomain Makes Sense

Let’s not throw subdomains under the bus. They have their moments, like that one coworker who’s surprisingly good at karaoke.

Use a Subdomain If:

Your blog content is distinct from your main site (think: different audience, language, or even a separate business unit).
You want to use a different CMS or platform for your blog (WordPress for the blog, Shopify for the store, etc.).
You need technical separation for security, testing, or organizational reasons.
You’re running a multilingual site or targeting different regions.

As one SEO expert put it:

“Subdomains are ideal for separating content that differs from your main website, such as a blog, online store, or customer support section.”

And yes, sometimes you just want your blog to have its own little sandbox to play in.

When a Subdirectory Wins

If your blog is the Robin to your website’s Batman — closely related, always there to help, and maybe a little underappreciated — a subdirectory is your best bet.

Use a Subdirectory If:

Your blog’s content is closely related to your main offerings.
You want to maximize SEO benefits for your primary domain.
You’re aiming for a unified brand experience.
You don’t want to manage two separate SEO strategies (because who has the time?).

Industry reviews and SEO pros agree:

“The trend among SEO professionals is to use subdirectories for unified branding and SEO, unless there is a compelling reason for separation.”

Technical Considerations (a.k.a. The “Don’t Break the Internet” Section)

Let’s get a little nerdy for a moment:

Subdomains require separate technical management — think new environments, robots.txt, sitemaps, and analytics profiles.
Subdirectories are simpler to set up and maintain, since everything lives under one roof.

If you’re the type who enjoys tinkering with DNS records at 2 a.m., subdomains might be your jam. Otherwise, subdirectories keep things blissfully simple.

SEO: The Real-World Impact

Here’s where things get spicy. A 2023 industry review warned that using subdomains can dilute your SEO efforts unless you have a clear reason for the split. If you go the subdomain route, you’ll need to:

Build backlinks specifically to your blog subdomain.
Create a separate content and keyword strategy.
Monitor performance with a dedicated analytics profile.

In short: it’s more work. But sometimes, that’s exactly what you need — especially if your blog is a different beast entirely.

Insider Tips & Best Practices

Because we care (and because we’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have to):

Keep important pages within three clicks of your blog’s homepage for better user experience and crawlability.
Use canonical tags if you move or duplicate content between your main site and subdomain.
Invest in building authority for your subdomain with dedicated SEO efforts.
If you’re using a subdomain, treat it like a separate site — because, well, Google does.

What About Regulations and Guidelines?

Good news: there are no government regulations dictating where your blog should live. This is one of those rare moments where you’re free to make your own choices — just don’t blame us if you pick the wrong one.

Recent Trends

As of 2025, most major hosting providers and CMS platforms make it easy to create and manage subdomains. But the SEO community still leans toward subdirectories for most use cases, unless you have a compelling reason to separate.

The BloggingMachine.io Perspective

At BloggingMachine.io, we’re all about making your life easier (and your organic traffic higher). Our AI-powered platform handles everything from content creation to keyword optimization, whether your blog is on a subdomain or a subdirectory. We automate the heavy lifting so you can focus on, well, anything else.

Want to scale your content without the headaches? We’ve got you covered — no matter where your blog lives.

Subdomain vs. Subdirectory: Quick Comparison

Feature	Subdomain (blog.example.com)	Subdirectory (example.com/blog)
SEO Value	Separate site	Inherits main site’s SEO
Technical Setup	More complex, flexible	Simpler, unified
Content Separation	High	Moderate
Use Case	Distinct content, different CMS	Related content, same CMS
Audience Targeting	Different audiences/regions	Unified experience
Hosting Flexibility	Can use separate server	Must use same server

FAQ: Should My Blog Be on a Subdomain?

Q: Will putting my blog on a subdomain hurt my SEO? A: Not necessarily, but your blog will need to build its own authority. If you want your blog to directly boost your main site’s SEO, a subdirectory is usually better.

Q: Are there any technical challenges with subdomains? A: Yes. Subdomains require separate technical management — think robots.txt, sitemaps, and analytics. But most modern platforms make setup relatively painless.

Q: Can I move my blog from a subdomain to a subdirectory later? A: You can, but it’s a bit like moving house — possible, but you’ll need to handle redirects and potential SEO hiccups. Plan ahead if you can.

Q: What if I want to use a different CMS for my blog? A: Subdomains are perfect for this. You can run your main site on one platform and your blog on another without conflicts.

Q: Does BloggingMachine.io work with both subdomains and subdirectories? A: Absolutely! Our AI agent generates SEO-optimized articles wherever your blog lives. We’re not picky.

Final Thoughts

The answer to “should my blog be on a subdomain” depends on your goals, technical needs, and how much you enjoy managing multiple SEO strategies. For most businesses, a subdirectory is the path of least resistance — and maximum SEO benefit. But if you need separation, flexibility, or just want to try something different, subdomains are a solid option.

Whatever you choose, remember: engaging, well-written, and SEO-friendly content is what really moves the needle. And if you’d rather not spend your weekends writing blog posts, let us do it for you.