Subdomains for Categories

[KADesign]

Hi All,

I don't quite understand the concept of subdomains. Is there any benefit to using them to focus on certain categories found on your shop?
I have recently added Gift Baskets and would like to really focus on them. Would it benefit me to set up a subdomain specifically for them? Would I install a separate cart with only them? How does it work? I'm sorry for the need the for all the info...but I truly have no clue ...

Thanks in advance,
Kelly

[Ajeh]

Subcategories are a way to organise the Products in a Category ...

Rather than 1 huge Category of Products with a vague relationship to each other, you can group them in to separate Categories or Subcategories of their own to make it easier on the customer to find what they are looking for ...

You can also help with your search engine placement by utilizing Categories and Subcategories to add categories_descriptions that tie the Products together and provide to the customer an introduction of sorts as to what the Products are that are in each Category or Subcategory ...

In your Gift Basket Category you can add a general categories_description ...

Then in each Subcategory you can add more specific categories_description ...

The related words in the categories_description to either the subcategories or Products, depending on where you are in the Category tree will provide a nice tie between what is on the page in text and feed a hungry spider ...

[KADesign]

Thanks. I have it broken down in subs according to occasion, Birthday, Baby etc. as well as one of the subs being an "All Gift Baskets". I haven't added the descriptions yet but I will. I have done it on some of the other categories before and as soon as my brain can make up some good "copy" for the baskets I will...
I was curious about how subdomains would help or hinder the site.

Thanks again!
Kelly

[J_Schilz]

sleepless,

I don't know of any easy method for putting your categories into subdomains. Normally, subdomains help either by logically and aesthetically separating your content and/or providing extra search keywords in your address.

You could probably find a way to make it seem as though a single store's categories were on separate subdomains. I think that would bring more confusion than clarity, though. You could have multiple stores on separate subdomains, but it would be a big hassle to have to check out from each individually.

If you're looking for any search engine benefit, you'd probably be best off using the SEO mod which gives your categories discrete "pages" which include the name of the category.

I hope this helps, and I can clarify any points that need it.

--Joe

[KADesign]

Hi Joe,

Maybe I am the one who needs to clarify what I mean. I was thinking about adding, I actually did add it, the subdomain http://giftbaskets.kellyscountrycorner.com
On this domain I would have an article or info on the benefits of purchasing Gift Baskets, etc. I would add a link to my Gift Baskets category. I would have links included in the text to point to Birthday Gift Baskets, Mother's Day Gift Baskets, Father's Day Gift Baskets etc. I also considered having a seperate store just for the gift baskets but decided against it because of the reasons you pointed out as well as others. My question is, could this hurt me or help me in the search engines? I was thinking it may help to have the word giftbaskets in my domain name, and this was easier or better than buying another domain name.

Thanks for your reply and input.
Kelly

[Ajeh]

err ... subDOMAINS ... not subCATEGORIES ...

[J_Schilz]

I see. (;

I should think it would help, given a couple of provisions.

As long as it is unique content, you will not be penalized by the search engines. That means just be sure you're not posting identical content elsewhere on your store.

You might consider the easiest path to purchase from these content pages. People are going to land on this content page of yours, and unless you give them an easy path to purchasing from you, visitors who might otherwise become customers are going to bounce.

I'd say, if you're going to do this, include add to cart buttons, prices, etc. Don't just tell them how great gift baskets are and convince them to look around, give them a reason to add one to their cart and give them that opportunity. But don't give them the hard sell...it's a delicate game.

That said, you might be able to do this easier or better with an easy page or the about us page mod and SEO page mod. I'm on the second page on MSN for knitting videos, and you know what page it links to? My store page that says, "Hey, we've got knitting videos on our content site, check 'em out."

I'm sorry, I'm a little sick today and talking off the top of my head. Let me know if you have any questions.(;

--Joe