When setting up a blog for your website, one of the first decisions you'll face is where to place it. Should you create it as a page on your main website (example.com/blog) or set it up as a subdomain (blog.example.com)? While this might seem like a minor technical detail, it can actually impact your website's organization, search engine performance, and long-term growth.
Blog as a Page (/blog)
Setting up your blog as a page means it lives directly on your main domain, typically accessed through a "/blog" URL. This is the most common approach for businesses and personal websites.
Advantages
Stronger SEO Benefits: All your content contributes directly to your main domain's authority
Simplified Analytics: Track all your website metrics in one place
Easier Management: Use the same content management system for your entire site
Consistent User Experience: Visitors seamlessly move between your blog and main site
Potential Drawbacks
Less flexibility for different designs
Cannot use different technology stacks
May complicate your site structure if you have extensive blog content
Blog as a Subdomain (blog.)
Using a subdomain creates a separate space for your blog while maintaining a connection to your main website. This approach is often used by large organizations and media companies.
Advantages
Greater Independence: Freedom to use different technologies or platforms
Cleaner Separation: Easier to manage distinct content types
Flexible Design: Freedom to create a unique look for your blog
Scalability: Better suited for larger publishing operations
Potential Drawbacks
More complex setup and maintenance
Split domain authority between two properties
Additional technical expertise required
Making Your Decision
To choose the right option for your website, ask yourself these questions:
What's your primary goal?
Building overall site authority? Choose a page
Creating a distinct publication? Consider a subdomain
What are your technical capabilities?
Limited technical resources? Stick with a page
Comfortable with advanced setup? A subdomain might work
How integrated should your blog be?
Closely tied to your main site? Use a page
More independent content? Go with a subdomain
Recommendations
For most websites, especially small to medium-sized businesses and personal sites, using a page (/blog) is the recommended choice. It's simpler to manage and provides the most straightforward path to building your site's authority.
Consider a subdomain only if you have specific technical requirements, plan to scale your blog into a major publication, or need complete separation from your main website.
In Conclusion
While both approaches can work successfully, the decision ultimately depends on your specific needs and resources. For most website owners, starting with a blog page (example.com/blog) is the safest choice. You can always migrate to a subdomain later if your needs change.
Remember, what matters most is not where you place your blog, but the quality of content you publish and how well it serves your audience.