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Annie201

: How handle multiple domains for one project? I will have one project accessible from example.com and example.de. The sites will be the same, only default language will change. Now, what's a better

@Annie201

Posted in: #Seo

I will have one project accessible from example.com and example.de. The sites will be the same, only default language will change.

Now, what's a better solution? Use both domain, each with own configure file to set default language? Or redirect from example.de to example.com/de?

What's better for the user? Does he even care?

What's better SEO-wise? Or will google even care?

It's not business project, so basically no need to promote the brand 'example.com'. What I mean is that on .com site, name of the site will be EXAMPLE-EN and on .de site name will be EXAMPLE-DE.

Thank you for you answers.

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@Caterina187

Simply put the best answer is really a judgement call that you need to choice once you answer a few questions. Based on your question I would have to say that you really need to decide how you or your client goals are of the website. Are you targeting that particular country or the language? If it's the country then I would suggest Country-specific. If you are targeting the language then I would suggest either the subdomain or the subdirectory.For more information click on the link provided, Google Webmaster Tools
Country-specific
example.ie

Pros


Clear geotargeting
Server location irrelevant
Easy separation of sites


Cons


Expensive (can have limited availability)
Requires more infrastructure
Strict ccTLD requirements (sometimes)




Subdomains with gTLDS
ie.example.com

Pros


Easy to set up
Can use Webmaster Tools geotargeting
Allows different server locations
Easy separation of sites


Cons


Users might not recognize geotargeting from the URL alone (is "de" the language or country?)




Subdirectories with gTLDs
example.com/ie

Pros


Easy to set up
Can use Webmaster Tools geotargeting
Low maintenance (same host)


Cons


Users might not recognize geotargeting from the URL alone
Single server location
Separation of sites harder




URL Parameters
site.com?loc=de

Pros


Not recommended.


Cons


URL-based segmentation difficult
Users might not recognize geotargeting from the URL alone
Geotargeting in Webmaster Tools is not possible

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@Deb1703797

Subfolder is the way to go.

The rationale is that subfolders will have links from all parts of the site including from the different language section. For subdomains your ranking might fluctuate between different languages.

Subdomains are not used very often except to differentiate a primary domains core business and purpose. If it is usually just language, a subfolder is what everyone normally uses.


Source: moz.com/community/q/subdomains-or-subfolders-for-language-specific-sites

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