Domains and Sub-Domains
Domains and Sub-Domains
I'm writing this short post because so many starter members are confused about this.
It can best be illustrated by an example.
I've just started and I decide that coffee is going to be my niche.
I can promote everything coffee-related, from expensive coffee machines on Amazon to bags of coffee beans from specialist importers.
So I go into Wealthy Affiliate and navigate my way to Websites >> Site Builder >> Free Domain.
Let's try bestcoffee. Sounds good, doesn't it?
I enter bestcoffee where it says your-website-name.
Oh wow, look at that. It says "Awesome, it's available!". I better grab it before someone else does. I never thought I'd be able to get such a great domain name.
STOP RIGHT THERE!
Get it out of your head that that's a domain name.
It's not.
You'll be building a site at bestcoffee.siterubix.com.
The domain name here is siterubix.com. bestcoffee is a sub-domain, which means that it is being built in a sub-folder of the website siterubix.com.
You cannot build a serious online business on a sub-domain. Google won't rank you and most affiliates won't accept you.
Understand This
The purpose of a siterubix sub-domain is not for you to build a viable business but to get practice at it. When you're ready to go ahead, upgrade to Premium or Premium Plus and get a proper .com domain name. On the other hand, if you decide it's not for you, it's cost you nothing but some time and a learning experience.
Don't for a moment think that because a sub-domain name is available that the corresponding domain name will also be available.
The two have no relationship at all.
Let's check bestcoffee.com.
As you can see, it comes up as unavailable.
In fact, if we check it at Namecheap
We see that it was registered in 2001: 22 years ago.
This will be the case with any 2-word domain containing a popular keyword.
What to Do?
This doesn't mean that you shouldn't go ahead with a website built on a suitable sub-domain, just so long as you understand that
- It's just practice and
- When you're ready to get serious, you'll need to register a different domain name and either start afresh or move your website to your new domain name.
Wealthy Affiliate provides a tool that allows you to move the site you've already built to you new domain name.
Recent Comments
65
I learned that a long time ago, Phil! Most people don't know that right off the bat though! An excellent refresher and reminder!
Jeff
That lack leads many into confusion and disappointment. Trying to clarify it for them, Jeff.
This is long overdue Phil thank you for the explanation and hopefully many newbies will understand the difference plus the fact that the domain name they select with their site rubix most likely will not be available on a dot com
At least it gives me (and others) something to link to when we see this question being raised in Live Chat.
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Good morning Phil,
That's great information for members who are just starting out!
I think it's brilliant that Wealthy Affiliate allows you to really test out the platform before you spend any money. To me, this is a great selling point as the platform allows you to test it out, before you spend a penny!
Being able to move a site that has already been built to a new domain is also an excellent feature!
On another note, when I hear a member say; "do I have to buy a domain, I thought it was free" then I know that they may as well give up right now!
Have a great day.
Roy
All very true, Roy. The siterubix sub-domain plus the move option are excellent features but I see them frequently misunderstood. Hence the post.
My guess is that there are not many platforms where you can carry out a free trial and do so much as what Wealthy Affiliate offers! It's a great selling point!
And yes, a great post, Phil as I think many people are overwhelmed when they first join and others don't understand everything.
Have a great day.
Roy
I think WA stands alone in that regard, Roy but of course many come on board with little or no idea. I saw someone yesterday asking what was the difference between a domain name and a website.
I hear you, Phil! The great thing is that many people who came here with no knowledge have been highly successful!
I remember when I had my first website in 2004, which was built for my offline business. I have to admit that I didn't know anything about websites, but I did like the idea of being able to promote my business.
I remember asking what a URL was and how I was also shocked when the web designer told me that I had to write my own content! That was hard for someone who comes from an agricultural type of background!
The good news is that I quickly saw the power of the Internet and from 2004, I started researching Internet marketing etc. I never thought I would be making money online! It's amazing what can happen when we put our minds to something!
A very happy Sunday to you.
Roy
Thanks, Roy and the same to you. Yes, my first website was for my offline company as well. It was regarded as a pretty unusual thing to do.
Thank you, Phil!
That's interesting, I don't know what year you had your first website, Phil. But I guess here in the UK and it was properly similar in Australia, broadband became available and changed the face of the Internet! In other words, it made the Internet usable!
Having a website is so much better than trying to promote your business in magazines and classifieds etc! It really is a marvellous invention!
Roy
I had a lot of customers for a software package I'd written, so switching from mailing out CDs to an online download was magic!
That must've been a great time-saver, Phil! The wonders of modern technology!
Roy