You have almost certainly used a subdomain without noticing. When you visit blog.cybergrapes.com or help.cybergrapes.com, the word before the main name is a subdomain. A subdomain is an extra label added to the front of your domain name that lets you point one section of your online presence to a different place.
The parts of a web address
Take the address blog.yourbusiness.com. It has three parts:
- blog is the subdomain.
- yourbusiness is your domain name, the part you register.
- .com is the extension.
Even the familiar www is a subdomain. It is just the one most websites use by habit. For a deeper look at how a domain differs from a full web address, see the difference between a domain name and a URL.
A real example
Cyber Grapes uses subdomains itself. Our articles live at blog.cybergrapes.com, our self-service store lives at store.cybergrapes.com, and our Help Center lives at help.cybergrapes.com. All three belong to the same main domain, but each can run on a different platform and be managed separately.
What small businesses use subdomains for
- A blog or news section that runs on its own platform.
- An online store hosted by a shopping service.
- A help or support site that stays separate from your main website.
- A test copy of your website. Our guide to staging sites explains why that is useful.
- A booking system, member portal, or landing page provided by another company.
Subdomain or subfolder?
You can also organize a website with a subfolder, such as yourbusiness.com/blog. A subfolder is part of the same website. A subdomain can point to a completely different website or service. For most small businesses, a subfolder is the simplest choice. A subdomain makes sense when the section runs on a different platform or needs to be managed separately. Search engines can handle either approach, so choosing one and staying consistent matters more than which one you pick.
Do you have to register or pay for a subdomain?
You do not register a subdomain the way you register a domain. You create it inside a domain you already own, so you need the main domain first. If you do not have one yet, you can register a domain. Creating the subdomain itself does not require a new domain registration, although whatever service you point it to, such as hosting or a store platform, may have its own cost.
How a subdomain gets created
- Pick a short name. Use lowercase letters with no spaces, such as blog, shop, or help.
- Open your domain’s DNS settings. These are the settings that tell the internet where each part of your domain should go. They are found in the account where your domain is registered.
- Add a record for the subdomain. The service you are connecting will tell you exactly what to enter.
- Wait for the change to take effect. DNS changes can take a while to spread, so check again later if it does not work right away.
The Help Center’s Domains section covers DNS and everyday domain settings.
Two things to watch
- Security certificates. Make sure the padlock appears on the subdomain too. Our article on whether you need to pay for SSL explains your options.
- Your main domain’s renewal. Every subdomain depends on the main domain. If it expires, they all stop working, so keep auto-renew on.
Your next step
Subdomains start with a domain you own. Search and register your domain today. Then add Professional Email so your address matches your name, and build your site with WordPress Hosting. If you want the short version of this topic, see What Is a Subdomain and Do You Need One?