Google: Subdomain Change Not For Algorithms or Rankings

Sep 5, 2011 - 9:13 am 9 by

Google WebmasterLast week, we reported Google changed how Google Webmaster Tools reports links from subdomains.

There was speculation that this change also meant that Google has changed how they handle subdomains for ranking purposes. That is not true.

Googler, Pierre Far said in a Google + post that this is not true. He said it is only related to reporting within Google Webmaster Tools and not for how Google handles ranking.

Let me quote Pierre:

Dear webmasters: A lot of people have seen the recent announcement about the recent reorganization of backlinks in Webmaster Tools and are saying it's a reflection of a new way that Google handles links for ranking purposes.

Wrong.

This change is only for how Webmaster Tools displays link data to help webmasters understand their links a bit better. The most common use case is for links to both www and non-www versions of the same site, even if these two different hostnames are canonicalized correctly. Previously, Webmaster Tools considered the links to each separately even though webmasters (and everyone else) considered them to be the same site. That situation was not ideal and so this change helps simplify things quite a bit.

Are we clear now?

Glad Google cleared that up.

Forum discussion at Google +.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Google Search Engine Optimization

New (But Old) Google Search Console Achievements

Sep 16, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

What Is Google Question Fringe Score

Sep 16, 2025 - 7:41 am
Bing Ads

Bing Image Search With Ads Mixed Into The Organic Results

Sep 16, 2025 - 7:31 am
Bing Search

Bing Testing Sticky Search Bar Header

Sep 16, 2025 - 7:21 am
Google News

Rolling Stone Publisher (Penske) Sued Google Over AI Overviews

Sep 16, 2025 - 7:11 am
Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: September 15, 2025

Sep 15, 2025 - 10:00 am
 
Previous Story: Daily Search Forum Recap: September 2, 2011