Hi There. I have a question about search engine indexing/marketing of one's website. If I ...?

[Sam]

If I really don't have my own domain but instead have a sub-domain from one of those free web hosting companies in which to place my online content can I still register that sub-domain with the various search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask and the like as if it were a true real website having its very own domain? I guess basically what I'm asking is can one register a sub-domain with the search engines just as one would register a real domain with a search engine and if so would it have the same effect on helping the sub-domain website be found and available to anyone
who "googles" it? Thanks for your help.

[wright_david1]

It's always better to have your own domain name from an SEO standpoint. You can get one for around US$10 or less, so if you're serious about your site, that's a cheap but worthwhile investment. Personally, I use and recommend NameCheap for domain names. I've included a link below.

But to more directly answer your question, registering the site with the search engines has become almost unnecessary. It can't hurt, but it's not as important as it once was. Just post some links to the site on various places (social media, business directories, etc.) and the search engine spiders will follow those links and find your site.

The problem from an SEO standpoint is that since you're on a subdomain, you're going to have a lot harder time getting found in search results because the main site is more likely to get that ranking. The search engines try not to show duplicate content. But if you've got your own unique content, that can still rank well, assuming that other things are done properly.

[Fouad]

Free Domains are bad for SEO, you better buy a domain name and optimize your website, and if a free sub-domain can work why then the experts buy domains for their websites, everyone like free, but free stuff not always good.

[Hal Smith]

If you have good unique content filled intelligently with the right keywords and can get SEO done for your site then there is no need for registering, as the search engines will do it for you automatically. Also with this you don't really have to worry about having a subdomain. If done right, SEO can rid you of this problem. But it really doesn't cost that much to get a new domain and if you're looking to expand then it is better that you get a new domain now. Doing this and then getting SEO done by a good reputed company with good clients is way better. There are many such out there, just Google them up.

Hal Smith
URLdreamer Consultant

[kyle]

It is highly unlikely that you will have as much success with a sub domain than with main domain. This is hard as Google indexes main websites, but for secondary websites, they have to be attached to a main website.