Root Domain

Definition

The “Root Domain” or “Base domain” refers to the main part of your website’s address, excluding any prefixes such as ‘www’ and ‘https’, or suffixes like specific page URLs. The Root Domain normally includes only the domain name and its extension. For example, in ‘www.example.com’, ‘example.com’ is the root domain.

Root Domain Relevance For SEO

Root Domains are crucial in SEO for several reasons. Primarily, the search engine notably Google, perceives the root domain and its subdomains as separate entities. This makes it absolutely essential to maintain consistency in SEO practices across all domains and subdomains. Secondly, all backlinks that are directed to different pages or subdomains on a website accumulate to enhance the overall domain authority of the root domain, eventually improving the SEO-rankings of your site.

Root Domain Best Practices for SEO

Here are a couple of best practices when managing root domains for SEO:

1. Consistent Domain Usage: Try to consistently use one version of your domain for backlinking – either ‘www’ or non-‘www’. This counts all backlinks towards a single variant, benefiting the domain’s authority.
2. Create Meaningful Subdomains: Subdomains are treated as separate entities by search engines. Keep them meaningful and rich in keywords to enhance the overall SEO value of your domain.
3. Secure Your Domain: Use HTTPS encryption for your domain to create a secure connection. Google rewards secure sites with higher ranks, thus improving SEO.