How To Setup WordPress Subdomain Using cPanel?

A subdomain can be described as the second website that is part of a larger domain and can have its own content. While this topic is pretty basic, I still think it is worthy to cover how to setup WordPress subdomain for all beginners.

Subdomains function separately from your primary domain. For example, kasareviews.com is the main site. If I would decide to setup store, I could create a subdomain called store.kasareviews.com which would be a site for itself and have different content.

Many people use subdomains for mobile versions for their website, forums, blogs, and stores. You can have multiple subdomains on same WordPress site (or how many your hosting allows). You can also add multiple levels of subdomains.

For instance, I could add subdomain on my existing subdomain. Example: blog.store.kasareviews.com. While subdomain is part of the main website, it’s considered as a separate entity by search engines.

 

Why Would You Need WordPress Subdomain?

You’ve probably come across various subdomains throughout your time spent searching online.

But, maybe you’ve always wondered why companies use them, and if would be any benefits from using them on your own website?

1. SEPARATING PARTS OF SITE

Some companies like to keep their blog separate. This can either be because the blog has a different design than the rest of the site, or they want to create a distinction between that content and the rest of their site. For example separating store, forum, blog, a gallery from the rest of website. 

 

2. BETTER USER EXPERIENCE

Sometimes your website is oriented to different regions or countries. Instead of having a single website with a very complex website architecture, you can create sub-domains for each particular region. You can check this on the example of Craigslist. Each region has its own dedicated subdomain. 

 

3. GROW NICHE AUTHORITY

Building large-scale authority can be a lot of work and ranking in niche markets can take a lot less time and energy. By ranking and building authority and smaller markets, this authority you build will help to reinforce the authority of the main domain.

 

4. SEO PURPOSES

The more subdomains, the more chances you have to appear in search engines. Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to fit certain keywords into your main URL. But, with subdomains, you have another chance to insert keywords into your domain.

When used correctly, if a subdomain is created for an already existing site that ranks well, the subdomain will be indexed quickly and benefit from the main domain’s good standing.

 

How to Create WordPress Subdomain?

To install WordPress on a subdomain, you first need to create a subdomain. The easiest way to create a subdomain is to use your web hosting account cPanel (see cPanel pros and cons).

1. Login to cPanel and navigate to the Domains section.

 

 

2. Click Subdomains and enter a name for the subdomain URL you wish to create. Click Create.

 

 

Now your subdomain is ready, and you can install WordPress on your newly created subdomain. This way you can add a different theme for a different section of your site.

 

How to Install WordPress on Subdomain?

Step 1: Scroll down and check for the Software and Services section of the cPanel home screen and click on Softaculous Apps Installer (it may be called different on your hosting).

The Softaculous installer page will appear with various scripts.

 

 

Step 2: Click on WordPress. Enter all the information required in the different text boxes.

 

 

Select the appropriate protocol from the given list box. If you have an SSL certificate installed on your site, select https:// or https://www otherwise select http:// or http://www to continue the installation. You can check my post on how to add free SSL certificate to WordPress site for more info.

 

 

Select the subdomain from the Choose Domain list box and leave the Directory text box empty. Enter website name, admin details (use a secure password) and select the preferred language.

Create a new database by giving a name in Database Name text box or accept the default value. Choose rest of options as you want like the auto upgrade, auto upgrade WordPress plugins, auto upgrade WordPress themes, backup location, etc.

After finished click Install to install WordPress on your new subdomain.

 

How to Setup Subdomain Final Words

As you can see from above, setting up a subdomain in WordPress is not such a daunting task. Of course, things sometimes can get complicated, or you may not have cPanel but some other type of management panel.

Steps are usually very similar, and you could always contact hosting support to help you if you get stuck. If you have any questions or have something to add, let me know in comments below.