Which option is best for SEO purposes:
1)Set up a subdomain (blog.domain.com)
2)Set up a sub directory (www.domain.com/blog)
3)Set up a completely separate, keyword rich domain for my blog and having my link back to my regular site?

I would like to know which option is best AND why!

Any which way won't make a big difference (at all) in the overall scheme of things when it comes to SEO. SEO is a long-term process and that is ultimately a very minor issue. Well written content is what will help you most. If it were me, I would do either a subdomain or a separate domain alltogether...based on personal preference.

Agree with ManFromTheBand. I like number 2 but that's just a preference

Well I have a slightly different take on the matter. I agree that SEO is more for long-term benefits, but you must at least start out on the right foot now if you plan to have the site work in your favor a few months from now.

My recommendation is #3.

The reason is because the search engines like relevancy. So if you have a keyword rich domain name..bingo, that helps you.

I am not sure what your regular website is, but if it is your main realty site, then you will want the blog to provide the content and then let the visitor, after enjoying all the knowledge you share on the blog, fo to the next step willingly by clicking on your main site link.

On the internet, you have to lead people a little bit, thru funnels. I think the blog will help you keep fresh updated content (which is good for SEO), the domain name for the blog will help show Google relevancy of your site topic and theme (good for SEO), and your funnel leading people to the click will help you with leads.

Hope that helps!

Tracey Walker

P.S. Here is what my blog looks at just for a reference point.
http://www.mlmiseasyonline.com

There are two different schools of thought.

I have my blogs on totally different domains from my website (different servers too.) - My reasoning for doing this was to have the blogs be "similar" but "relevant" links to my main site - hopefully the links to my main site carry more SEO weight than if the blog were just a sub domain of my main site.

That said, the blog provides tons and tons of relevant content...so...maybe it is better to have all that content.

I honestly do not know which is better - but anything you do will be better than doing NOTHING.

[quote=Brantford Guy]Agree with ManFromTheBand. I like number 2 but that's just a preference
[/quote]

LOL, ManFromTheBand recommended #1 or #3

I would go with number 2 domain/blog I believe is the most common approach when creating a blog. You should be fine doing this make sure you have great content and promote the posts and it should help your main site.

In most of the seo research I have done personally I have always been told that www.yourdomain.com/blog is the best way to host your blog. The most recent of which whom talked about this was seomoz.org who is a big powerhouse in the seo world. I will try to find the exact article for you if you would like but I know they said go with the /blog. Good luck and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Vernal is right on about seomoz.org - lots of great resources there, most of which are free.
Man from the band hit the nail on the head, too. Don't get hung up on all the SEO tricks -- just put out alot of good content, and post often. Just put yourself in the shoes of your potential clients -- what kind of info will keep them on your site - and keep posting THAT. Thats the point I missed for the past 3 months...

[quote=Tracey Walker]
My recommendation is #3.

The reason is because the search engines like relevancy. So if you have a keyword rich domain name..bingo, that helps you.

[/quote]

I would recommend the same. Wouldn't it be better to have a domain that's relevant that does not only benefit the SERP but also a URL thats easy to recall as far as your visitors are concern. Hence site branding becomes more effective thru the word of mouth...It just make sense to have one.

content is more important than the link, but I have mine set up like number 2
Clay Branyon
north Beach Realty
www.northbeach.com

If you expect the page rank of your blog to greatly outweigh the pagerank of your site, use an external blog.

If you expect the site to exceed the blog in pagerank (ultimately), having the blog content on your site offers more opportunities for long tail visitors.

Keep in mind that any site that is external can really only cast one vote that matters to your site's pagerank. Unless that vote carries the power of greater pagerank, the vote is worth very little.

The external blog is most useful when the site is full of content that normal people wouldn't link to naturally...lists of links, ads or product/sales material. In this case, separating the blog and developing relevant content is the best. The blog will always exceed the site in pagerank (through normal means).

The external blog becomes a liability when you are trying to consolidate pagerank. This happens when a site has very good content and naturally acquires organic links.

So, if you are creating a typical agent/broker/listing/property site, an external blog is going to be the best route, since your primary site will not excel organically. In fact, you may choose to have multiple blogs that each deal with once facet of your primary site, so you can cast multiple votes for your site. The multi blog scenario lends itself to #3.

I like the blog off site idea, as you build a back link portfolio. As a matter of fact, if you really want to get something done, I would suggest you have both. Have a blog off site with unique content, and have a blog on sight to keep your site fresh with relevant content. You will be better of if you can keep up with them, but if not, do the #3 option.

Subdomain and domain are treated separately by Google - you have to build up backlinks to both "sites".

A keyword rich domain name is VERY important. But you can get keywords into the sub-directory.

If you are prepared to maintain both the blog and the main site - then option 3 would be my choice.

Option 3, definitely. Outsource the maintenance if needed. Will be cheaper in the long run.


-AP