1000+ links from domain to subdomain - impacting?

[WCR]

Hi there!

I'm wondering if anyone could kindly help me with this question.

I have a domain let's say: thisdomain.com - and I also have a subdomain called widgets.thisdomain.com

thisdomain.com has approx 2000 pages on it. There are site wide links in the top nav, side nav and footer pointing to widgets.thisdomain.com (all with the same anchor text - not branded - it's a money term).

My question is, do you think this would be causing some kind of algorithmic penalty (over optimisation / penguin)?

Or, do you think Google realises these links are pointing to a subdomain and says, "hey, OK we understand these two domains could be related" or given subdomains are seen as essentially standalone websites, the algo is saying "hang on a minute, pal, this looks fishy, why are you linking to this subdomain 1000+ times with sitewide links on the same anchor text"?

Should I nofollow these sitewide links? Do you think that will help?

I would really appreciate any help on this one.

Cheers!

[WCR]

If you do that and those links have supported rankings then there could be a traffic loss.

Yes, traffic/rankings have gone down so I've been investigating possible over optimisation especially on money terms.

If this was client site, I would be tempted to describe Door A, Door B and Door C.

Yes, you are not wrong. I like the analogy!

Really appreciate your help, EGOL.

[EGOL]

I believe they've been advised a few years ago about the subdomain being the best approach.

That was probably good advice at the time.  But times Google has changed.

however the client won't want that

You guys who have clients must have a lot of patience. 

hence my thinking at least by adding the nofollow attribute, I can tell Google's algo I'm not trying to pass any juice across.

If you do that and those links have supported rankings then there could be a traffic loss.

FROM INITIAL QUESTION:  do you think this would be causing some kind of algorithmic penalty

From this I think you are saying that the site suffered a rankings loss.  If that is the case then taking action might be helpful.   If that is not the case, I would be inclined to do nothing....

... well, honestly, I would be redirecting that subdomain to a folder if this was my site.

If this was client site, I would be tempted to describe Door A, Door B and Door C.   And tell them that my best judgement says that there is shit behind A and B but safety, possible rankings increase behind Door C.   If it was my site or my mother's site I would be using Door C.  Then they have been given your best advice and choose the shit if they like it.

[WCR]

Thanks EGOL, I really appreciate your thoughts

Yes, I would love to get the client to move this content into a folder on the main site. I believe they've been advised a few years ago about the subdomain being the best approach. I'm glad you're getting terrific results from the move.

The reason for the links... The product on the subdomain is a separate business entity however it is still closely related to what the main company does. So they want people to be able to find these links easily. I agree, the footer link could be removed entirely, however the client won't want that, hence my thinking at least by adding the nofollow attribute, I can tell Google's algo I'm not trying to pass any juice across.

The situation is, they have three money term sitewide links from the main domain pointing at two separate pages on the subdomain. This means there are 1000+ links pointing at two distinct pages on the subdomain using a money term.

[EGOL]

My question is, do you think this would be causing some kind of algorithmic penalty (over optimisation / penguin)?

Personal opinion...  Probably not.  But, if those three links each have different anchor text with money terms and are hitting different pages on the subdomain then I might be wrong.

Or, do you think Google realises these links are pointing to a subdomain and says, "hey, OK we understand these two domains could be related" or given subdomains are seen as essentially standalone websites, the algo is saying "hang on a minute, pal, this looks fishy, why are you linking to this subdomain 1000+ times with sitewide links on the same anchor text"?

Maybe.

Should I nofollow these sitewide links? Do you think that will help?

You could.  That would be a good conservative response.

Why do you have all of these links?  Does anybody click those footer links?  I bet nobody is clicking them.

I know that the answers that I gave above were less than satisfying.        I responded to this question to suggest that the content on your subdomain could be moved into a folder on the root domain.  I did this on a site and the results have been kickass.  Kickass.