Root-Domain vs Subdomain Linkbuilding

[adamdankhazi]

Hello Mozzers!

Couple of days ago I received a request to start optimizing a wordpress website, the domain itself has been around for around 10-12 years so it's it can be considered as one that has real history behind it.  The page has been moved from HTML/FLASH to wordpress about 3 - 4 years ago and hasn't been any SEO maintenance on it. The site used to rank for first position with several keywords, but now understandably, it has greatly decreased.

My main question would be, that when I've checked the root domain's and the subdomain's metrics with MOZ Open Site Explorer, the sub domain (with "www.") showed a PA 40 and 90 external links while the root domain (without "www.") only has 27 PA and 6 External links.

I know that the 301 or server redirects only transfers about 90% of the link juice to the targeted URL but the difference between the 2 results seem way too big for me.

What do you think? Is this normal?
During future link building is it more beneficial to target the root domain so the page won't lose that "10%" by redirecting the new link from sub-domain to root domain?
Is it possible to get more juice transferred?

Thank you very much,
Adam

[bazzyboy]

Hey

I'm a bit confused - not the first time! Would very much appreciate if you good folks could shed some light on a couple of questions.

Our site in the search console is inputed as www.domain.co.uk

Is this our subdomain?

When I'm using Open Site Explorer and filter by Target, say "this root domain" is it now showing me inbound links to domain.co.uk instead?

Lastly how does this affect rankings i.e getting links to www.domain.co.uk or domain.co.uk as whoever types in either domain gets to the correct site.

[adamdankhazi]

Thank you CKG for your answer, it's much appreciated.

I have already started to move to www. , I changed in WordPress settings, from non-www to www version, also selected the preferred version www. in webmaster tools and contacted the server administrators about the change. My only last problem is the battle with the htaccess to redirect the rootdomain to the www. subdomain but I should get it sorted out pretty soon

Cheers,
Adam

CKG

[Mustansar]

Hey

I think  you should go through both for analysis purposes however in order to moving forward you should be focusing on one URL which contains www.

here are the link for you to help yourself to understand the difference between these.

http://moz.com/community/q/root-domain-and-subdomain-links-opensite-explorer

https://moz.com/help/guides/links/link-analysis

[Brighton-Soundsystem]

I have just come across the same issue for a site I am optimising. For me, when www is used the page authority in OSE is 42 compared to 33 when there is no www.

It would be really good to hear what people's views are on this.

Billy