Most local sites fail for one simple reason: they try to do too much in one place. The money pages get buried under blog posts, scripts, plugins, and frameworks that slow everything down. When our goal is rankings and conversions, we remove the noise. A lightweight HTML root domain keeps intent clear, speed high, and troubleshooting simple. In this post, we explain why we separate transactional pages from informational content, how subdomains support AI visibility, and how to structure a local site that actually converts.
Table of Contents
Keep the root domain focused on transactions
The root domain should be all about bottom-of-funnel search queries. Those are the pages that drive revenue. Service pages. Location pages. Pricing or contact pages. These pages should not compete with each other or get diluted by lots of general information.
Why this matters
- Faster load times on static HTML sites help rankings and user experience.
- Cleaner code makes it easier to troubleshoot and optimize.
- Less content bloat means search engines and people find the important pages faster.
When blogging still makes sense
We are not saying never blog. Blogging can be useful for top-of-funnel and mid-funnel content. But that content should not live on the same domain where conversions happen. Informational posts can create competing pages. They can dilute focus and add bloat.
Instead, put the blog on a subdomain like blog.yourbrand.com. Google treats a subdomain as a separate asset. That lets you publish informational content tied to the brand without interfering with the main site’s conversion pages.
Where to host the blog
- WordPress on a subdomain — still our go-to when a proper blog is needed. It makes publishing easy and gives you good crawlable content for AI and search engines.
- Branded Web 2.0s — platforms like Blogger, Tumblr, or Weebly can work as a branded extension of the site.
- External branded domains — a separate domain is another option if you want a clear separation between the money site and content hub.
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Why subdomain blogs help with AI and language models
Some modern site builders use client-side rendering frameworks like React. Those sites can look empty when you view the raw page source. Search engines often render them fine. But many language models and AI crawlers cannot parse content that is rendered only on the client side.
That causes two problems:
- The branded domain may not be visible to AI search agents.
- Informational content you want surfaced by AI might be missed.
Putting a blog on a subdomain solved this in our tests. The blog provides a crawlable surface for language models while the main site stays fast and conversion-focused.
Practical example from our tests
We recently rebuilt a tree service contractor site with a modern site builder. The first build was fast. The site looked slick. But when we looked at page source it appeared empty. Google’s Search Console still rendered the page correctly, so Google could read it. Language models, however, could not.
The fix was to add a crawlable blog on a subdomain. That gave the brand a clear place for informational posts that AI could read. It also kept the money site clean.
How to structure your setup
Here is a simple, practical layout we recommend:
- Root domain: Static HTML site. Service pages and location pages. Conversion focused.
- Subdomain blog: WordPress or another crawlable platform. Top- and mid-funnel content lives here.
- Social and press: Use social media, press releases, and external branded blogs to create additional brand signals.
Checklist for launching a local money site
- Create static service and location pages on the root domain. Keep copy focused on conversions.
- Set up a blog on a subdomain for informational content. Use WordPress or a crawlable platform.
- Run URL inspection in Search Console to confirm Google renders pages correctly.
- Check the page source. If it looks empty, assume some language models may not be able to crawl it.
- Publish brand mentions and content on social profiles and Web 2.0s to build association signals.
- Keep monitoring performance and reduce any content that competes with your service pages.
Tips to keep things fast and simple
- Minimize plugins and third-party scripts on the money site.
- Serve compressed static files where possible.
- Use server-side rendered or pre-rendered HTML for core pages.
- Keep the site structure shallow so users and crawlers find conversion pages in a few clicks.
Common questions
Should we use WordPress for our main local site?
We prefer not to. WordPress can work, but static HTML is faster and simpler for the money site. If you use WordPress, keep it lean and avoid mixing heavy informational content with service pages.
Can a blog on a subdomain help rankings?
Yes. A subdomain blog lets you publish informational content without competing with conversion pages. It also creates brand signals and gives language models a place to crawl if the main site uses client-side rendering.
Will Google treat a subdomain as separate?
Yes. Google often treats a subdomain as a separate asset. That separation is useful when you want to keep transactional pages and informational content distinct.
How do we know if language models can read our site?
Check the raw page source. If you see little or no content in view source, many language models may not be able to crawl it. Use Search Console’s URL inspection to see how Google renders the page. If Google renders but the source looks empty, add a crawlable blog or use server-side rendering.
What about site builders like bolt.new?
These builders can produce fast, modern sites. The initial build is often quick. Fine-tuning can be slower, especially if the platform relies on client-side rendering. For local money sites we still favor static or server-rendered pages and use subdomain blogs for content.
Closing thought
Keep the money site light and focused on conversion. Move broad, informational content off the root domain. A crawlable blog on a subdomain gives you branding, content reach, and AI visibility without hurting the pages that turn visitors into customers.