Ordering a new website
The most common way to create a new website is by setting it up as a subpage under an existing domain. There are several advantages to using this method:
- A completely new site will take time to be discovered by search engines. By creating the new site as a subpage of an existing domain that is already known to search engines, the new page will be found immediately and will inherit some of the value that the existing domain has accumulated.
- A subpage under an existing domain can be set up in just a few minutes, and everything will work from the start without the need for additional setup.
- The new subpage adds value to the domain it is placed under—and vice versa. If the new website is placed on an independent domain, there is a risk that the two pages might compete with each other in search engines.
- You avoid having to maintain the "fine print" (copyright, cookie policy, privacy policy, and accessibility statement), as these are managed by the domain you are placed under.
As can be seen from the example above, it is indeed possible to make a subpage of an existing domain look like an independent site. In this example, you can see in the top left corner that the website is linked to the Department of Political Science, but otherwise, only the address reveals this.
Other examples of websites that are subpages of existing domains:
Which subpage can I place my website on?
It is very common to place new pages for centers, research groups, and similar entities as a subpage under the institute they belong to. However, there may be several cases where a new website is not ideally placed under an institute. For example, if it is a project that spans across multiple institutes or faculties. Therefore, we have created the two domains projects.au.dk and conferences.au.dk (and their corresponding Danish versions).
Projects.au.dk
Projects.au.dk is the ideal place to create a website for a research project. You can get started right away. Your website will have an address like: https://projects.au.dk/dinhjemmeside
However, you can easily order your own address that points to this page, e.g. https://dinhjemmeside.au.dk
Conferences.au.dk
Conferences.au.dk is the ideal place to set up a website for a conference or similar event. You can get started right away. Your website will have an address like: https://conferences.au.dk/dinhjemmeside
However, you can easily order your own address that points to this page, e.g. https://dinhjemmeside.au.dk
Option for a custom domain name with forwarding
You have the option to create a new domain name that redirects to your website. Your website will still be set up as a subpage of an existing domain, but you can now ensure that the website can be accessed via a shorter URL.
This can be useful if you want a short URL for publications or marketing materials. In this case, you can request to set up: yourdomain.au.dk, which will automatically redirect visitors to your website’s location as a subpage of an existing domain.
The advantage of this method is that you avoid the hassle of a new standalone domain, while still getting the exact domain name you want.
The delivery time for a custom domain name with forwarding is up to 10 days, depending on the type of domain name you choose. However, you do not need to wait for the domain name to be created before you start adding content, so you can begin building as soon as the website is set up as a subpage of an existing domain.
Examples of subpages with custom addresses:
- mechanogeometry.au.dk - redirects to https://projects.au.dk/mechanogeometry
- ida.au.dk - redirects to https://phys.au.dk/ida/
A standalone domain with its own address
Generally, it is not possible to create a standalone domain with its own address, such as https://nytdomæne.au.dk
If you want to establish a new standalone domain for your website, it is a significant operation that takes considerable time and involves a complex process. The primary reason is that you need to build many components from scratch for a completely new domain. This includes creating a cookie policy, accessibility statement, and search functionality. Additionally, the domain must be set up in TYPO3, which requires coordination among multiple parties. As a result, it can take up to a month from the order of a standalone domain until it is ready for use.
Furthermore, the new domain will not be recognized by search engines, which may mean it takes some time for search engines to discover the new website.
Some faculties initially decline requests for new standalone domains, but there may be legitimate reasons for needing one, such as the creation of a new institute or faculty.
If you wish to obtain a new standalone domain for your website, please contact your local web support. They can assist in assessing your needs and determining if alternative solutions might be available.