Importance of a keyword in a domain name

[ryanjohnfrancis]

Evening all, as some of you may have seen in my previous thread I am looking into opening an online homeware store.

Yesterday I had quite a long session with the guys who are designing my site. They suggested that it would be SE beneficial to have a ‘keyword’ within the domain name. I personally didn’t like the idea as the keywords look pretty tacky i.e. home, accessories, contemporary.

Would you people agree with what they are saying?

Thanks R

[lockie]

It does work as ive several domains with keywords in the name and it got them up google quickly.

Now just wait for everyone to say different :D

[Stampy]

It depends what the keyword is you're targetting as to how tacky it sounds I guess. If you can get "homeware" in there for example, it got 40000 searches in Feb, but has competition of about 3.5 million pages.

And looking at the competition on the first page I shouldn't think you'd be able to touch it.

I agree if you used one of the other keywords you're suggesting, the site would sound a bit tacky.

There's a domain I want that has the two work keyphrase as it's title, is no. 1 in google with over 10 million competing phrases, and isn't used for anything. It has some basic copy on there an that's it. I'm assuming it's ranking so well because of the domain.

[thebookiesoffers]

I have read arguements for the 'yes it helps' and 'no it doesn't'. From what I have gathered is even if it doesn't have a direct help one thing you will gain is the keyword in anchor text when people link to your site, which is extra helpful for links on forums and blogs when people type, for example, 'seen just what you want at w-w-w-homeware.etc.etc

[david64]

If you have the exact keyword in your domain this really helps to get rankings. For example, if you wanted to rank for "cheaploans" and you had the domain cheaploans.co.uk, that domain alsone would give a real big boost for rankings when people search for those exact words. This is particularly true in Yahoo and Live.

Also having a keyword in the domain that is not the exact term being searched for helps. However as you mention this can be a bit tacky and I'm sure some other people would agree with that who find your site. If you have a strong brand that you would like to maintain, I would advise not to use it. However, if you really want search engine rankings and you don't have much money to spend it might be a good idea to get the keyworded domain. As having that in will reduce the ammount you will need to spend to get rankigns for that keyword.

David from SEM Labs

[Nathanto]

It is beneficial to have a keyword in the domain but you have to weigh up the SEO benefit against the Brand benefit of a more appealing non-keyword name/domain.

Your starting point should be identify the top 10 or 20 keyword phrases for your industry, you may discover that the only domains available for those keywords are too tacky for you to stomach or you may be pleasantly surprised.

For example if homeware DOT co DOT uk were available as a new registration I'm sure you'd jump at it whereas homeware-online-store DOT co DOT uk although available may not appeal to you.

[JustOneUK]

It does work as ive several domains with keywords in the name and it got them up google quickly.

Now just wait for everyone to say different :D
Not me :D I like keyword domains just not tacky ones...
buy-online-car-insurance.co.uk would be one I wouldn't click on :p

[JustOneUK]

buy-online-car-insurance.co.uk would be one I wouldn't click on :p

..if you're interested it just happens to be available to register (and the .com) :cool:

[fisicx]

Not me :D I like keyword domains just not tacky ones...
buy-online-car-insurance.co.uk would be one I wouldn't click on :p

I much prefer cheap-car-insurance-4u.va (has papal endorsements).

Whilst I agree that having a couple of keyords in your domain name may have a slight impact on your ranking, it only works for those specific keywords. But as I keep harping on about, long-tail searches are the future. You won't ever see then appearing during your KW reseach but they make up a large percentage of all searches making your KW rich domain name pretty much redundant.

[lockie]

I much prefer cheap-car-insurance-4u.va (has papal endorsements).

Whilst I agree that having a couple of keyords in your domain name may have a slight impact on your ranking, it only works for those specific keywords. But as I keep harping on about, long-tail searches are the future. You won't ever see then appearing during your KW reseach but they make up a large percentage of all searches making your KW rich domain name pretty much redundant.

Also video is the future.Google is already adding these to the serps hence why i am already getting listed in the serps for my homebrew blairwitch style videos and making money from the customers that find them.

[sirearl]

Keyword rich domains are very important as 50% of searches will contain the major keywords for a given site.

Earl

[fisicx]

Keyword rich domains are very important as 50% of searches will contain the major keywords for a given site.

Earl

You mean like 'amazon' or 'tesco'?

Search for car insurance: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+insurance&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB

or cheap car insurance: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=cheap+car+insurance&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB

or car insurance comparisons: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+insurance+comparisons&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB

Can't see any KW rich domain names dominating the SERPs.

Note domain name in not the same as the URI.

[sirearl]

You mean like 'amazon' or 'tesco'?

Search for car insurance: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+insurance&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+insurance&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB)

or cheap car insurance: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=cheap+car+insurance&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=cheap+car+insurance&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB)

or car insurance comparisons: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+insurance+comparisons&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+insurance+comparisons&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB)

Can't see any KW rich domain names dominating the SERPs.

Note domain name in not the same as the URI.

You been practising again.:|

People search for keywords I.E "volkswagen parts" e.t.c.

People like amazon and the high comp keywords like car insurance are obviously not good examples.:rolleyes:


If one takes an example like *car leasing" one finds that most of the top ranking sites use major keywords.:p

Earl

[fisicx]

If one takes an example like *car leasing" one finds that most of the top ranking sites use major keywords.:p

Not according to my google: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+leasing&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB

The #1 spot and a directory lower down doesn't appear to be 'most of the top ranking sites'. Note that the #2 result doesn't have any of the keywords in the domain name.

The point I'm trying to make is that the domain name is a very low level ranking signal when compare to the page titles for example.

[Lasting Designs]

I'm not up to speed with SEO, but I from the novice side of the fence I would think that if you had a business called Yezterdays (based in the west country :) ), say it sells retro stuff. By having that spelling in its URL would automaticly push it up the ranking, more so using a URL with retro in the title. My thoughts go with the fact that more sites are likely to have retro or the correct spelling in than Yezterdays.

[sirearl]

Not according to my google: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+leasing&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&num=100&q=car+leasing&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB)

The #1 spot and a directory lower down doesn't appear to be 'most of the top ranking sites'. Note that the #2 result doesn't have any of the keywords in the domain name.

The point I'm trying to make is that the domain name is a very low level ranking signal when compare to the page titles for example.

well 5 of the top 6 sites use "leasing" and have less clout than some sites below them.:|

I think you will find among the professionals they all agree that keyword rich domains are a great help.

Earl

[fisicx]

well 5 of the top 6 sites use "leasing" and have less clout than some sites below them.:|

But 'leasing' or 'car' is not the same a 'car leasing'. It's not the domain name that got them those top spots it was the content on the sites (and probably a bit of linking).

I think you will find among the professionals they all agree that keyword rich domains are a great help.

Fair enough - trouble is deciding which professionals to agree with. The one's I know all agree that a KW rich domain has minimal impact and that branding is far more important.

[graemepirie]

If I have for example 10 particular keywords and the domains were available, would it be a good thing or bad to register all the domains & forward them to my main site?

[edmondscommerce]

yep keywords in domains help

if you can do it then do it - its not the answer but it helps

[The Dreaded Lurgy]

Keyword rich domains are very important as 50% of searches will contain the major keywords for a given site.

Earl

If 50% do then 50% dont as well, doesnt this mean it is neither important or unimportant?

[JustOneUK]

If 50% do then 50% dont as well, doesnt this mean it is neither important or unimportant?
Ha! Clever ...but not clever enough ;)

I don't know why I seem to jump to Earl's defence (probably 'cos he's a defencless old man) but here goes...

If 50% contain the main keywords then you can assume that the other 50% contain a mixture of 1000's of other possiblilites instead, and you can't rank for all of those.
Therefore it's better to optimise for the 50% you can catch with just a few keywords.

Something like that, ...although I'm guessing that Earl just invented those figures :p

[sirearl]

Ha! Clever ...but not clever enough ;)

I don't know why I seem to jump to Earl's defence (probably 'cos he's a defencless old man) but here goes...

If 50% contain the main keywords then you can assume that the other 50% contain a mixture of 1000's of other possiblilites instead, and you can't rank for all of those.
Therefore it's better to optimise for the 50% you can catch with just a few keywords.

Something like that, ...although I'm guessing that Earl just invented those figures :p

Bleeding cheek would I.:|:p

Based on carefull observation of the stats from many sites I run.:rolleyes:

another observation is that the more competative the field the site is the higher the ratio of major keywords used in searches.

Now who said you don't get much for free off a Scot.?

Earl

[QVA - Emma]

Off topic slightly but the top result for car leasing displays horribly in firefox :redface:

Big believer in the keyword rich domain name (it just isn't always possible).

[robertt]

If you have certain keywords they can generate direct type in traffic as some people type in "keyword.co.uk" into the address bar.

Usually these really are top end domains but the value is in the growing and repeat 'free' traffic then on :)

[sirearl]

Off topic slightly but the top result for car leasing displays horribly in firefox :redface:


Your right about that.

I thought you were talking about our site as it looks horrible in anything.:D



Earl

[QVA - Emma]

That has to be the best website ever - yes it looked hideous initially but I got lost in it!!!! Completely off topic SORRY!:D

[sirearl]

That has to be the best website ever - yes it looked hideous initially but I got lost in it!!!! Completely off topic SORRY!:D

Thank you another true connoisseur.:)

we also get mentions for being one of the worst website ever.

http://www.blogstorm.co.uk/top-10-worst-websites/


But then some people have no idea how to make money.:rolleyes:

There generally called Artist's.:D


Earl

[PrettyPaws]

I think we can all agree that there is no negative effect in using your keywords in the domain name, in which case it's got to be worth a go hasn't it? Personally I believe there is a benefit, how much I don't know but I just brought www.coolcatcollars.co.uk (http://www.coolcatcollars.co.uk) and www.dog-beds-store.co.uk (http://www.dog-beds-store.co.uk) on the back of it. (although I've done little seo work as yet)

I would agree that a lot of traffic comes from long tail however these searches still contain either cat or collar(s).

[kanchan]

It is good to have a keyword in the domain.

[Find Accountants]

I always use keyword rich domains & believe they get better results than just having the company name, but if you want to advertise your web address on other forms of marketing, you could register your company name & point it to your web address.