EMD - Exact Match Domains

[Mum&Boss]

Hi all,

I did a search on this topic in the forum and I noticed this hasn't been discussed since 2012 and as it seems that Google update extremely frequently, I was hoping I could ask a few questions that could be cleared up for me incase anyone knows of any updates since 2012.

I understand that EMDs are not good if it does not include quality information or if it includes spam & affiliate links.

I am in the business of toiletries. But there is one specific need that people look for. What I wanted to do was buy an EMD and forward that domain directly to this page of my website which is indeed quality information and products. No affiliate links, spams or adverts.

Would this hinder me or should I be ok in this instance?

 

[fisicx]

Wouldn't help at all. Google probably won't even notice the EMD and if it did would note the redirection and ignore the EMD.

So I wouldn't bother, it's not worth the effort.

 

[Ninja Commerce]

Hi there.

Doing something like that (probably) won't hinder you (ie, it won't result in a Google penalty) as long as you don't do it too much. But equally, it's very unlikely to to benefit you.

Google doesn't dislike EMDs per se, they just don't place any weight in them. So having the right keywords in an EMD won't help you to rank.

Essentially - what you are proposing is a waste of time.

The only benefit of what you are doing is if the domain you are buying has (targeted) traffic coming to it, as of course you would then get that traffic. But that's a big if.

 

[luckystrike23]

I'm in the industry of exact match domains - it used to be so simple way back (8 years ago?) but now google favours brands so an exact match domain won't give you that much advantage in ranking terms. You need to build a brand name and get mention of it (not necessarily links) all round the internet and offline if possible.

 

[makeusvisible]

We wrote a fairly detailed blog post on the topic - Exact match domain names, are they worth it?

Essentially there are several different answers to this question, depending on the situation you are in. There is no one single answer for everyone.

 

[Tim Coulter]

I recently bought a domain for a new project without giving too much consideration to the SEO implications. Shortly afterwards, I created a very simple 1-page placeholder website on the domain, and one week later it was ranking #3 on Google USA for the exact match term.

I'm not trying to contradict the valid advice given by other posters (who have much more SEO experience than me) but it seems to imply that, in certain circumstances exact match can rank easily.

 

[Shopclicks]

What I wanted to do was buy an EMD and forward that domain directly to this page of my website which is indeed quality information and products

You would be far better off optimising the page on your website which contains the 'quality information and products'. An EMD which redirects to a poorly optimised page will have no seo benefit. You probably need to look at the reasons your 'quality' page isn't getting the ranking you think it deserves.

 

[fisicx]

...I created a very simple 1-page placeholder website on the domain, and one week later it was ranking #3 on Google USA for the exact match term.

And that's how things should be. But the OP isn't building a placeholder website, they are just redirecting. Which is pointless.

 

[boring-friday]

redirects pass (most of) the power of the domain, the domain is new and has no power (links) so it probably won't do anything.
No offense to you but so many of these sorts of questions are pointless like the 'will getting 50 fb likes help my seo', 'will hosting my site on a uk host help'. They might or might not make some tiny difference but its barely even worth thinking about. Focus on the the things that matter, on site content,site structure etc and getting links

 

[Mum&Boss]

Thanks for all your input. I am still getting my head around all the intricate details that make things work.

I have just read a book on SEO which just reiterated what you all said. Makes so much more sense now and I managed to pick up a few pointers too.

p.s. HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

[ethanmillar]

I think it;s not Good for your website as well as for your business because it;s gives you any times of benefits even you redirect your EMD domain.

Instead of that you can create or we can say launch new site with the EMD with unique content and start marketing for that.

In future you will definitely get some major benefits from that EMD.

Thanks

 

[LowPrices.uk]

There would be zero benefit if you just bought the domain and forwarded it, unless the domain has some type-in traffic, which is questionable.

If you want to but the domain, build a targetted site on it, and link that site into your main site, there may be some benefit. However, as others have said, you could probably just work on your existing site more, and doing other marketing activities might have greater effect.