Keyword Domains

[ChrisAITY]

Hi all,

As the title says, I am looking for a domain name that captures a specific target audience, as I want it to rank high on search engines.

I have a few in mind, which I won't give away on this thread, but it's for a holiday website, but for a niche (like my current website).

I started a thread about a blog recently, which I will be doing, and I decided to move away from the current domain, as I want the new domain to have strong SEO keywords.

Do you think having the domain name similar to what I will be offering is best, for better SEO purposes??

Sorry if the thread does not make sense

 

[david64]

Do you think having the domain name similar to what I will be offering is best, for better SEO purposes??

If you want to make search engine traffic a big part of your business, it could be a good idea. However, be careful if you decide to build the business solely on SEO as Daddy G can pull the plug on your rankings at any time, you may get yourself into wars that you can't afford to pay for - paid link wars.

Most of the companies I know that have gone from start-up, through the struggling to establish themselves phase have realised that relying solely on Google is a bad idea. While those whose businesses (and most of their staff) rely on Google, know that if their rankings bork, so might their business.

 

[GNU]

Do you think having the domain name similar to what I will be offering is best, for better SEO purposes??

When you first start a site a keyed domain is a definite advantage.

It is also an advantage in that any organic links you get are more likely to use the desired anchor text.... but frankly the number of links you are likely to get to your holiday site is not going to make a difference... it is never going to be a link magnet.

Over time however, as you acrue more links the phrase matched domain is of less significance.

It really boils down to how much SEO work you are prepared to do, and whether you want to build a brand rather than scavange a few easy clicks.

If you are thiking big and for the long term, get something brandable.

If you want some quick traffic off a secondary site, use a keyed domain.

Quick example, check which sites rank for "mortgage", "insurance" and you will see moneySuperMarket.com in both... and in plenty more terms besides, but they also do a lot of offline stuff. If you search for "cheap car insurance rover 75" then you start to see the keyed and hyphenated domains.

 

[London Photographer]

i have done this and it works- use google keyword tool to see what keywords are working best and then register that domain

 

[nitro23456]

Its definitely an advantage to have keywords in your domain or even just the separate page name. e.g. domain.com/key_word.htm

Studies have shown that the key word as part of the address carries more weight than mentions of the same keywords in your actual content.

 

[Dagz]

I thought about this myself, but decided against it because I associate keyword domains with cheap services rather than quality and prestigiousness.

 

[nitro23456]

I must admit, I agree with you when Im doing my own searches for products.

 

[S-Marketing]

I must admit, I agree with you when Im doing my own searches for products.

So would I be right in saying the very best domain would be one that contains keywords for search engines, but also is not obviously 'keywords' so that it makes sense as a good domain name for humun visitors and does not put them off.

For example, a landscaper in Southampton, calling themselves Southampton landscapers, would appeal to both human traffic, and the search engines equally?

 

[MASSEY]

Its people with inside knowledge that view it that way, my outlook on the internet has changed a lot.

Most people know jack about domain names an seo, so you should be ok.

 

[david64]

I must admit, I agree with you when Im doing my own searches for products.

Depends what the site is though. If you do a search for [RC Cars] and find yourself on rccars.com, you probably won't think much about it. However, if it looks like a thin crudling, primed tot transport you to eBay, the eyebrows may go up.

Although it can be a bit ridiculous the lengths some people go to with domains.

 

[david64]

So would I be right in saying the very best domain would be one that contains keywords for search engines, but also is not obviously 'keywords' so that it makes sense as a good domain name for humun visitors and does not put them off.

It's subjective. In terms of ranking, a domain with your primary keyword as the domain would be best. If your primary keyword is 'toys', you could argue that toys.com would be great for both SEs and building a name. However if your primary keyword is [fish and chip shop insurance], some people might not take fishandchipshopinsurance.com very seriously. In the case of the latter, lengthy domains, these are usually regged by affiliate bilgers who rank them and ship the traffic off to some branded company.

For example, a landscaper in Southampton, calling themselves Southampton landscapers, would appeal to both human traffic, and the search engines equally?

It's probably different for different people. I, personally, like quality and anything that looks like it's from the good 'ol days when people looked respectable and were of an upstanding constitution. So an old, family run firm called something like Jeffrey Wither's Monacles would be enticing to me. However, for others something like Paris Hilton's Rolling in the Gutter, Jacked Full of MSG, Fluoride-head Toilet Brushes may be the sort of base garbage they are looking for.

The site is much more important when it comes to converting the right people. A lot of SEO-heads make their sites such a mess with stuffing that they will frighten off people with higher standards. If you are offering services, in particular, its always important to consider what sort of people you want as your clients and build it for them. If you are selling products, you could probably care less what Tom, Dick or Sally is buying from you. In the case of products, companies aims would be to sell as much plastic garbage as possible; while services is more of a client-choosing game.

 

[nitro23456]

Depends what the site is though.

Yeah it does depend. I suppose its about branding.... i would not use southamptondrycleaners.co.uk for example (dont know if this is real havent checked). I would go for a recognised brand.

Like Massey says though, your average joe public wont take any notice.

 

[GNU]

I thought about this myself, but decided against it because I associate keyword domains with cheap services rather than quality and prestigiousness.

I think that is it in a nutshell, keyed domains are favoured by affiliates trying to resell traffic, but companies favour brandable domains.

here is another expample:

cheap ass affiliate site:

poker.org.uk

Top ranking poker site:

888.com

As it happens, that keyed domain is not going to do the skinny affiliate much good in that niche anyway as its extremely competitive, but it may help with PPC... but niche low competition keyed domains work well for small sites, though, not as well as they did since the "MayDay" update in which Google sought to weed out trashy sites using that tactic.