Domain names & SEO

[Duncan]

I was just curious on the importance of domain names and SEO. Take the scenario below for this example. The domain name is "DOMAINTEST.com".

For DomainTest.com how important is DomainTest.com in relation to ranking highly for Domain Test in google or other search engines. As opposed to MyDomainTest.com for the same keyword Domain Test in Google.

Are you extremely more likely to rank high if your domain matches the keyword?

Please disregard all website content in this discussion. I already know the value of this.

[Poker]

In the grand scheme of all things SEO, domain names are the least of your worries. If you have a great name, great, if you don't then focus on getting ranked and traffic.

There are no silver bullets, unless you are a marketer selling one, then you can reap many rewards from the steady stream of the dreaming gullible.

[Stephe]

In Google, you will definitely rank higher for the search phrase "domain test" if your domain name is domaintest.com vs mydomaintest.com. An exact keyword match to your domain name gives you a significant boost in serps. I've had numerous websites simply rank highly for a keyword phase because of a few backlinks and an exact matching domain to my targeted keyword phase.

[adityas]

Your ranking will definitely be affected because of your domain name, and because its the dot com extension of the name.

Though only having a name won't get you ranked, but it has its own benefits, let's say you have X amount of links and content, then you'll rank higher than someone who's domain name reads best-domain-testing-script.com or whatever with the same amount of content and links.


Hope that helps.
Aditya

[grace5]

Are you extremely more likely to rank high if your domain matches the keyword?

Yes most definitely. it works very well with .com s but I have had a little luck using ,net s.(it depends on what the keyword value is),But .coms are king in this.

I buy domains on the keyword value as they are easier to rank.I have one now with just a few links pointed at it that is bouncing between #1 - 8 on google. With little more than a few articles.

How/which anchor text you use for backlinks is also of great importance.

[Duncan]

Thank you all for these comments. I am starting a new strategy involving this which I hope will propel the future of my business. I too have noticed success with the DomainKeyword.com domains being indexed quickly and having great results in Google - but I just wanted to see if it wasn't all in my mind. It's good to have second opinions!

[Poker]

I'm referring to competitive markets...there is so much more involved than exact keyword match when it comes to competitive serps...obviously keywords in the domain help with among other things; anchor text etc...but don't get sucked into thinking the domain is more important that just giving google what it asks for.

[Duncan]

That's the thing I guess. Competitive market domains are taken.

[Poker]

Well bottom line is that you can rank on the first page of very competitive google serps with sites like MyDomainTest.com (over time) by just giving google and your visitors what they are looking for.

[grace5]

Well bottom line is that you can rank on the first page of very competitive google serps with sites like MyDomainTest.com (over time) by just giving google and your visitors what they are looking for.

yes very true ,but in the mean while you are waiting that "over time" amount,get some good keyword domains that will rank quicker and thereby make you a few bucks while you are waiting...



Of course it takes more than just a domain name,but to answer the question in the beginning of this thread the answer is yes

[Poker]

there is no "quick" when it comes to competitive serps and obviously if you have a good keyword domain from the start you should use it, or pick one up within budget, the point is don't go thinking it's gonna make or break your placement, it won't...another thing to consider is branding...a made up name like splif might serve you better in many ways than a keyword domain like MyDomainTest...just make your visitors and google happy...they both will tell you how to do that

[grace5]

the point is don't go thinking it's gonna make or break your placement, it won't...

Poker I disagree with ya

There are other factors in SEO, thats a given.Its not just one thing to do to get to the top but a collection of several things added together ...

But to say the domain name has very little to do with it,as you said ..."won't...make or break your placement" is just not so. It is just another piece of the SEO pie.

[hina]

For DomainTest.com how important is DomainTest.com in relation to ranking highly for Domain Test in google or other search engines. As opposed to MyDomainTest.com for the same keyword Domain Test in Google.

All other things being equal, DomainTest.com is far better.

[Duncan]

I have already seen first page rankings for 100% of my "new undisclosed test sites" that have been indexed for more than a week for their given two word term. Amazing.

[RodanMedia]

There is an issue I've just noticed regarding a couple of .info domains (I have very few) ... but I've noticed they don't show up in the search results AT ALL, even when typing 'site:example.info' or 'info:example.info'. Is there a reason for this that anyone is aware of?

LMK and thanks!

dp

[centreurope.org]

Originally Posted by RodanMedia

There is an issue I've just noticed regarding a couple of .info domains (I have very few) ... but I've noticed they don't show up in the search results AT ALL, even when typing 'site:example.info' or 'info:example.info'. Is there a reason for this that anyone is aware of?

LMK and thanks!

dp

whether they are not indexed yet (no backlinks point to them) or blacklisted.

[RodanMedia]

Originally Posted by centreurope.org

whether they are not indexed yet (no backlinks point to them) or blacklisted.

The Black listing seems the most obvious answer, the lack of backlinks - alone - would not cause that because I've many other domains and developed sites without backlinks to them. I'm figuring a blacklist.

[CincyDomains]

The Domain Name still holds and extreme significance in the Google algorithm and there is a lot of info out there about "Keyword Domaining". There are even a couple forums dedicated to the subject. So, in short, DomainTest.com would have little trouble getting top position for the corresponding keyphrase query.

[RodanMedia]

Here's what happened. I designed the mini site to gradually lead visitors to a couple of specific pages. Being 'clever', did not put a menu on the site. That was the problem. Search engines stopped indexing for the lack of a static menu, or at least a menu include from an external file, as happens often with PHP. So, we've added the menu and now the site is being indexed.

[Poker]

Originally Posted by grace5

Poker I disagree with ya
There are other factors in SEO, thats a given.Its not just one thing to do to get to the top but a collection of several things added together ...

But to say the domain name has very little to do with it,as you said ..."won't...make or break your placement" is just not so. It is just another piece of the SEO pie.

grace5, i never said the domain name has very little to do with it, those are your words.

What I did say is if you have a good keyword domain from the start you should use it, or pick one up within budget, the point is don't go thinking it's gonna make or break your placement, it won't...